PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Silvano Assunicao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gorilla Hensley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Assunicao
vs
Hensley

190 cm
23
215 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

178 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Silvano Assunicao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gorilla Hensley!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assunicao fails to land the takedown.
Assunicao blocks a head kick by Hensley.
Hensley moves in looking to clinch but Assunicao pushes him off.
Hensley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Assunicao shoots in but no luck this time.
Hensley throws a series of punches but Assunicao moves out of range.
Hensley throws a series of punches but Assunicao moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Hensley as Assunicao shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silvano Assunicao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Assunicao closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Assunicao lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hensley doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hensley can't keep his opponent in guard - Assunicao advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hensley throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Hensley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Assunicao pulls his head out easily.
Assunicao will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Assunicao throwing shots but Hensley is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Assunicao seems content to control.
Assunicao seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hensley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hensley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Assunicao.
Hensley manages to get to full guard.
Assunicao wants to pass the guard but Hensley is keeping the position.
Hensley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hensley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Assunicao gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hensley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Assunicao is one step ahead there.
Assunicao passes into half guard.
Hensley looks gassed!

Hensley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Assunicao is looking to advance position but Hensley won't allow it.
Assunicao is keen to just control but Hensley is a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hensley wants to control but Assunicao is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Assunicao is working for a submission of some sort.
Assunicao seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hensley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hensley taking some punishment here, with Assunicao in his half guard.
Hensley on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Assunicao throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Assunicao is looking for a kimura but Hensley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Assunicao to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hensley landing a few short strikes.
Assunicao 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.
Assunicao drops an elbow to the side of Hensley's head.
Hensley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Assunicao passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hensley!
Hensley is wriggling around trying to escape.
Assunicao lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Assunicao cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hensley is trying to escape the mount.
The referee warns Hensley that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Assunicao content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao landing strikes from the mount.
Assunicao tries to control but Hensley wriggling away.
Hensley flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hensley is in all sorts of trouble here.
Assunicao has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hensley takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Assunicao unloading with bombs!
Assunicao pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A nice elbow there by Assunicao.
Assunicao in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Assunicao lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Assunicao postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hensley looks a forlorn figure.
Assunicao takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hensley throws a shot from downtown. Assunicao moves away and avoids it.
Assunicao fails with a takedown attempt.
Hensley thuds a left hand into Assunicao's body.
Hensley lands a jab-cross combination.
Hensley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Assunicao misses with a takedown attempt - Hensley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Assunicao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Silvano Assunicao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Assunicao.
Hensley swinging wilding here.
Assunicao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hensley circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hensley moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hensley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hensley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Assunicao has closed the distance and engaged Hensley in a clinch.
Hensley tries to throw a body punch but Assunicao avoids it by throwing Hensley back against the cage.
Assunicao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hensley stops a takedown attempt from Assunicao.
Assunicao tries to score a body lock takedown but Hensley shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hensley's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hensley gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Assunicao.
Assunicao has a couple of punches blocked by Hensley.
Assunicao working aggressively here.
Hensley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hensley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Assunicao has Hensley pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hensley manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Assunicao is trying to stall.
Hensley slowing the pace effectively.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Assunicao.
Hensley prevents a takedown attempt there.
Assunicao is trying to drag Hensley to the mat but Hensley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Assunicao looking for a takedown.
Assunicao throws a punch but it's blocked by Hensley.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hensley as Assunicao tries to tie him up.
Hensley has Assunicao pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Assunicao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Assunicao is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hensley can't fight it off and eventually Assunicao manages to take the fight to the floor. Hensley looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Assunicao preventing the sweep.
Assunicao trying to control but Hensley is working from the bottom.
Hensley keeping full guard, as Assunicao tries to pass.

Hensley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hensley is looking to stand up but Assunicao isn't so interested in that idea.
Assunicao works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Assunicao looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hensley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao slows the pace down in half guard.
Assunicao looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Assunicao working the head and body with strikes.

Assunicao seems to be looking for submissions.
Assunicao throwing shots but Hensley is blocking nicely.
Hensley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Assunicao is working away from the top position though.
Assunicao trying to control the action but Hensley is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Assunicao shoots in but Hensley avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hensley thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gorilla Hensley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hensley throws a series of punches but Assunicao avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Hensley misses.
Assunicao fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Assunicao will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Assunicao closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hensley to the mat! Hensley manages to get full guard.
Assunicao in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hensley is looking for a triangle but Assunicao pushes his legs off easily.

Hensley looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Assunicao passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Assunicao connects with a nice short shot to Hensley's temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hensley is trying to maintain the position but Assunicao is very close to passing his half guard.
Hensley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Assunicao scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hensley wants to improve his position but Assunicao is controlling well.
Hensley strikes from the bottom but Assunicao uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Assunicao landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Hensley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hensley is working to avoid the ground and pound but Assunicao connects with a decent elbow.
Hensley tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Assunicao presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Assunicao landing strikes from the mount and Hensley is in trouble!
Hensley is in a horrible position here. Assunicao smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Assunicao scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hensley?
Assunicao postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hensley looks a forlorn figure.
Hensley is squirming around, avoiding Assunicao's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Assunicao cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Assunicao.
The referee warns Hensley that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hensley wants to hold on but Assunicao pushes him away.
Hensley in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hensley is looking to improve his position but Assunicao isn't that keen on the idea.
Hensley flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Silvano Assunicao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Assunicao pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Assunicao landing strikes, looking to finish!
Assunicao landing punches.
Assunicao lands a nice shot to the head.
Assunicao lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assunicao wants to control the pace but Hensley is squirming around nicely.
Assunicao is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hensley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hensley wants to hold on but Assunicao pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Hensley is looking to improve his position but Assunicao isn't that keen on the idea.
Assunicao lands a big shot there that rocks Hensley but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Hensley that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Assunicao connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Assunicao trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Assunicao is landing with some decent strikes but Hensley is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Assunicao has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hensley's face.
BOOM! Assunicao connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Assunicao with the ground and pound from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Assunicao there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hensley working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Silvano Assunicao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Assunicao 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Silvano Assunicao!