PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gerry Fasstte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Fasstte
vs
Henderson

168 cm
19
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
137 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gerry Fasstte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fasstte was covering up waiting for the punch and Henderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Fasstte is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henderson is aware though and is defending well.
Fasstte working a defensive guard here.
Henderson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fasstte keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Fasstte thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Fasstte throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Henderson lands a couple of elbows.
Fasstte throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Fasstte bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henderson's guard.
Henderson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fasstte avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fasstte works over Henderson with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fasstte is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Henderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fasstte landing some decent shots from guard.
Fasstte landing with the ground and pound.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fasstte is one step ahead there.
Henderson tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fasstte's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fasstte stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.
Henderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henderson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Fasstte stands up over Henderson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Henderson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Fasstte drops back, looking for a kneebar! Henderson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Henderson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Henderson!
Fasstte is breathing heavily.
Fasstte on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Henderson blocks the strikes from Fasstte.
Henderson trying to control the position but Fasstte is working away.
You can see the frustration on Fasstte's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fasstte gets back to half guard.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Fasstte's head.
Henderson is trying to control. Fasstte wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fasstte shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Henderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fasstte thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fasstte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fasstte striking off his back but it's not causing Henderson any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Fasstte is keeping the position.
Fasstte keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Henderson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Henderson stays in close to Fasstte's body and controls the position.
Henderson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fasstte sprawls well. Fasstte wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Fasstte throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Henderson counters with a takedown into side control.
Henderson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fasstte misses with an elbow from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henderson dominated that round.
That's time! Fasstte's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fasstte misses with a combination

so Henderson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Henderson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Fasstte is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Joe Henderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fasstte 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fasstte has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henderson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fasstte 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.
Fasstte trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fasstte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fasstte trying to strike off his back.
Fasstte keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fasstte doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Henderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fasstte's head.
Fasstte looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
Fasstte keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Henderson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Henderson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Fasstte trying to strike off his back.
Fasstte looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Fasstte keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fasstte throws a left and a right that both miss

and Henderson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fasstte's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson stays in close to Fasstte's body and controls the position.
Henderson postures up.
Fasstte keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Fasstte wants to sweep here but Henderson controlling him for the moment.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Fasstte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Henderson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joe Henderson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fasstte gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fasstte can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henderson controls the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Henderson shoots in and bounces Fasstte off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Henderson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Fasstte looking for subs off his back but Henderson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Henderson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fasstte manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fasstte is keeping the position for now.
Fasstte bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henderson's guard.
Henderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Fasstte drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Henderson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Fasstte has Henderson in his guard.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fasstte is keeping the position for now.
Henderson trying to control but Fasstte is working from the bottom.

Henderson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fasstte looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Henderson wanted to stand there but Fasstte had control of the position.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fasstte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Henderson preventing the sweep.

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

Henderson has managed to clinch.
Henderson cracks Fasstte with a nice body shot.

Henderson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fasstte is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Henderson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Henderson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fasstte tries to reverse the position but Henderson maintains control.
Henderson content just to control the position here.
Henderson scoring with strikes but Fasstte is staying in there.
Henderson content just to control the position here.

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.
Fasstte sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Henderson controlling the action here.
Fasstte is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Henderson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Henderson trying to control the action but Fasstte is working from the bottom.
Fasstte wants to improve his position but Henderson is controlling well.
Gerry Fasstte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henderson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Henderson!