PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Henry (ranked 6712 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Michaels (ranked 5015 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Henry
vs
Michaels

178 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lenny Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darren Michaels!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Henry stuffs the takedown attempt from Michaels. Michaels gets slowly back to his feet.
Henry stuffs the takedown.
Henry fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Michaels plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Lenny Henry has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henry manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Michaels on his heels. He'll look to pass Michaels's guard now, I'm sure.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Michaels holds on and takes a little breather.
Henry's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Michaels for as long as he can get away with.
Michaels 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.

Michaels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henry doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Henry manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michaels looking for a sweep. Not yet Michaels, not yet.
Michaels looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Michaels doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henry seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Michaels throws a nice looking combination but Henry bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henry is defended easily by Michaels.
Michaels with the counter takedown but Henry avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lenny Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Henry drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Henry working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Henry has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Michaels gets back to half guard.
Henry perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Michaels gets full guard.

That's four 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.
Michaels is looking to stand up but Henry isn't so interested in that idea.
Michaels will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henry looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Michaels shoots for a takedown but Henry saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Henry seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Michaels throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Michaels catches Henry with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Michaels dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lenny Henry's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Henry fails with a takedown attempt.
Darren Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Michaels.

Michaels moves into the clinch.
Michaels throws a punch but it's blocked by Henry.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Henry just misses with a elbow thrown towards Michaels's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels wants to take the fight to the mat but Henry manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Henry swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Henry creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels lands a takedown into guard.
Michaels won't allow Henry to sweep him here.
Henry has his hands on Michaels's head, controlling the position.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michaels sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Henry's guard.
Michaels passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Henry!
Henry is wriggling around trying to escape.
Michaels wants to control the pace but Henry is squirming around nicely.
Darren Michaels has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels controlling from mount.
Henry tries to hold on but Michaels postures up.

Michaels with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Henry is squirming around, avoiding Michaels's attempts to control the action.
Henry tries to hold on but Michaels postures up.
Henry is looking to improve his position but Michaels isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Henry is looking to escape.
Henry gets back to half guard.
Henry wants to improve his position but Michaels is controlling well.
Michaels trying to control from half guard but Henry is working away.
Michaels working the head and body with strikes.
Henry gets full guard.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but Henry has wrist control.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Henry keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry looking for a sweep. Not yet Henry, not yet.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henry looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Michaels puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Michaels prevents Henry from improving his position.
Michaels lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Michaels is looking for a kimura but Henry is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Michaels to get the leverage.
Henry is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lenny Henry's cut.
That's time! Henry's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Michaels throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henry was covering up waiting for the punch and Michaels finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Michaels is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Henry wants to stand up but Michaels is controlling him.
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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henry is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Michaels looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Michaels has an active guard here but Henry has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Henry wants to stand but Michaels has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Michaels moves into full guard.

Michaels isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Henry stacks Michaels on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Henry!

That's two 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.

Henry thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Michaels is trying to control Henry's posture but Henry avoids it.

Henry decides to stand back up. Henry steps back and let's Michaels get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels misses with a straight right.

Henry drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Henry advances to full mount.
Michaels sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Michaels controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Michaels tries to get to full guard but Henry has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry tries to stand and escape but Michaels is controlling the position.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet.
Michaels is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Henry jumps into side control!
Michaels tries to buck Henry off but Henry is having none of it.
Henry happy to just control the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lenny Henry showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Michaels 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Michaels!
A less than humble Darren Michaels misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.