PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Holbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonthan Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: hit em up . The key to victory for William Holbert has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Holbert
vs
Henry

180 cm
24
177 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

185 cm
30
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, William Holbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jonthan Henry !
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry darts in looking for a takedown but Holbert gets double underhooks and turns Henry into the cage.

Henry rushes Holbert and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Holbert avoids the elbow strike from Henry , against the cage.
Henry is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holbert gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Henry can't find room to land a body shot as Holbert controls the action.
Henry is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
William Holbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonthan Henry .
Henry looking to throw knees to the head but Holbert is blocking nicely.
Holbert managing to block the knees to the body from Henry .
Holbert managing to block the knees to the body from Henry .
Henry trying to land knees to the body.
Holbert blocks an elbow strike.

Holbert gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Holbert tries to stand and escape but Henry is controlling the position.
Henry is looking to improve his position.
Henry is holding on to half guard well.
Henry is looking for a sweep. Holbert is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Henry controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henry trying to hold on to Holbert's head to control him but Holbert postures up.
Henry preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Henry wants to get back to full guard.
Henry trying to control but Holbert postures up.
Henry has his hands clasped together around Holbert's back. He's all about the action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Holbert looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Henry moves into full guard.
Henry is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Henry keeps trying to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Henry tries to clinch up.

Henry closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Holbert avoids the elbow strike from Henry , against the cage.
Holbert pressing his opponent against the cage.
Holbert is pressed up against the cage. Henry has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Holbert down to the mat. Holbert avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Holbert defends well and Henry ends up having to push Holbert into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Henry closes the distance and clinches.
Henry throws an elbow that misses.
A right hand to the body from Henry .
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Henry just misses with a elbow thrown towards Holbert's brow.
Henry trying to land knees to the body.
Henry tries to land a knee to the head but Holbert blocks with his arms.
Holbert avoiding damage as Henry throws knees to the body.
Holbert managing to block the knees to the body from Henry .

Holbert has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Henry uses from the top position.
Henry wants to control from the top but Holbert keeps moving.
Henry sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Henry stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holbert swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holbert keeping moving, preventing Henry from controlling successfully.
Henry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holbert keeping moving, preventing Henry from controlling successfully.
Henry slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Holbert is not content to let Henry control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henry working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonthan Henry dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Holbert pushes Henry up against the cage in a clinch.
Henry swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Henry has hold of one of Holbert's legs. Holbert is fighting the takedown attempt but Henry gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Holbert pushes Henry off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
William Holbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Henry moves into the clinch successfully.
Henry is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holbert pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Henry works on Holbert's body with a couple of short punches.
Henry looking to throw knees to the head but Holbert is blocking nicely.
Holbert tries for a takedown but Henry manages to get underhooks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henry is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Holbert is defending well for now.
Holbert is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Henry to keep the fight standing.
Holbert tries to throw a body punch but Henry avoids it by throwing Holbert back against the cage.
Henry using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Holbert has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Henry tries to land knees in the clinch but Holbert avoids the damage to the body.
Henry wants a takedown but no success here.
Henry misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holbert throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Henry blocks it with crossed arms.
Holbert misses with a knee to the head.
Henry is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holbert gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
William Holbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonthan Henry .
Henry is looking to take this one to the mat.
Henry with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Henry misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holbert.
Henry using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Holbert has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Henry is breathing heavily.
Holbert leaning his opponent against the cage.
Holbert is trying to break free.
Holbert prevents the takedown attempt.
Holbert can't break the clinch.
Henry working aggressively here.
Henry using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Henry pushes off an throws an elbow but Holbert leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holbert takes a knee to the side of the body.
Holbert is trying to pull guard but Henry has him pressed against the cage.
Henry wants a takedown.

