PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kurogane Kawasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawasaki comes to the cage accompanied by Eminem - Go to Sleep. Kurogane Kawasaki has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kawasaki
vs
Henderson

164 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurogane Kawasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson takes the fight into the clinch.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the temple.
Kawasaki is trying to pull guard but Henderson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kawasaki leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Henderson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Henderson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kawasaki's defenses.
Henderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kawasaki blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Henderson.
Henderson stalls.

Kawasaki breaks the clinch.

Kawasaki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henderson, pushing him back against the cage.
Kawasaki misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson blocking some punches.
Henderson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Henderson lands a damaging elbow.
Kawasaki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Kawasaki controls the action.
Henderson lands a nice elbow.
Henderson tries a knee to the head but Kawasaki blocks it.
Kawasaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Kawasaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kawasaki.
Kawasaki working aggressively here.
Henderson effectively controlling the action here.
Kawasaki working hard to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Henderson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki tries to circle away but Henderson has him pinned against the cage.
Kawasaki is trying to break the clinch but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson lands an elbow inside that Kawasaki shrugs off.
Henderson struggles to land a body shot inside as Kawasaki controls his hands.
Kawasaki jumps guard but Henderson stands there with Kawasaki around his waist. Kawasaki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurogane Kawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henderson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Henderson looking to throw knees to the head but Kawasaki is blocking nicely.
Henderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kawasaki's efforts to push away.
Henderson taking a breather.
Nice elbow from Henderson.
Henderson lands an elbow inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson prevents Kawasaki from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries a body shot but Kawasaki blocks it.
Henderson lands an elbow inside.
Kawasaki is trying to break the clinch but Henderson is controlling him.
Kawasaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kawasaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kawasaki letting Henderson take a breather here.
Henderson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kawasaki up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on Henderson's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Kawasaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Henderson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Henderson tries to work over Kawasaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Henderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Kawasaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Henderson won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kawasaki up against the cage.
Kawasaki tries to break free but Henderson pushes him back against the cage.
Kawasaki tries to break the clinch but Henderson is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Kawasaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henderson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kawasaki blocking some punches.
Kawasaki is trying to push Henderson away but Henderson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Henderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Henderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Henderson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kawasaki.
Henderson misses with the head strike.
Kawasaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kawasaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that round.
That's time! Kawasaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Henderson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kawasaki, pushing him back against the cage.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Kawasaki controls the action.
Henderson misses with a knee strike.
Henderson tries to throw a body punch but Kawasaki avoids it by throwing Henderson back against the cage.
Kawasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Henderson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Henderson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Henderson.
Henderson slowing the pace effectively.
Kawasaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kawasaki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kawasaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kawasaki is trying to break free.
Henderson leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson gets underhooks to prevent Kawasaki's takedown attempt.
Kawasaki tries to break free but Henderson pushes him back against the cage.
Henderson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Henderson lands a nice elbow.
Henderson lands an elbow inside that Kawasaki shrugs off.
Henderson controlling the action here for a moment.
Henderson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kawasaki.
Henderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kawasaki.
Henderson tries to land knees in the clinch but Kawasaki avoids the damage to the body.
Kawasaki wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurogane Kawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kawasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kawasaki blocks it with crossed arms.
A frustrated look appears on Kawasaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kawasaki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kawasaki tries to break free but Henderson pushes him back against the cage.
Henderson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kawasaki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Henderson smiles and moves away.
Kawasaki throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Kawasaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kawasaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henderson is fending him off so far but Kawasaki persists. Nope, Henderson circles away and we're back to standing.

Henderson rushes Kawasaki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Henderson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Henderson missing with knees to the body.
Kawasaki with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Dan Henderson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Henderson tries to work over Kawasaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Henderson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kawasaki's defenses.
Henderson struggles to land a body shot inside as Kawasaki controls his hands.
Kawasaki is trying to break the clinch but Henderson is controlling him.
Henderson lands an elbow just above Kawasaki 's eye.
Kawasaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Henderson won't allow it.
Henderson keeps control of Kawasaki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kawasaki can't break the clinch.
Henderson misses with a knee to the head.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Kawasaki controls the action.
Kawasaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kawasaki can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki looking to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Henderson as Kawasaki tries to tie him up.
Maybe Kawasaki would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Henderson.
A frustrated look appears on Kawasaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Kawasaki controls the action.
Henderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kawasaki's elbow.
Kawasaki tries to circle away but Henderson has him pinned against the cage.
Henderson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kawasaki can't break the clinch.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Henderson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kawasaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Henderson tries to clinch up.

Kawasaki has closed the distance and engaged Henderson in a clinch.
Henderson lands an elbow inside.
Henderson leaning against his opponent.
Henderson lands a damaging elbow.
Henderson lands an elbow just above Kawasaki 's eye.
Henderson is pushing Kawasaki up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Henderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawasaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kawasaki tries to circle away but Henderson has him pinned against the cage.
Kawasaki is trying to pull guard but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Kawasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawasaki is trying to push Henderson away but Henderson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Henderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kawasaki prevents a body shot from Henderson.
Kawasaki tries to stall but Henderson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Henderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kawasaki backwards.
Henderson has Kawasaki pressed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Henderson.
Henderson taking a breather.
Henderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kawasaki's efforts to push away.
Kawasaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Henderson lands an elbow just above Kawasaki 's eye.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kawasaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Henderson tries to land a knee to the head but Kawasaki blocks with his arms.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kawasaki is trying to break free.
Henderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Kawasaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kawasaki stalling in the clinch but Henderson improves position.
Henderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kawasaki blocks a body shot from Henderson.
Kawasaki has had enough of the clinch but Henderson keeps him there for the moment.
Henderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kawasaki's efforts to push away.
Kawasaki can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Henderson.
Henderson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the temple.
Henderson misses with a knee strike.
Henderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kawasaki's efforts to push away.
Henderson lands an elbow just above Kawasaki 's eye.
Kawasaki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kawasaki has a couple of punches blocked by Henderson.
Kawasaki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Henderson smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurogane Kawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Henderson pushes Kawasaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki is trying to break free.
Henderson lands a damaging elbow.
Kurogane Kawasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson lands an elbow just above Kawasaki 's eye.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Henderson lands an elbow inside.
Kawasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Henderson prevents Kawasaki from breaking the clinch.
Kawasaki gets through Henderson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Henderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawasaki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kawasaki can't break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henderson misses with a knee strike.
Henderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kawasaki.
Kawasaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Henderson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henderson lands an elbow inside that Kawasaki shrugs off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henderson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Dan Henderson!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Dan Henderson!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Dan Henderson!

Dan Henderson wins by unanimous decision!