PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryant French (ranked 23718 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Henderson (ranked 4893 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Henderson's choice of entrance music: Old Town Road. 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.

French
vs
Henderson

214 cm
27
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite 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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryant French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Justin Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson darts in and clinches French up against the cage.
French stalling the fight.
Henderson prevents French from breaking the clinch.

Henderson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics French uses from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells French's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Henderson wants to stand up but French is controlling him.
French content to stall in guard here.
French working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson 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.
French is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
French is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as French accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
French not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
French seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Henderson for as long as he can get away with.
French has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Henderson, not yet.
Henderson tries to strike from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

French closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
An elbow from French crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Henderson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Henderson is working to avoid the ground and pound but French connects with a decent elbow.
Henderson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
French lands a decent elbow from side control.
Henderson seems a little lost for a moment, as French dominates the positioning.
Henderson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on French's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
French not landing any meaningful shots this time.
French drops an elbow to the side of Henderson's head.
French is taking a breather. Henderson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
French working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

French is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Henderson sees it coming and defends easily.
Henderson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from French.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French trying to control the pace.
Henderson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
French in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
French slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
French has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
French not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
French trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
French throws a big right hand that misses.
French looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.

Henderson clinches.
French taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

French breaks from the clinch.

Henderson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. French looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
French is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Henderson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

French actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henderson trying to mount his opponent but French defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant French dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Henderson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. French manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
French is looking to sweep but instead, Henderson has passed into half guard.
French tries to roll over but Henderson keeps him under control.

French is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henderson pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French is trying to get back to full guard.
Henderson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Henderson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
French is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
French is refusing to be controlled, as Henderson sits in half guard.

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.
Henderson content to control rather than advance.
Henderson is continuing to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bryant French is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Henderson moves into range and clinches up with French.

Henderson breaks the clinch.

Henderson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. French looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Henderson trying to control the action but French is working from the bottom.
French is trying to buck Henderson off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Henderson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Henderson trying to control the action but French is working from the bottom.
Bryant French overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henderson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
French wants to get back to his feet but Henderson drags him back down.
Henderson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at French to see if he's OK.

That's four 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.
French struggling a bit here.
French manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Still in half guard, Henderson seems content to control.
Henderson moves nicely into side control.

Henderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. French knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Henderson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but French is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Henderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

French takes the fight into the clinch.

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

Henderson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging French to the ground. Henderson is now in French's guard.
French wants to stand but Henderson is controlling the position.
Henderson trying to control but French is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

French is looking for a triangle but Henderson pushes his legs off easily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson chips away with some ground and pound.
Henderson is looking to stand up but French won't let him.

French looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
French wants to stand up but Henderson is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A low kick from Henderson is predictable there

and French counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Henderson!
French will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
You can see the frustration on Henderson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French prevents Henderson from escaping the position.
French knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.
French trying to control the position but Henderson is working away.
French in side control, just content to control the action for now.
French works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

French is trying to get an arm triangle but Henderson is defending well.
French in the domination position with Henderson hanging on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Henderson wants to control but French postures up.
Henderson regains half guard.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet.
French not doing much here.
Henderson missing with punches from the bottom.
Henderson is not content to let French control the position.

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

That's four 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.
French throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson slips a jab and a cross from French.
French blocks a low kick nicely.
French attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Henderson looking to score a takedown here. French is defending well but Henderson drives through and ends up in French's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

French had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Henderson defends it easily.
Henderson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson won't allow French to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryant French showed his dominance in that final round.
I think French 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryant French!
Justin Henderson was interviewed post fight and said 'I will be back, and better than ever'.