PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mycroft James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lenny Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Henry

180 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

CBK MMA Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mycroft James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lenny Henry!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Henry.
James scores with a hook to the body. Henry takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henry is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Henry circles away and we're back to standing.
James slips a jab and a cross from Henry.
Henry lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Mycroft James has been cut.
James leaves Henry with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Lenny Henry has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henry fails to land with a series of punches.
James avoids the head kick by Henry.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henry pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Henry looks gassed!

Henry bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Henry avoids the strikes from the bottom by James.
Henry working away.
James is looking to get back to his feet here but Henry is keeping cool and he's managed to take James's back.
James holding both Henry 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Henry off. It looks like it's working - Henry slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! James displaying calm under pressure there.
James tries to bum rush Henry with a series of wild strikes but Henry uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James throws a body punch but Henry moves out of range.
Henry misses with a double jab
and James makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
James scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Henry misses with a double jab
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

James gets a clinch.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henry misses with a head kick.
Lenny Henry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James thuds his shin into the meat of Henry's side.
Henry closes the distance looking to clinch
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James throws a body kick that misses.
Henry looks to clinch

and James counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Henry's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Henry is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Henry connects with a high kick.
Henry tries to clinch
and James counters with a solid body kick.
Henry throws a head kick that misses
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry throws a nice head kick!
Henry throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Henry throws a lazy head kick

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Henry wants to stand and escape but James is having none of it.
Henry keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henry is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Henry decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Henry looks to clinch
and James counters with a straight right hand.
James swinging wilding here.
Henry throws a sloppy head kick
and James counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
Mycroft James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Henry.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Henry lands a high kick!
Nice cross by James.
Henry takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
James connects with a jab.
Henry throws a head kick that misses
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henry wants to clinch but James slips to the side
and James counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Henry looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A head kick misses from Henry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mycroft James dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick misses from Henry.
Henry shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James misses with a wild combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for James.

James shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Henry wants to sweep but James has passed to side control!
Henry takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

James stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henry tries to clinch up

and James counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Henry or not.
Henry wants to break the clinch but can't.

James breaks from the clinch.

James instigates a clinch.
James tries to work over Henry's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Henry breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James circles away from the clinch attempt
and James counters with a left to the body.
James circles away from the clinch attempt

and James counters by clinching up.
James lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Henry breaks the clinch.
Henry takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry throws a head kick that misses.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henry pinned against the cage. Henry gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henry moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
James avoids the head kick by Henry.
Henry closes the distance looking to clinch

and James moves into the clinch.

James jumps guard and drags Henry to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Henry works over James with some ground and pound from guard.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Henry is looking to escape.
James thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
James is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Henry can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Henry is wriggling around trying to escape.
Henry sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Henry gets back to full guard.
Henry is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Henry has wrist control.
Henry working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.

That's four 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.

Henry manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Henry throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Mycroft James is winning the standup battle so far.
Henry throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
Henry keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from James.
Henry displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
Henry throws a nice head kick!
Henry lands a head kick. James smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick misses from Henry.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Henry which made him look bad.
Henry tries a head kick but it misses.
Henry lands a head kick. James smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
James throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mycroft James dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Henry closes the distance looking to clinch

and James counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James controlling the action here for a moment.
Henry tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.

Henry breaks from the clinch.
James lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mycroft James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Henry.
Henry closes the distance looking to clinch

and James moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from James.

James has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Henry regains guard immediately.

Henry pushes James off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James with a jab.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henry moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henry throws a nice inside leg kick.
A head kick by Henry misses
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
James avoids the head kick by Henry.
Henry misses with an attempted mid kick.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Henry's guard.

Henry scrambles and gets back to his feet.
James tries to clinch up.
Henry fails with a takedown attempt.
Henry throws a combination that misses
and James counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James circles away from the clinch attempt
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Henry throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by James.
James thuds his right hand into Henry's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Henry throws a head kick but James moves out of range.

James moves into the clinch successfully.

James breaks from the clinch.
Henry misses with a body kick.
James bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Henry's head.
A swing and a miss from Henry.

James clinches up against the cage.
James working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henry escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henry throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Henry tries to clinch but fails miserably

and James counters by clinching up.
Henry connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Henry pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henry.

James takes the fight into the clinch.

Henry has James pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Henry pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending James tumbling to the mat - Henry dives into James's guard.
James wants to stand and escape but Henry is having none of it.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henry is one step ahead there.

Henry gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Henry misses

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Henry wants to break free but James has control.
James trying to control the position but instead, Henry has worked for underhooks and has pushed James into the cage.
Henry throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mycroft James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Henry drops down looking for an ankle pick but James pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mycroft James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Henry.
James scores with a nice right hand.
Henry throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Henry misses with a combination
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Henry backing up. Henry nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
James moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lenny Henry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick by Henry misses

so James counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mycroft James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mycroft James!