PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Henderson (ranked 5144 p4p, 565 weight class) and Johnny Truth (ranked 5717 p4p, 619 weight class). Henderson comes to the cage accompanied by 2Pac - Ambitionz Az A Ridah. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henderson
vs
Truth

185 cm
25
199 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
197 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johnny Truth!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Truth misses with a hook. Henderson ducked under it nicely.
Henderson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Henderson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Truth's head backwards.
Henderson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henderson misses with an uppercut
letting Truth counter with a right hand.
Henderson avoids the body shot from Truth.
Henderson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Truth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnny Truth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Truth lands a slapping body shot.
Henderson loads up on a big right hand but Truth slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Truth counters with a one-two to the body.
Henderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Truth throws out the jab.
Henderson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Henderson misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed right hand from Truth misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Truth misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Truth.
Truth slips a jab from Henderson.
Truth ducks under a wild hook from Henderson.
Henderson throws a jab when Truth was well out of range.
Henderson connects with a single shot there.
Truth throws an off balance right hand
and Henderson counters with a right hand to the body.
Truth misses with a few strikes there.
Truth scores with a shot to the body.
Truth has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Truth swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Truth takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Henderson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Truth doesn't seem phased though.
Truth throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Henderson to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Truth is just out of range.
Henderson swings widly with a right hand
enabling Truth to counter with a crisp jab.
Henderson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Truth.
Henderson throwing a counter right hand but Truth manages to avoid it.
Henderson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Truth.
Truth stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Truth misses the shot to the body.
Truth ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Henderson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Henderson throws a hook but Truth blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson dodges the punch combination from Truth.
A little feinted left hand from Henderson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Truth misses with a body shot.
Henderson swings widly with a right hand
and Truth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Truth tests Henderson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Henderson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Truth's jab looks to have found its range, popping Henderson under the eye.
Henderson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Truth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Truth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A nice side step and Truth releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Truth closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A looping hook to the body misses from Truth. Henderson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henderson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Henderson misses with a wild body shot.
Truth scores with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Truth cracks Henderson with a good jab.
Truth just misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Truth is looking for the big counter here.
Truth ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Truth instigates a clinch.
Henderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Henderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Truth.
Truth has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Truth works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Henderson looks to land a right hand but Truth moved out of range.
Truth appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Henderson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Truth scores with a body shot.
Henderson cracks a nice hook into Truth's ribs.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Truth.
Henderson is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Truth throws a hook but Henderson avoids it easily.
Truth misses with a hook to the body
and Henderson counters with a straight right hand.
Henderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Truth was well out of range. Poor timing from Henderson.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Truth! But no joy.
Johnny Truth seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Truth is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Henderson misses with a right hand
enabling Truth to counter with a crisp jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Truth misses the target.
Henderson misses with a right hand
and Truth counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Truth steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henderson.
Henderson throws a lazy uppercut
and Truth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Henderson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Henderson throws a poor cross that misses
and Truth counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henderson throws a poor cross that misses
and Henderson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Truth tries to clinch but Henderson moves away
and Henderson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Truth misses with an uppercut.
Henderson misses with an uppercut
and Truth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Truth scores with a sloppy right hand. Henderson should have avoided that one.
Truth throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Truth.
Truth throws a predictable looking body shot
and Henderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Truth moves away.
A nice side step and Truth releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Henderson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Truth.
A jab from Truth misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Truth misses with a hook
and Henderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Truth 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.
Truth looks to land a right hand but Henderson moved out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Henderson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Henderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Truth.
Truth with a jab.
Henderson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Truth misses with a left hand
and Henderson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Henderson swings widly with a right hand
and Truth counters with a series of strikes. Henderson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Henderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Truth was well out of range. Poor timing from Henderson.
Truth looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Truth moves away.
Henderson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Truth tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Henderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Henderson throws a hook but Truth avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Truth misses with an uppercut
and Henderson counters with a left to the body.
A big right from Henderson misses.
Truth swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Truth throws a lazy right hand but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Henderson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Henderson misses with a shot to the body
and Truth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Truth scores with a jab to the body.
Truth misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Truth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Truth throws a shot from downtown. Henderson moves away and avoids it.
Truth misses with a body punch
enabling Henderson to counter with a crisp jab.
Truth missing with a left hand there. Henderson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Henderson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Truth misses with an uppercut. Henderson saw that one coming.
The crowd cheers as Truth lands an impressive looking overhand right. Henderson doesn't seem phased though.
Henderson throws a jab when Truth was well out of range.
Henderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Truth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Truth misses the shot to the body.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Truth.
Truth falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Henderson counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson blocks a jab.
Truth uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Henderson.
A jab from Henderson misses.
Henderson avoids the body shot from Truth.
Henderson misses with a straight left.
Henderson throws a looping overhand right but Truth ducks down to avoid it.
Henderson thuds a left hand into Truth's body.
Truth throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Truth moves away from the strike by Henderson.
Truth throws a poor cross that misses
and Henderson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Truth cracks Henderson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Henderson misses with an uppercut
and Truth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Henderson misses with a right hand
and Truth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson misses with a right hand
and Henderson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A shot to the body from Truth misses
and Henderson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henderson misses with a right hand
and Truth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Truth moves away.
Truth doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson slips under a jab from Truth.
Henderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Truth misses with a hook. Henderson ducked under it nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Henderson.
Henderson throws a good cross that connects.
Truth throws a body shot but no joy.
Henderson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Henderson misses with a hook. Truth ducked under it nicely.
Henderson throws a right hand that misses
and Truth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Truth throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henderson.
Johnny Truth is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Truth.
Truth uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Henderson.
Truth throws out a counter right but Henderson avoids it with no problem.
Henderson works Truth's body with a nice hook.
Truth throws a hook to the side of Henderson's head but Henderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Henderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mark Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Truth pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Truth uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Henderson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donk. Henderson catches Truth right on the button with a cross.
Truth tries to clinch but Henderson is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Henderson.
Well Truth has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Truth!
After winning the bout, Johnny Truth thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.