PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleon Wright (ranked 1815 p4p, 275 weight class) and MIchael Henley (ranked 5262 p4p, 653 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that MIchael Henley was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Wright
vs
Henley

195 cm
25
209 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
199 lbs
9 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cleon Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, MIchael Henley!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wright explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Wright scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice defenses there by Wright.
Henley doesn't manage to clinch there - Wright circles away.
Henley tries to clinch up.
A good leg kick by Wright.
Nice defenses there by Henley.
Wright connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like MIchael Henley has been cut.
Henley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wright moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wright.
Wright throws the left hand but Henley avoids the punch easily.
Henley misses with the combination.
Henley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wright swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Good standup being displayed there by Wright as he connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henley tries to clinch
letting Wright counter with a right hand.
Wright tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Henley is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Wright turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wright throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Henley pushes Wright up against the cage in a clinch.
Wright taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Wright breaks from the clinch.
Henley throws a nice looking combination but Wright bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Henley throws a series of punches but Wright avoids them all with ease.
Henley swings for the body but Wright moves out of range.
Henley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Henley drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wright is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Wright looks to score with a jab to the body but Henley is just out of range.
Wright swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henley bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wright's head backwards.

Henley has Wright up against the cage in a clinch.
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!

Henley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henley on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Henley throws a quick inside leg kick.

Henley moves into the clinch successfully.
Wright pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Wright fails to land.
A short right from Henley.
Henley avoids the elbow strike from Wright, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Henley.
Wright misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Wright pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab from Wright.
Wright dips to his left and cracks Henley with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henley looks to score with a jab to the body but Wright is just out of range.
Henley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wright.
Wright connects with a looping right hand.
Wright is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Wright loads up on a big right hand but Henley slips the punch.
Henley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wright circles away quickly and effectively.
Wright throws a leg kick that misses.
Wright lands a nice shot to the body.
Wright throws a good cross that connects.
Henley takes a swing at Wright's ribcage but misses.
Wright throws a body shot but no joy.
Henley tries to land a front kick but Wright steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wright misses with a body shot.
It looks like Wright has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Henley throws a front kick aimed at Wright's knee but Wright avoids it well.
Wright lands with a nice body punch.
Wright scores with a jab. Henley acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wright misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wright throws a poor cross that misses
and Henley counters with a nice body shot.
Wright takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Henley on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A low kick from Henley is predictable there
and Wright counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That has opened up MIchael Henley's cut even more.
Henley misses with a combination
and Wright connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wright uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Henley has time to react.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henley. Wright does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henley tries to clinch up but Wright circles away and keeps his distance.
Henley lands with a shot to the body.
Wright pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wright uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Henley.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Henley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wright, pushing him back against the cage.
Henley blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Wright breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wright moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleon Wright dominated that round.
The cut man is working on MIchael Henley's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Henley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Henley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wright swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Henley counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Henley just misses with a punch to the body.
Wright half committed to a counter leg kick.
Wright thuds a left hand into Henley's body.
Wright lands a nice shot to the body.
Wright misses with a lunging right hand
and Henley counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wright avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henley lands with a right hand.
Henley checks a leg kick.
Wright digs a good hook to Henley's body.
Henley cracks Wright with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Henley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cleon Wright is winning the standup battle so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henley steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wright.
Wright throws a right hand that misses
and Henley counters with a thumping low kick.
Henley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wright.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henley tries to clinch but Wright is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henley. Wright does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wright works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Henley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wright.
Wright throws the kick towards the body but Henley avoids it.
Wright misses with a wild body shot.
Wright misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wright throws a jab when Henley was well out of range.
Wright throws a leg kick that misses.
Wright throws a big shot that misses.
It seemed like Henley was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wright throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wright chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Wright moves forwards but Henley connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wright catches Henley with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Henley tries to clinch but Wright is having none of it.
Wright blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henley moves away from the strike by Wright.
Wright just misses with a punch to the body.
Wright misses with a looping right.
Wright lands a jab to the nose.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wright lands an overhand right.
Henley drops his hands momentarily and Wright takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Henley scores with a head kick.
Wright jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Henley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wright swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henley is looking to clinch but Wright is avoiding it.
Wright fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henley manages to avoid it.
Henley now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Wright tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Henley was well out of range. Poor timing from Wright.
A little jabbing left from Henley on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Henley steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wright.
MIchael Henley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henley with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wright throws a big shot that misses.
Wright walks forward, straight into a front kick from Henley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henley moves into the clinch.

