PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Hensley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Strazas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hensley's entrance music is Eye of The Tiger. A fine choice. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hensley
vs
Strazas

185 cm
27
200 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

210 cm
27
215 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Caleb Hensley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Strazas!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strazas lands with a nice combination. Hensley backs away looking to recover.
Strazas lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Strazas scores with a sloppy right hand. Hensley should have avoided that one.
That kick from Strazas tenderised Hensley's leg. Hensley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hensley moves out of range of the body kick from Strazas.
Hensley jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

Hensley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hensley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Strazas is looking to stand up but Hensley isn't so interested in that idea.
Strazas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Strazas is trying to hold Hensley in close to prevent damage but Hensley has managed to pass into half guard.
Strazas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hensley.
Strazas pushes Hensley off looking to stand but Hensley dives back in and keeps control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Well, if Hensley is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strazas wants to get back to his feet.
Hensley seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hensley lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Hensley is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Strazas sees it coming and defends easily.
Strazas is trying to stand up here but Hensley is controlling him well.

That's two 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.

Hensley is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Strazas wants to improve his position but Hensley is controlling well.
Strazas is trying to stand back up but Hensley is controlling him
Hensley trying to control the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strazas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Strazas is trying to stand up here but Hensley is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strazas swats away the attempt to clinch by Hensley.
Strazas steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Strazas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hensley.
A slapping body kick lands there for Strazas.
Strazas connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hensley momentarily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Strazas.
Strazas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Strazas lands with a hook. Hensley tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Strazas throws a looping overhand right but Hensley ducks down to avoid it.
Strazas stuffs the takedown.
Strazas lands a high kick!
Strazas connects with the punch.
Strazas throws a head kick that misses.
Marcelo Strazas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strazas lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hensley takes a step back to recover.
That kick from Strazas tenderised Hensley's leg. Hensley is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strazas throws a sloppy head kick and Hensley moves out of range easily.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Strazas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hensley backs up against the cage.
Hensley tries to clinch but Strazas moves out of range.
Strazas works the jab nicely.

Hensley drives through and clinches with Strazas against the cage.
Hensley prevents Strazas from breaking the clinch.
Strazas tries to break free but Hensley pushes him back against the cage.
Strazas is trying to push Hensley away but Hensley has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Strazas can't break the clinch.
Strazas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Hensley tightens his grip and picks Strazas up, before dumping him to the ground. Strazas manages to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hensley tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hensley takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Strazas throws a one two combo.
Hensley chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Strazas can pounce on him.
Hensley gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Strazas counters with an outside leg kick.
Strazas moves out of range of the body kick from Hensley.
Hensley shoots in and drives through. Strazas sprawls well.
Hensley takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hensley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Strazas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Strazas lands a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hensley chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Strazas can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Strazas finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hensley walks into a straight right hand from Strazas.
Caleb Hensley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hensley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Strazas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Strazas lands with a thumping leg kick.
Strazas tries a head kick but it misses.
Strazas bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hensley's head.
Hensley takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Strazas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
That kick from Strazas tenderised Hensley's leg. Hensley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Strazas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strazas looks to throw the jab but Hensley is out of range.
Strazas scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hensley avoids a kick to the body.
Hensley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hensley is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A head kick misses from Strazas.
Marcelo Strazas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strazas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strazas scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hensley moves out of range of the body kick from Strazas.
Strazas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hensley circles away quickly and effectively.
Hensley shoots in looking for a takedown but Strazas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hensley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Hensley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hensley moves into the clinch successfully.
Strazas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hensley will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Hensley gets control of Strazas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hensley will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Strazas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hensley is controlling Strazas's posture.
Strazas wanted to stand there but Hensley had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hensley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hensley has his foot on Strazas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Strazas works his way back into a safe position though.
Strazas tries to stand but Hensley is controlling from the bottom.
Strazas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hensley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strazas wants to stand but Hensley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strazas wants to stand and escape but instead Hensley has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Hensley prevents Strazas from getting back to his feet.
Strazas wants to get back to his feet but Hensley passes into half guard.
Strazas is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hensley jumps into side control!
Strazas struggling a bit here.
Hensley lands a decent elbow from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Strazas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hensley closes the distance looking to clinch
and Strazas counters with a head kick. That will keep Hensley thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Strazas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hensley's calf.
Hensley avoids the head kick by Strazas.
Strazas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Hensley manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Strazas on his heels. He'll look to pass Strazas's guard now, I'm sure.
Strazas wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hensley manages to pass to side control.
Strazas looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strazas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hensley not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strazas is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hensley scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hensley keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Strazas trying to control here.
Hensley is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hensley works his way into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hensley punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hensley mounts Strazas! Really nice guard pass there!
Strazas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hensley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hensley tries to control but Strazas wriggling away.
Hensley takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hensley trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strazas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hensley controlling from mount.
You get the feeling that Strazas really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Hensley controlling from mount.
Strazas is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Strazas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hensley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hensley throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hensley working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strazas tries to hold on but Hensley postures up.
Hensley controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caleb Hensley showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Strazas 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Strazas!
In defeat, Caleb Hensley stepped up to the mic, saying 'I fought hard but the better man won and all I can say is congrats, and we will get them next time! Thank you.'.