PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Henry (ranked 7407 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Pilpil (ranked 7516 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Pilpil will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Henry
vs
Pilpil

178 cm
24
194 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Pilpil!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pilpil fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Henry shoots for a double leg takedown but Pilpil sprawls well. He's pushed Henry's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pilpil wants to counter the offense by Henry and move into the clinch position.
Pilpil misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henry.

Pilpil clinches with his opponent.
Pilpil tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Pilpil tries for a takedown but Henry manages to get underhooks.
Lenny Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Pilpil.
With the fighters up against the cage, Henry throws an elbow but misses.
Henry creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry is struggling to control the position.
Pilpil drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pilpil tries to break the clinch but Henry is controlling the position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Henry pushes off an throws an elbow but Pilpil leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Henry taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Pilpil.

Henry's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

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.
Pilpil tries to score a power double leg takedown but Henry sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pilpil somewhat.

Henry has taken the fight to the clinch.

Pilpil's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pilpil misses with a head kick.
Henry shoots for a double leg takedown but Pilpil sprawls well. He's pushed Henry's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Pilpil darts in and clinches Henry up against the cage.

Pilpil turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Henry throws Pilpil to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pilpil shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Henry is trying to defend but Pilpil finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Henry moves into full guard.
Henry trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pilpil is one step ahead there.
Henry is working hard here to advance position.
Pilpil 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 crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henry is looking to stand up but Pilpil isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lenny Henry will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pilpil clinches with his opponent.

Pilpil pulls guard.
Henry looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Henry stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pilpil instigates a clinch.
Pilpil tries a knee to the head but Henry blocks it.

Pilpil has hold of one of Henry's legs. Henry is fighting the takedown attempt but Pilpil gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Lenny Henry overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilpil is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pilpil looking to pass the guard.
Pilpil controlling from the top position.
Henry wants to get back to his feet but Pilpil is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pilpil engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Henry is adopting a defensive guard.
Pilpil wants to control from the top but Henry keeps moving.

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.
Henry is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pilpil is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Pilpil moves into the clinch successfully.
Pilpil has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pilpil tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Henry smiles and moves away.
Henry shoots for a takedown but Pilpil saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Henry closes the distance and pushes Pilpil back into the cage.
Henry creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilpil is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Henry is defending well.
Pilpil fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lenny Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Pilpil.
Henry manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Pilpil looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Henry lands with a right to the head.
Pilpil takes a shot to the head.
Pilpil jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henry walks away with a smile on his face. Pilpil gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mark Pilpil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henry tries to clinch up.
Henry tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pilpil sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henry somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilpil looks for a takedown but Henry sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Henry.
Henry leaves Pilpil with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pilpil fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Pilpil will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pilpil throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Henry's waist but Henry gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pilpil off to one side.
Lenny Henry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pilpil slaps away a takedown attempt from Henry, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pilpil throws a left and a right that both miss

and Henry counters by clinching up.
Lenny Henry has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Henry throws a punch but it's blocked by Pilpil.
Pilpil tries for a takedown but Henry manages to get underhooks.
Pilpil blocks an elbow strike.
Pilpil wants to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pilpil backwards.

Pilpil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilpil lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Henry circles away quickly and effectively.
Henry feinted with a counter takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Henry or perhaps it was just good defense by Pilpil, which made it look bad.
Pilpil is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Henry stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henry wants it to stay on the feet.
Henry seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lenny Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Pilpil.

Henry gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Henry is trying to break free.
Henry blocks a body shot from Pilpil.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Pilpil escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pilpil dives in and grabs Henry's left leg, looking for a takedown. Henry pushes down on Pilpil's head and hops out.
Pilpil takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pilpil avoids the head kick by Henry.
Pilpil tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Henry swivels and escapes.
Henry fails to land the takedown.
Henry has a takedown stuffed.

Pilpil closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Henry did well to prevent Pilpil getting side control.
Henry is refusing to be controlled, as Pilpil sits in half guard.
Henry makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Henry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilpil is looking to stand up but Henry won't let him.
Henry looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Henry is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Henry in particular looking to stall.
Pilpil is trying to control but Henry passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry controls the position.
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.

Henry stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Henry shoots in and gets a takedown into Pilpil's guard.
Pilpil is looking to stand back up but Henry counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Pilpil.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Pilpil comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mark Pilpil!