PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Goodman (ranked 4452 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Henry (ranked 5246 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Goodman
vs
Henry

225 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Goodman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Henry!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goodman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Henry throws a big counter head kick but Goodman avoids it with no problem.
Goodman wants to clinch up but Henry keeps it at a distance.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but Goodman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Goodman misses with a two punch combination.
Henry is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Henry tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Goodman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Goodman misses with a two punch combination.
Goodman misses with a jab, cross combination.

Goodman rushes Henry and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Henry.
Henry can't get the takedown.
Henry effectively controlling the action here.
I was talking to Goodman's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Goodman misses with some punches.

Henry breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goodman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Henry forces Goodman back against the cage and clinches.
Henry blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henry escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Goodman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Goodman wants to clinch.
Goodman throws a right hand that Henry ducks under and follows up with a left that Henry also avoids with ease.
Goodman throws a series of punches but Henry avoids them all with ease.
Henry feints the counter takedown.
Henry takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Henry rushes Goodman and presses him up against the cage.
Goodman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Goodman misses with the head strike.
Henry displaying some good clinch control by pressing Goodman up against the cage.

Henry tightens his grip and picks Goodman up, before dumping him to the ground. Goodman manages to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Goodman is looking to stand up but Henry isn't so interested in that idea.

Henry stands and steps away. Goodman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodman leaves Henry with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Steve Goodman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Henry.
Goodman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henry circles away from the clinch attempt.
Goodman misses with a two punch combination.
Henry dives in for a single leg takedown but Goodman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Goodman tries to clinch but Henry is having none of it.
Henry swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Henry shoots in but Goodman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Goodman stalks Henry and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Henry's face. Henry staggers backwards, shaken.
Goodman throws a nice looking combination but Henry bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Goodman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henry paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henry feints the counter takedown.
Steve Goodman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henry shoots in looking for a takedown. Goodman tries to sprawl out of it but Henry keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Goodman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Goodman is looking for a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Goodman.
Henry feints the counter takedown.
Goodman throws a series of punches but Henry moves out of range.
Goodman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henry.
Henry dives in and grabs Goodman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Goodman pushes down on Henry's head and hops out.
Goodman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Goodman throws a right hand that Henry ducks under and follows up with a left that Henry also avoids with ease.
Goodman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Goodman closes the distance and clinches.
Goodman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Goodman throws a punch but it's blocked by Henry.
Goodman misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodman swings wildly with an uppercut but Henry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Goodman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Goodman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Goodman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Henry is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Henry drops down looking for an ankle pick but Goodman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Goodman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henry moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Goodman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Despite the aggression on Henry's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goodman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henry paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henry avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Goodman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Goodman tries to clinch but Henry moves out of range.
Goodman tries to clinch up.
Henry avoids a punch combination nicely.
Henry looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A nice combination there by Goodman.
Henry dives in for a single leg takedown but Goodman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Steve Goodman is winning the standup battle so far.
Goodman doesn't manage to clinch there - Henry circles away.
Goodman misses with a few strikes there.
Goodman throws a right hand that Henry ducks under and follows up with a left that Henry also avoids with ease.
Goodman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Goodman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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

Goodman pushes Henry off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Goodman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Henry drives through and clinches with Goodman against the cage.
Henry is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Henry blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Goodman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Henrys head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henry is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Henry just leaning against Goodman, taking a breather.
Henry receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

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

Henry has managed to clinch.
Goodman misses with the head strike.
Henry tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Goodman just stands there and leans against the cage.
Steve Goodman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Henry.
Henry is trying to pull guard but Goodman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Henry tries to pull guard but Goodman won't allow it.

Henry pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henry shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Goodman sprawls well. Goodman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henry gets slowly back to his feet.
Goodman slips a jab and a cross from Henry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry has a takedown stuffed.
Henry is breathing heavily.
Henry shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Goodman pinned against the cage. Goodman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Goodman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Henry can do to turn this around?
Goodman looks to land a combination but Henry avoids it well.
Goodman closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goodman wants to clinch up but Henry keeps it at a distance.
Henry shoots in looking for a takedown. Goodman tries to sprawl out of it but Henry keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Goodman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Henry takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Steve Goodman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Henry rushes Goodman and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Goodman fails to land.

Henry lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodman tries to kick Henry off but Henry keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mike Henry has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henry trying to control from half guard but Goodman is working away.
Goodman is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Goodman has one foot on Henry's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Goodman tries to clinch there but Henry circles away.
Goodman stuffs the takedown attempt from Henry. Henry gets slowly back to his feet.
Goodman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Goodman works over Henry's head and body with a nice combination.
Goodman throws a nice looking combination but Henry bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goodman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Goodman swinging wildly here.
Steve Goodman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Goodman throws a series of punches but Henry avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goodman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Henry showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Goodman.
Henry changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Goodman tries to clinch up.
Goodman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry dodges the punch combination from Goodman.
Henry misses the jab.
Goodman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Henry manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Henry clinches up against the cage.
Goodman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Goodman misses with a punch on the inside.
Goodman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Goodman dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Goodman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Goodman throws a right hand that Henry ducks under and follows up with a left that Henry also avoids with ease.
Henry wants to counter the offense by Goodman and move into the clinch position.
Goodman is looking to clinch.
Henry swats away the attempt to clinch by Goodman.
Henry will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Goodman tries to clinch but Henry is having none of it.
Goodman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Goodman throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Henry shoots in for a double leg but Goodman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Henry tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Goodman swivels and escapes.
Steve Goodman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Henry.
Some wild striking there from Goodman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Henry darts in and clinches Goodman up against the cage.
Henry takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Goodman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Goodman lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Goodman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Henry leaning against his opponent.

Henry breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Goodman fails to land with a series of punches.
Goodman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henry tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Goodman defends well and Henry ends up having to push Goodman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Goodman.
Goodman takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Goodman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Goodman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henry scores with a jab to the body.
Henry throws a head kick but Goodman moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Goodman throws a nice looking combination but Henry bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Goodman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Goodman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Goodman gets caught flat footed, as Henry shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Henry is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Henry stops Goodman from standing up.
Goodman trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Henry throwing strikes but missing.
Henry won't allow Goodman to get back to his feet.
Goodman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodman keeping moving, preventing Henry from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Henry is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Goodman misses with a few strikes there.
As Goodman backs off Henry throws a huge counter combo but Goodman manages to avoid it all.
Goodman wants to clinch up but Henry keeps it at a distance.

Henry clinches with his opponent.
Goodman swings wildly with an uppercut but Henry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henry is pushing Goodman up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Henry successfully pulls guard.
Henry tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henry has a closed guard, preventing Goodman from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodman wants to stand and escape but instead Henry has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Henry trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henry stops Goodman from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henry trying to control but Goodman is working from the bottom.
Henry trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Goodman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Henry is controlling him.
Henry with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mike Henry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henry prevents Goodman from getting back to his feet.

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 Steve Goodman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Goodman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Goodman!