PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolando Souto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souto has chosen Jorge Quintero - 300 violin orchestra as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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?

Henderson
vs
Souto

184 cm
29
190 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

184 cm
32
185 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rolando Souto!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Henderson misses.
Henderson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Souto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Souto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henderson is fending him off so far but Souto persists. Nope, Henderson circles away and we're back to standing.
Souto fails with the takedown
and Henderson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Souto slips under a jab from Henderson.
Henderson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Some wild striking there from Henderson.
Souto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson gets caught flat footed, as Souto shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Souto throws a big right hand that misses.
Henderson keeping full guard, as Souto tries to pass.
Souto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Souto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Souto tries to free his leg and advance position but Henderson is retaining full guard.
Souto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Henderson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson keeping full guard, as Souto tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Souto trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Souto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Henderson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Henderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Souto on the ground.
Henderson is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A right-left combo lands from Souto.

It looks like Dan Henderson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Souto.

Souto drives through with a takedown into Henderson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Souto is proving a slippery customer.
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.
Souto advances to half guard.
Henderson wants to control but Souto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Souto trying to pass the guard but Henderson defending well.

Souto seems to be looking for submissions.
Henderson wants to improve his position but Souto is controlling well.

Souto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Henderson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Henderson wants to control but Souto is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Henderson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Souto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Souto's back!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Henderson controlling from the back.

Henderson decides to stand up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson leaves Souto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dan Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rolando Souto.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolando Souto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Henderson's cut.
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.

Souto on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Henderson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henderson wants it to stay on the feet.
Souto gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Henderson.
Dan Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Souto moves away from the strike by Henderson.
Henderson with a jab.
Souto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Souto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Henderson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Souto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
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!

Henderson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souto closes the distance looking to clinch
and Henderson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Henderson throws a shot to the body.
Henderson lands a lovely overhand right.
Henderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Souto.
Henderson works Souto's body with a nice hook.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Souto.
Dan Henderson is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson. Souto does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson lands with a nice combination. Souto backs away looking to recover.
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!
Henderson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Souto fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Henderson misses the target.
Henderson swings for the body but Souto moves out of range.
Henderson throws a shot from downtown. Souto moves away and avoids it.
A cross from Henderson lands.
Henderson misses with a series of wild punches.
Henderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Souto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Souto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Henderson, who protects the arm well.

Souto has hold of Henderson's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Henderson seems comfortable defending it but Souto has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Henderson is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Henderson is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Souto couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rolando Souto!
Rolando Souto took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.