PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between TheDragon Reborn (ranked 3675 p4p, 409 weight class) and MIchael Henley (ranked 7251 p4p, 589 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Reborn
vs
Henley

181 cm
24
195 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

186 cm
26
199 lbs
10 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TheDragon Reborn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, MIchael Henley!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Henley checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And Henley tries to counter it with a takedown but Reborn pushes his down on his head and steps out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Reborn enables Henley to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Reborn manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Reborn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Reborn trying to control the position.
Reborn 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reborn working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reborn lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Reborn looking to sit in guard and control but Henley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Reborn seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reborn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Reborn looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Henley has picked Reborn up and slammed him! Reborn can't keep hold of the triangle and Henley manages to pass to side control!
Reborn is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Henley tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Reborn tries to control but Henley manages to take his back.
Reborn is in bad spot here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reborn breaks Henley's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Henley can't keep his opponent in guard - Reborn advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Reborn is working for a kimura here but Henley manages to reverse the position and he's now in Reborn's guard.

Reborn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henley defends well.
Henley preventing the sweep.

Henley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Henley slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henley is controlling the pace.
Henley prevents Reborn from improving his position.
Reborn trying to hold on to Henley's head to control him but Henley postures up.
Henley looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reborn wants to improve his position but Henley is controlling well.
Henley is thwarting Reborn's attempts to control the position.
Reborn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Reborn looking for submissions off his back.
Reborn wants to control but Henley is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henley moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MIchael Henley dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Henley closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Reborn's guard.
Henley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Reborn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Henley gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Reborn manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Henley manages to get himself to full guard.

Henley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Henley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reborn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reborn pushing down on Henley's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henley is looking to improve his position.

Reborn is looking for a kimura here.

Reborn wants to work for an arm triangle but Henley is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Henley manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Reborn keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Henley dodges an elbow strike from Reborn.
Henley stops a takedown attempt from Reborn.
Henley dodges an elbow strike from Reborn.

Henley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reborn clinches with his opponent.
Henley avoids a wild elbow strike from Reborn.

Henley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Henley keeping full guard, as Reborn tries to pass.
Reborn showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Reborn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Reborn drops back, looking for a kneebar! Henley looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Henley looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Henley!

Reborn is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Reborn tries to buck Henley off but Henley is having none of it.
Reborn manages to work his way to half guard, despite Henley's best efforts.
Reborn is looking for a sweep. Henley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Reborn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Reborn is looking to get back to full guard here but Henley has managed to pass to side control instead.
Reborn struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henley tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Reborn is looking to reverse the position.
Reborn is working hard here to advance position.
Reborn is trying to work for a sweep but Henley has mounted him!
Henley avoids the attempt from Reborn to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reborn manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Reborn wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MIchael Henley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Reborn gets a clinch.
Henley dodges an elbow strike from Reborn.
Henley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Reborn throws an elbow but it misses.
Henley blocks an elbow strike from Reborn.
Henley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Reborn misses with an elbow over the top.
Reborn creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Reborn gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Henley manages to break the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Henley.
Reborn is trying to improve his position.

Henley decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Henley throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Reborn was covering up waiting for the punch and Henley finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reborn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Reborn trying to keep a closed guard but Henley is proving a slippery customer.
Reborn looking to control but Henley passes into half guard.
Henley stalling.

Reborn looking for submissions off his back.
TheDragon Reborn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Reborn wants to sweep but Henley has passed to side control!
MIchael Henley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Reborn is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Henley off and has taken his back!
Reborn has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Henley's body.
Henley is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Reborn off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Reborn working for a choke but Henley is defending well.
Reborn trying to control momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reborn looking to hold on to the position here but Henley rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Henley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Reborn controls the pace.
Henley 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.
Reborn looking to sit in guard and control but Henley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reborn working for submissions but it's allowed Henley to get to half guard.
Henley prevents Reborn from improving his position.

Reborn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reborn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henley pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
MIchael Henley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henley 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... MIchael Henley!
In defeat, TheDragon Reborn stepped up to the mic, saying 'I can do better'.