PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zombo Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Axe
vs
Henderson

180 cm
27
255 lbs
7 - 16 - 0

185 cm
25
215 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zombo Axe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Henderson counters with a three punch combo that has Axe backing up. Axe nods at Henderson to acknowledge the strikes.
Henderson swinging wildly here.
Axe fails with the takedown
and Henderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Henderson lands a head shot.
Henderson lands with a nice combination. Axe backs away looking to recover.
Axe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Henderson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dan Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Axe dodges the punch combination from Henderson.
Henderson misses with a lunging right hand
and Axe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Axe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A jab lands there for Henderson.
Henderson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Axe moves forwards but Henderson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Dan Henderson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Axe takes the fight into the clinch.
Henderson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Henderson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Henderson working hard to break the clinch.
Axe working Henderson over with knees to the body.
Henderson looks winded!
Henderson tries to break the clinch but Axe is controlling the position.
Axe has Henderson pressed against the cage.
Henderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Henderson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henderson lands with a right to the head.
Axe scores with a shot to the side of Henderson's head.
The referee calls for Axe to work.
Henderson misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Henderson is trying to break the clinch but Axe has him pressed against the cage.
Axe missing with knees to the body.
Henderson working hard to break the clinch.
Henderson tries to break the clinch but Axe is controlling the position.
Henderson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson working hard to break the clinch.
Henderson takes a shot to the head.
Henderson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Axe keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Henderson's efforts to push away.
Henderson wants to get back to striking at distance but Axe won't allow it.
Axe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A right hand to the body from Axe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Axe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Henderson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Axe keeps control of Henderson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Henderson blocks a body shot from Axe.
Henderson tries to pull guard but Axe holds him up against the cage and eventually Henderson drops back down to his feet.
Henderson is looking to break free of the clinch but Axe has double underhooks.
Axe stalling the fight.
Henderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Henderson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Axe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Axe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Axe.
Stalling in the clinch from Axe.
Nice body punch from Axe - that landed with a thud.
Axe scores with a shot to the side of Henderson's head.
Henderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axe's elbow.
Axe putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Henderson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axe prevents Henderson from breaking the clinch.
Henderson tries to break free but Axe pushes him back against the cage.
Henderson has had enough of the clinch but Axe keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Axe prevents Henderson from breaking the clinch.
Henderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Axe.
Axe lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Henderson lands a jab to Axe's midsection.

It looks like Dan Henderson has been cut.
Henderson throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Axe is defended easily by Henderson.
A cross from Henderson lands.
Axe needs to keep his hands up - Henderson had a free shot at his head there.
Henderson connects with a right hand. Axe shakes it off.
Henderson works over Axe's head and body with a nice combination.
Henderson misses with a series of wild punches.
Axe throws a jab when Henderson was well out of range.
Henderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Axe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Henderson.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Henderson looks to throw the jab but Axe is out of range.
Henderson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe slips a straight right by Henderson.
A nice combination there by Axe.
Henderson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Axe counters with a nice low kick that buckles Henderson's knee momentarily.
Axe sizes up Henderson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Axe fails to land with a series of punches.
Axe defending well as Henderson loads up on a big left hand.
Axe looks for a takedown but Henderson sprawls well.
Axe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henderson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Axe.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Axe.
Axe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Axe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Henderson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zombo Axe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Henderson misses.
Henderson connects with a single shot there.
Henderson misses with an uppercut
and Axe counters with a two punch combo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Axe.
Axe shoots in but Henderson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Henderson takes a swing at Axe's ribcage but misses.
Axe tries to clinch but Henderson moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Axe.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Axe working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Axe thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Axe drags him back down.
Axe is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henderson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Axe is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Axe is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Henderson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Axe thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Henderson is trying to control Axe's posture but Axe avoids it.
Axe wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.
Axe cracks Henderson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson looking for a sweep but Axe has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Axe looking to ground and pound but Henderson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zombo Axe dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Jab by Henderson.
Henderson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Henderson throws an overhand right that lands on Axe's shoulder, as Axe tries to avoid the shot.
Axe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Axe staying out of range there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Axe is defended easily by Henderson.
Henderson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Axe counters with an inside leg kick.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson lands a really nice looking cross but Axe seems unphased.
Henderson throws a shot from downtown. Axe moves away and avoids it.
Axe fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zombo Axe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Axe looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.
Henderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Good standup being displayed there by Axe as he connects with a hook.
Henderson misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson throws an off balance right hand
and Axe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Henderson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Axe lands a jab to Henderson's midsection.
Axe throws a head kick that misses.
Axe lands a leg kick that knocks Henderson off balance momentarily.
Axe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Henderson avoids it really well and circles away.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Axe.
Henderson lands a jab.
Henderson throws a right and a left that Axe avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Henderson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Axe can pounce on him.
Axe lands a jab-cross combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson. Axe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henderson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Axe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zombo Axe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Axe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henderson is fending him off so far but Axe persists. Nope, Henderson circles away and we're back to standing.
Axe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Axe!
Axe bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Axe.
Axe doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Henderson throws the left hand but Axe avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe shoots in for a takedown but Henderson shows good takedown defense.
Henderson lands with an overhand left.
Henderson throws a nice looking combination but Axe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A combination from Henderson does no damage.
Axe tries to clinch but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Axe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Good shot there by Axe.
Henderson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Axe's head backwards.
Henderson connects with a nice looking jab.
A jab from Henderson does it's job there.
Henderson misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Henderson misses its intended target.
Axe wants to clinch up but Henderson keeps it at a distance.
Henderson throws a lazy uppercut
and Axe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henderson takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Axe has closed the distance and engaged Henderson in a clinch.
Henderson can't break the clinch.
Henderson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Henderson struggles to land a body shot inside as Axe controls his hands.
Axe looking to stall.
Stalling in the clinch from Axe.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Axe lands a hook that snaps the head of Henderson backwards.
Henderson tries to break free but Axe pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zombo Axe.
I think Axe 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zombo Axe!