PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Bowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Henderson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ryan Bowles's chin.

Henderson
vs
Bowles

169 cm
21
137 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Bowles!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Bowles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Henderson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Henderson avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bowles.
Henderson blocks the strikes from Bowles.
Bowles struggling a bit here.
Bowles has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bowles tries to improve position but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bowles misses with a takedown

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowles tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Henderson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
It looks like Henderson is going to stand back up.
Henderson is thwarting Bowles's attempts to control the position.
Bowles avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Henderson.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Henderson wants to take a breather but Bowles is having none of it.
Bowles is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Henderson content to control rather than advance.
Henderson wants to take a breather but Bowles is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bowles wants to control but Henderson is keeping busy.
Bowles is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Henderson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bowles has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henderson is working away from the top position though.
Bowles is staying active underneath Henderson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Still in half guard, Henderson seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bowles does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henderson blocks a head kick by Bowles.
Henderson slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson shoots in but Bowles avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Henderson moves out of range of the strikes.
Henderson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bowles throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bowles won't be happy with that.
Bowles looks gassed!
Bowles struggling a bit here.
Bowles is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Bowles is looking for a sweep.
Henderson is working Bowles over with some ground and pound from side control.
Henderson staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Henderson wants to control but Bowles is keeping him busy.
Bowles being controlled for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Bowles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henderson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bowles tries to clinch up.

Bowles shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Henderson's guard.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bowles is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bowles wants to stand but Henderson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bowles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henderson is keeping the position for now.

Henderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bowles is breathing heavily.
Henderson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henderson tries for a takedown but Bowles circles away easily

and Bowles counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Henderson's guard now.
Henderson has control of Bowles's left arm, preventing Bowles from doing any damage.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Bowles from controlling successfully.
Bowles stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.

Henderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bowles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henderson being controlled here, momentarily.
Henderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henderson tries to get out of the position.
Henderson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bowles wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bowles throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown. Bowles fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bowles is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bowles wants to get back to full guard.
Bowles trying to control here.
Henderson controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bowles is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Bowles flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bowles wants to improve his position but Henderson is controlling well.
Henderson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Henderson is trying to work for a kimura but Bowles is defending well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henderson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bowles can pounce on him.
Bowles misses with a combination

and Henderson moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Henderson wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Bowles will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bowles fails to land with a series of punches.

Bowles looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Henderson tries to get to full guard but Bowles has control of the leg.
Henderson manages to get to full guard.
Henderson has Bowles pulled in close to control his posture.
Henderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bowles is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Bowles from controlling successfully.
Bowles is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Henderson trying to control the position here.
Bowles postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henderson tries for a takedown but Bowles circles away easily
and Bowles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

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.

Bowles instigates a clinch.
Henderson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bowles walks away with a smile on his face. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Bowles scores with a takedown into Henderson's guard.
Henderson working a defensive guard here.
Bowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson controls Bowles momentarily but Bowles frees himself.
Bowles trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Bowles thows a big elbow that misses.
Bowles is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Bowles is proving a slippery customer.
Henderson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bowles is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bowles throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Henderson avoids the body shot from Bowles.
Bowles tries for a takedown but Henderson circles away easily

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowles is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Henderson lands a couple of digs.

Bowles escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Henderson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henderson 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.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bowles swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryan Bowles.
I think Bowles has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Bowles!