Holbert pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jonthan Henry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good work by Henry as he checks the leg kick.
Holbert darts in looking for a takedown but Henry gets double underhooks and turns Holbert into the cage.
Holbert circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Holbert paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Holbert fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henry , pushing him back against the cage.
Henry is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Holbert is defending well.
Henry misses with a punch on the inside.
Henry missing with knees to the body.
Holbert can't break the clinch.
Holbert avoids a wild elbow strike from Henry .
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holbert is working for takedown but Henry is calmly controlling the position for now.
Henry landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Henry .
Henry misses with an elbow over the top.
Henry misses with a knee to the head.
Holbert tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Henry missing with knees to the body.
Henry misses with a knee strike.
Henry throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Henry lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Holbert is pressed up against the cage. Henry has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Holbert down to the mat. Holbert avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Holbert tries for a takedown but Henry sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Holbert fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Henry is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Holbert rushes Henry and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Henry lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Henry has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry misses with a knee to the head.
Henry prevents a takedown attempt there.
Henry misses with an elbow over the top.
Henry tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Holbert avoids it.
Henry pushes off an throws an elbow but Holbert leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Holbert trying to land knees to the body.
Holbert on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry misses with a knee strike.
Holbert tries to pull guard but Henry won't allow it.
Holbert is looking to take this one to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henry is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Holbert is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Henry can't fight it off and eventually Holbert manages to take the fight to the floor. Henry looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Henry looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonthan Henry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Henry tries to clinch up but Holbert circles away and keeps his distance.

Holbert gets tackled into the cage by Henry . Henry maintains the clinch.
Henry unloads a knee to the mid-section. Holbert lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Henry tries to land a knee to the head but Holbert blocks with his arms.
Henry looking to throw knees to the head but Holbert is blocking nicely.
Holbert managing to block the knees to the body from Henry .
Knees in the clinch landing for Henry .
Henry wants a takedown.
Henry misses with a knee to the head.
Holbert tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Henry just stands there and leans against the cage.
Holbert jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henry walks away with a smile on his face. Holbert gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry tries to clinch up but Holbert circles away and keeps his distance.

Holbert gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holbert takes an elbow to the forehead.
Holbert avoiding damage as Henry throws knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Henry .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry pushes off an throws an elbow but Holbert leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Holbert gets underhooks to prevent Henry 's takedown attempt.
Henry lands a nice knee to the body.
Henry drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holbert pulls his leg out and moves away.
William Holbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonthan Henry .
Henry slaps away a takedown attempt from Holbert, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Henry gets a clinch.
Henry misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holbert.
Henry gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holbert is trying to break the clinch but Henry has him pressed against the cage.
Henry misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holbert.
Holbert jumps guard but Henry turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Henry is looking for a takedown.
Jonthan Henry seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Holbert.
Henry gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Henry has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Holbert avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Holbert breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch up but Holbert swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Holbert misses with a body kick.
A head kick from Holbert lands but Henry takes it in his stride.

Henry has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holbert blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Henry has a couple of punches blocked by Holbert.
Holbert managing to block the knees to the body from Henry .
Henry misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holbert jumps guard but Henry turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Henry tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Holbert avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holbert blocking some punches.
Holbert avoiding damage as Henry throws knees to the body.
Henry landing knees to the head.
Henry pushes off an throws an elbow but Holbert leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Holbert is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henry gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Henry tries to land a knee to the head but Holbert blocks with his arms.

Holbert escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henry checks a leg kick nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Holbert.
Holbert circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henry tries to close the distance and clinch but Holbert swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Holbert is looking to counter with head kicks.
Henry fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Henry looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henry rushes Holbert and presses him up against the cage.
Henry is working for takedown but Holbert is calmly controlling the position for now.
Henry drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holbert pulls his leg out and moves away.
Henry tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Holbert instigates a clinch.
Holbert on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Holbert avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Henry prevents a takedown attempt there.
Henry landing knees to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henry looking for a takedown.

Holbert pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holbert pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Henry back to the cage. Holbert follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
William Holbert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holbert looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonthan Henry comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henry 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonthan Henry !
Jonthan Henry was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.