Henley breaks the clinch.
Wright swings for the body but Henley moves out of range.
Wright connects with a nice looking jab.
Henley scores with a hook to the body. Wright takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Henley throws a shot to the body.
Wright with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wright fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
MIchael Henley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Wright throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Henley is looking to clinch.
Henley is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wright rather than just go for the knockout.
Wright takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wright fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henley wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright misses with an uppercut.
Henley takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Henley scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wright doesn't seem bothered though.
Henley tries to clinch but Wright moves out of range.
Henley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wright.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wright. Henley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henley is looking to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Henley.
Wright swings for the body but Henley moves out of range.
Wright is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Henley can do to turn this around?
Wright misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henley.
Wright throws a jab but it's blocked by Henley.
Good standup being displayed there by Wright as he connects with a hook.
Wright misses with a kick to the body.
Wright misses with a hook. Henley ducked under it nicely.
Henley unleashes a big counter combination but Wright bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Danga de danga de dang - Henley scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Cleon Wright has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Henley has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleon Wright dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wright connects with a body shot.
Henley lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Henley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Wright counters with a straight right hand.
Henley walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wright looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Wright moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Henley moves into the clinch.

Wright breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wright waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Henley.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wright throws out a loose jab but Henley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henley ducks under a wild hook from Wright.
Henley throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wright on the side of the head.
Henley throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Wright stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wright throws an off balance right hand
and Henley counters with a three punch combo that has Wright backing up. Wright nods at Henley to acknowledge the strikes.
Henley staying out of range there.
Henley is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Wright lands a jab to Henley's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henley takes the fight into the clinch.
Wright looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Henley tries to stall but Wright uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Wright breaks from the clinch.
Wright throws out a loose jab but Henley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wright takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Henley moves in looking to clinch but Wright pushes him off.
Wright just misses with a punch to the body.
Henley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wright.
Wright scores with a jab. Henley acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wright fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henley manages to avoid it.
Henley is looking for the big counter here.
Wright misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Wright misses the target.
As Wright backs off Henley throws a huge counter combo but Wright manages to avoid it all.
Henley has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Wright misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henley.
Wright looks to score with a jab to the body but Henley is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henley wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Henley throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wright on the side of the head.
Wright connects with a body shot that sends Henley's belly button to the back.
Henley tries to close the distance and clinch but Wright swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wright throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Henley blocks a jab.
Wright takes a swing at Henley's ribcage but misses.
Henley defending well as Wright loads up on a big left hand.
Henley throws a right and a left that Wright avoids nicely.
Wright throws a hook but Henley blocks it.
Henley checks a low kick from Wright.
Wright loads up on a big right hand but Henley slips the punch.
Wright blocks a jab.
Wright misses with a hook to the body
and Henley counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Henley moves into range and clinches up with Wright.
Wright scores with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright misses with a hook to the ribs.
Henley looking to slow down the pace here.
Wright trying to stall but Henley improves his position.
Wright working aggressively here.
Henley looking to stall.
Wright works on Henley's body with a couple of short punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Wright.

Wright breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henley doesn't manage to clinch there - Wright circles away.
Wright throws a combination. Henley tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Henley checks a leg kick nicely.
Wright lands a right hook to the body.
Henley throws a series of punches but Wright avoids them all with ease.
Henley slips under a jab from Wright.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright misses with a wild body shot.
Wright cracks Henley with an open hand slap.
Henley checks a low kick from Wright.
Wright throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wright throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
MIchael Henley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cleon Wright is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Henley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wright manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wright wants to land a leg kick but Henley is out of range.
Henley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wright was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Henley swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henley misses with a body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Wright on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wright misses with a low kick as Henley jumps back.
Wright keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henley.
Wright dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Henley. That did some damage!
Wright staying out of range there.
Henley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleon Wright showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wright, 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cleon Wright!