PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Henry (ranked 7873 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Simond (ranked 24114 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henry
vs
Simond

178 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
23
192 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 - 2 - 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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Simond!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Simond feints and as Henry raises his hands in defense, Simond changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Simond tries to free his leg and advance position but Henry is retaining full guard.
Simond keeps trying to improve his position.
Henry working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Simond.
Simond working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henry is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Simond trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simond wants to pass the guard but Henry is keeping the position.
Simond landing with the ground and pound.
Simond throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Henry works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Simond postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Simond pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henry is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simond is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Simond stopping the sweep attempt from Henry.
Simond throwing strikes from guard but Henry blocks nicely.
Simond scoring with some ground and pound.
Henry has Simond pulled in close to control his posture.
Simond throwing strikes but missing.
Simond won't allow Henry to sweep him here.
Simond is looking to work some ground and pound but Henry has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Simond chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henry wants to stand and escape but Simond is having none of it.
Simond trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Simond from controlling successfully.
Henry lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Simond stopping the sweep attempt from Henry.
Simond won't allow Henry to get back to his feet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Simond throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Simond prevents Henry from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Henry forces Simond back against the cage and clinches.

Simond pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henry showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Simond.
Simond throws out a loose jab but Henry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henry is looking to counter the offense by Simond and move into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simond takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Simond lands a two punch combo.
Simond misses with a wild combination.

Simond shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Henry's guard.

Henry has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Simond has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henry misses with an elbow strike.
Henry keeps control of Simond as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Simond can't break the clinch.
Simond taking a breather.
Simond tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Simond.
Simond looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Simond is working for takedown but Henry is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lenny Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Simond.
Simond is looking to break free of the clinch but Henry has double underhooks.
Simond is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Simond is trying to pull guard but Henry has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simond wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henry has him pressed against the cage.
Simond tries to circle away but Henry has him pinned against the cage.

Henry escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Simond dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Henry looks for a takedown but Simond sprawls well.
Simond looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Simond looks to score with a jab to the body but Henry is just out of range.
Simond dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Simond shoots in and drives through. Henry sprawls well.
Henry wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Simond is trying hard to land a takedown here. Henry sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Simond tries to bum rush Henry with a series of wild strikes but Henry uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Henry slips under a jab.
Simond throws a series of strikes that have Henry backpedaling.
Simond throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simond throws a big shot that misses.
Simond throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Simond fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lenny Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Simond.
Simond is breathing heavily.
Henry bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simond looks to score with a jab to the body but Henry is just out of range.
Jeff Simond seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simond fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henry manages to avoid it.
Simond changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Henry tries to avoid it but Simond manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Henry to the ground. Henry escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Simond shoots in but no luck this time.
Simond shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henry defends it nicely.
Simond fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Henry shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Simond pinned against the cage. Simond gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Henry closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Henry lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simond has his foot on Henry's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Henry works his way back into a safe position though.
Henry looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Henry's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Simond wants to control the position but Henry says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simond is looking for a sweep. Henry is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Henry decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Jeff Simond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simond tries for a takedown but Henry circles away easily

and Henry counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Henry 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.
Simond is looking to control Henry's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Simond avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry controlling the action here.
Simond slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henry's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Henry dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Simond tries to land a body kick

so Henry counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Simond looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henry is one step ahead there.

Henry got a little sloppy there for a moment and Simond has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Henry has managed to get both his arms back between Simond's legs - danger averted.
Henry looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Simond working for a triangle but Henry defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simond can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henry controls the pace.

Simond is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henry defends well.

Henry decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Simond, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Simond misses with a few strikes there.
Simond misses with a few strikes there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Henry.
Simond takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simond manages to work his way to half guard, despite Henry's best efforts.
Henry is controlling the pace.
Simond trying to control but Henry postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henry stands up and beckons Simond to join him on the feet.
Henry fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Simond is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sloppy strikes from Simond. Those never looked like landing.
Simond jabs at Henry's body.
Simond lands a nice hook to Henry's body. Henry takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lenny Henry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henry shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simond as he jumps to the side.
Simond is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Simond scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simond just misses with a punch to the body.

Henry decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Henry prevents Simond from improving his position.

Henry postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Simond to stand up.
Simond looks to land a combination but Henry avoids it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simond thuds a left hand into Henry's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Henry.
Simond is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lenny Henry showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henry has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lenny Henry!