PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Roy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Roy has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Roy
vs
Henderson

180 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rob Roy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joey Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Roy looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Henderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henderson somewhat.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roy but Roy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rob Roy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Henderson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson has Roy up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson pulls Roy into guard.
Roy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Roy stops Henderson from standing up.

Roy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Roy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Roy isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Henderson's guard.
Roy wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rob Roy just wasn't active enough.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Henderson misses with a body shot.

Henderson drives through with a takedown into Roy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Henderson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson preventing the sweep.
Henderson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Roy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Henderson is working Roy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Roy wants to get back to his feet but Henderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Henderson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Henderson landing some decent shots from guard.
Roy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson lands a couple of elbows.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson tries to stand but Roy is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Henderson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Henderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Roy's waist but Roy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henderson off to one side.
Henderson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Henderson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Roy to the ground. Henderson is now in Roy's guard.
Henderson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roy 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Henderson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Henderson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Henderson throws a strike but Roy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Roy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Henderson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Roy is controlling him.

Roy decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Roy sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roy scores with the left hand. Henderson knows he should have avoided that one.
Roy throws a jab when Henderson was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roy lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Henderson shoots in but Roy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rob Roy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Henderson.
Henderson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Roy dips to his left and cracks Henderson with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henderson manages to avoid it.
Henderson throws a combination that misses
letting Roy counter with a right hand.
Henderson misses with a double jab
and Roy counters with a nice uppercut.
Roy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Henderson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joey Henderson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Roy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Roy uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Henderson has time to react.
Joey Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roy lands with a hook. Henderson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Henderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roy but Roy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Roy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Roy stuffs the takedown.
Rob Roy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Henderson.
Roy tries to clinch up.
Henderson misses with a combination
and Roy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but Roy shows good takedown defense.
Roy slaps away a takedown attempt from Henderson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henderson walks into a stiff left hand from Roy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roy throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.
Henderson shoots in for a double leg but Roy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Henderson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four 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.
Roy is looking to clinch but Henderson is avoiding it.
Henderson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Horrible takedown by Henderson or perhaps it was just good defense by Roy which made him look bad.
Henderson shoots in for a double leg but Roy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Roy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henderson 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joey Henderson!