PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Sandman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Unashamed. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henry
vs
Sandman

173 cm
27
223 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

180 cm
24
210 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, The Sandman!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sandman.
Sandman fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Henry just misses with a punch to the body.
Henry lands a nice looking body shot.
Sandman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Henry sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sandman somewhat.
Henry goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Henry tries a head kick but it misses.
Sandman is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henry. Sandman does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henry wants it to stay on the feet.
Sandman fails with the takedown
and Henry counters with a lovely straight right hand!
John Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Sandman.
Henry swings for the body but Sandman moves out of range.
Sandman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Henry defends well and Sandman ends up having to push Henry into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Henry was well out of range. Poor timing from Sandman.
Henry gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Henry is looking to wear down Sandman with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Henry is looking to chop away at Sandman's legs.
Henry buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sandman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Henry but Henry pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Henry looks to land a right hand but Sandman moved out of range.
Henry throws a head kick but Sandman moves out of range.
Sandman swings widly with a right hand
and Henry counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Henry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
John Henry is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Henry takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sandman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henry.
Sandman shoots in but Henry avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sandman throws a right hand that misses
and Henry connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henry swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sandman avoids the head kick by Henry.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henry feints and then cracks Sandman's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sandman down.
Henry stuffs the takedown attempt from Sandman. Sandman gets slowly back to his feet.
Henry throws a wild body kick that Sandman sees coming a mile off.
Sandman avoids the body shot from Henry.
Sandman fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Henry misses with a wild body shot.
Sandman fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sandman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henry pinned against the cage. Henry gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A swing and a miss from Sandman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henry wants it to stay on the feet.
Sandman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sandman takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sandman tries for a takedown but Henry sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sandman checks a leg kick.
Sandman on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Henry defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sandman.
Nice body kick from Henry.
Henry throws a body shot but no joy.
Henry cracks the inside of Sandman's front leg.
Sandman scores with the left hand. Henry knows he should have avoided that one.
Sandman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henry defends it nicely.
Henry pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've been told by Henry's head coaches at Mello MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Henry misses with a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henry throws a body punch but Sandman moves out of range.
Sandman scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Henry scores with a sloppy right hand. Sandman should have avoided that one.
Henry lands with a nice body kick.
Henry swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sandman.
Henry throws a head kick but Sandman moves out of range.
Henry misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sandman.
Sandman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sandman misses with a right hand
and Henry counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Henry misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sandman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Henry dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fighters circling - Henry throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henry does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sandman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sandman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Henry.
Henry is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sandman can do to turn this around?
Henry throws a low kick but Sandman avoids it.
Sandman dives in for a single leg takedown but Henry sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Henry throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sandman is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sandman misses the shot to the body.

Henry gets caught flat footed, as Sandman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Henry has his feet on Sandman's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Henry looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A head kick misses from Henry.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Henry.
Henry misses with a left hand

and Sandman counters with a single leg into guard. Henry didn't expect that.
Sandman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henry is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Henry holds on and takes a little breather.
Sandman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Henry is adopting a defensive guard.
Sandman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Henry is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sandman throwing strikes from guard but Henry blocks nicely.
Sandman looking to pass the guard.
My spies in The Axis of Evil inform me that Sandman has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Sandman wants to control from the top but Henry keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sandman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sandman won't allow Henry to get back to his feet.
Sandman preventing the sweep.
Sandman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Henry's guard.
Henry wants to get back to full guard.
Sandman working over Henry with some ground and pound. Henry looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sandman trying to control the action but Henry is working from the bottom.
Sandman prevents Henry from standing back up.

Sandman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Henry doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sandman.

Sandman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandman prevents Henry from improving his position.
Henry controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Henry is not content to let Sandman control the position.

Sandman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Henry doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sandman.
Henry moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sandman trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sandman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sandman trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sandman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sandman throws an elbow that misses. Henry uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sandman's guard. Nice move by Henry!

Henry wants to get up but he can't break Sandman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sandman is looking to sweep but instead, Henry has passed into half guard.
Sandman is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sandman gets full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henry works over Sandman with some ground and pound from guard.
Sandman has a closed guard, preventing Henry from standing up.
Henry chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Henry will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Henry slips under a jab.
Sandman goes for a double leg but Henry avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Henry continues to drive forward.
Sandman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Henry.
Henry comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sandman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Henry defends well and Sandman ends up having to push Henry into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Henry throws a counter high kick but Sandman was just alert enough to avoid it.
Henry throws a low kick but Sandman moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sandman or perhaps it was just good defense by Henry, which made it look bad.
John Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Sandman.
Sandman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Henry defends well and Sandman ends up having to push Henry into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Henry lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandman connects with a jab.
Sandman shoots for a takedown but Henry saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sandman.
Sandman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Henry misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry throws a nice head kick!
Sandman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Henry sprawls well. Henry wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sandman gets slowly back to his feet.
Sandman fails with the takedown
and Henry counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sandman staying out of range there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Henry.
Sandman scores with a body shot.
A slow jab from Sandman misses its intended target.
Good leg kick by Henry there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sandman blocks a head kick by Henry.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henry. Sandman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sandman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henry moves away.
Henry throws a big counter combination but Sandman scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandman misses with a takedown attempt
and Henry counters with a straight right hand.
A bone on bone clash there as Sandman blocks the leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henry. Sandman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sandman avoids the head kick by Henry.
Sandman takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henry throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Henry pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sandman misses with a takedown attempt - Henry sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sandman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sandman scores with a decent looking hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry throws a nice outside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Henry.
Henry walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sandman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sandman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Henry looks to land a right hand but Sandman moved out of range.
Sandman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Henry defends it well.
John Henry is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Henry wants to land a leg kick but Sandman is out of range.
Sandman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Henry defends well and Sandman ends up having to push Henry into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Henry looks to score with a jab to the body but Sandman is just out of range.
Henry swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sandman fails with the takedown
and Henry counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sandman with a poor takedown
and Henry connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sandman.
Henry throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sandman dives in and grabs Henry's left leg, looking for a takedown. Henry pushes down on Sandman's head and hops out.
Sandman misses the shot to the body.
Sandman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Henry lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Henry.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henry buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Henry tests Sandman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sandman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The Sandman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henry pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Henry lands with a good body shot.
Henry throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sandman feints the counter takedown.
Sandman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sandman throws a lazy uppercut
and Henry counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Henry showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Henry, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Henry!
During a confident post fight interview, John Henry thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The Sandman was interviewed post fight and said 'cunt was doped up'.