PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zach Assad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben OHenry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zach Assad has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Assad
vs
OHenry

175 cm
18
154 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zach Assad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben OHenry!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assad moves in looking to clinch but OHenry pushes him off.
Assad throws a sloppy head kick and OHenry moves out of range easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from OHenry.
Assad tries to close the distance and clinch up but OHenry swats him away and circles back towards the center.
OHenry swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sloppy strikes from Assad. Those never looked like landing.
OHenry lands with a good body shot.
Assad wants to clinch up but OHenry keeps it at a distance.
OHenry misses with a wild body shot.
Assad tries to land a leg kick but OHenry saw it coming and moves away.
And OHenry tries to counter it with a takedown but Assad pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Assad looks to clinch
and Assad takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assad wants to clinch

so OHenry counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
OHenry throws a strike but Assad rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Assad working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Assad being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OHenry wants to sweep here but Assad controlling him for the moment.
Assad trying to control but OHenry is working from the bottom.
Assad looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
OHenry wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Assad throwing strikes from guard but OHenry blocks nicely.
OHenry is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Assad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Assad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Assad wants to pass the guard but OHenry is keeping the position.
OHenry is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
OHenry is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Assad avoiding damage under a succession of punches from OHenry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OHenry looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
OHenry is looking to advance position but Assad won't allow it.
Assad is looking for a sweep. OHenry is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Assad is defending against the submission attempts here by OHenry.
Still in half guard, OHenry seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Assad wants to get back to full guard but OHenry has mounted him!

OHenry with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
OHenry lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
OHenry lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
OHenry controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Assad avoids a series of strikes thrown by OHenry.
OHenry looking to control but Assad is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

OHenry keeps the fight on the outside.
A countering left hand to the body from OHenry misses.
Assad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Assad backs off OHenry throws a huge counter combo but Assad manages to avoid it all.
Assad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Assad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
OHenry avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as OHenry checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Assad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Assad pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assad misses with a low kick.
Assad throws a leg kick but OHenry checks it.
Despite the aggression on OHenry's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Assad swings for the body but OHenry moves out of range.
OHenry throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assad pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zach Assad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Assad doesn't manage to clinch there - OHenry circles away.
OHenry is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Zach Assad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Assad dodges the punch combination from OHenry.
Assad seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
No joy there for Assad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
OHenry only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as OHenry blocks the leg kick.
OHenry unleashes a big counter combination but Assad bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A head kick misses from Assad.
Assad misses with a series of wild punches.
Assad fails with an attempt to clinch.
OHenry shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Assad as he jumps to the side.
Assad is looking for a counter combo.
Assad throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Assad misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OHenry avoids the head kick by Assad.
OHenry shoots in but Assad avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Assad is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from OHenry.
A big right from Assad misses.
Assad attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Assad throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Despite the aggression on OHenry's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
OHenry ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
OHenry lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
OHenry lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Assad circles away quickly and effectively.
OHenry swats away the attempt to clinch by Assad.
OHenry throws a right hand that Assad ducks under and follows up with a left that Assad also avoids with ease.
Assad lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
OHenry shoots in but Assad avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zach Assad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben OHenry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Assad. Those never looked like landing.
Zach Assad is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Assad.
Assad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Assad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by OHenry.
Assad doesn't manage to clinch there - OHenry circles away.
Assad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by OHenry.
Assad finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
OHenry is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Assad rather than just go for the knockout.
Assad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zach Assad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Assad fails in his attempt to clinch.
A clash of legs there as OHenry blocks the low kick.
OHenry swats away the attempt to clinch by Assad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assad defending well as OHenry loads up on a big left hand.
Assad pulls out of a head kick attempt.
OHenry tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Assad defends well and OHenry ends up having to push Assad into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Assad tries to clinch there but OHenry circles away.
Assad wants to clinch.
Assad displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as OHenry throws out the jab.
Assad is looking to clinch.
Assad buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Assad throws a right hand that OHenry ducks under and follows up with a left that OHenry also avoids with ease.
OHenry appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
OHenry throws a body punch but Assad moves out of range.
Assad drops down looking for a counter takedown but OHenry sprawls and moves away.
Assad is looking to clinch but OHenry is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Assad dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

OHenry avoids the head kick by Assad.
OHenry slips a jab and a cross from Assad.
Assad will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Assad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
OHenry tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Assad was well out of range. Poor timing from OHenry.
Assad seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
OHenry blocks a head kick by Assad.
Assad throws a leg kick but OHenry sees it coming and checks it nicely.
OHenry rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Assad moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Assad went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Assad is really struggling to find his range with his punches. OHenry's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OHenry lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Assad throws a left and a right that both miss

and OHenry counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Assad!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
OHenry taking a breather here.
OHenry working the ground and pound but Assad is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OHenry is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Assad has escaped the position, nice work there.
OHenry moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
OHenry is chipping away with strikes.
OHenry looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Assad is avoiding damage well.
A lull in the action here as OHenry stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
OHenry has knee on belly and moves into mount.
OHenry trying to control but Assad is having none of it.
Ben OHenry has got the better of the ground game so far.
OHenry working Assad over with strikes here.
OHenry lands a big shot there that rocks Assad but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
OHenry trying to control but he's not successful this time.
OHenry tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OHenry throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Assad wants to hold on but OHenry pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, OHenry cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
OHenry thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
OHenry throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
OHenry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
OHenry scoring with strikes but Assad is staying in there.
OHenry sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Assad taking shots to the head.
Assad knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for OHenry on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OHenry breaks from Assad's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Poor strikes thrown by OHenry there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

OHenry is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Assad is surviving well by controlling OHenry's body position as best he can.
OHenry controlling from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, OHenry cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

OHenry jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Assad manages to avoid the submission attempt.
OHenry misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben OHenry comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think OHenry has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben OHenry!