PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Root (ranked 5604 p4p, 186 weight class) and Pedro Henrique (ranked 23405 p4p, 256 weight class). Pedro Henrique will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Root
vs
Henrique

190 cm
27
285 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

200 cm
26
300 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Root!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pedro Henrique!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henrique swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Root counters with a thumping low kick.
Henrique throws a left and a right that both miss

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

The fighters are working up against the cage. Henrique manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Henrique on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Root pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henrique shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Root defends it nicely.

Root instigates a clinch.

Root manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Root looking to control.

Root looking for a guillotine here but Henrique defends easily.
Henrique tries to free his leg and advance position but Root is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique forces his way into half guard.

Root manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Henrique keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Root throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Henrique blocks it with crossed arms.
Root fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Henrique wants to stall.

Henrique is fighting off a takedown attempt but Root is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Henrique to the mat. Henrique regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Root lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Root wants to control from the top but Henrique keeps moving.
Henrique is controlling Root's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Root tries to stand but Henrique is controlling from the bottom.
Henrique trying to control the position.
Root wants to get up but he can't break Henrique's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Root wants to pass the guard but Henrique is keeping the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique keeping moving, preventing Root from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No joy there for Henrique, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Root fails to land the takedown.
Root tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Henrique was well out of range. Poor timing from Root.
Henrique throws a series of punches but Root moves out of range.

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

Root stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Henrique throws a one two combo.
Henrique throws a body kick that misses.
Henrique looks winded!

Henrique gets tackled into the cage by Root. Root maintains the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Root's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henrique pivots, looking for a leg kick but Root is out of range and Henrique settles back down.

Root feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Root is pushing down on Henrique's leg trying to pass to half guard. Henrique is fighting to maintain full guard but Root has managed to sneak the leg through.
Root missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Henrique manages to get to full guard.
Root trying to control but Henrique is working from the bottom.

Root stands up from Henrique's guard - Root perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Root dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Henrique circles away from the clinch attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Henrique scores with a four punch combination!

Root closes the distance and clinches.
Henrique letting Root take a breather here.
Root landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Henrique breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henrique looks to land a combination but Root avoids it well.
Henrique lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Root circles away quickly and effectively.

Root moves into the clinch.
Root taking a breather.
Henrique throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Roots head.
Root is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Henrique is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Root's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Root gets a clinch.
Root is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Henrique is defending well.
Henrique scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Root escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henrique tries a head kick but it misses.
Root shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henrique pinned against the cage. Henrique gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Root. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henrique rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Root moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henrique throws a head kick that half lands.
Henrique is breathing heavily.
Henrique slaps away a takedown attempt from Root, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henrique lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Root sprawling to the canvas. Henrique follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Root hang on?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Root is not content to let Henrique control the position.
Root is looking to improve his position.
Henrique frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Root wants to control but Henrique is having none of it.
Henrique prevents Root from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Root wants to control but Henrique is having none of it.
Root is desperately trying to improve his position but Henrique has a good base and remains in mount.
Henrique raining down shots from the mount!
My spies in Cozad MMA Helsinki inform me that Henrique has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Root tries to reverse the position but Henrique maintains control.
Henrique punishing his opponent with strikes.
Robert Root overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henrique looking to finish with strikes here!
Root takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henrique takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Root is trying desperately to improve position.
Henrique can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Root is looking to escape.
Root is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Henrique trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Henrique showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Root pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Henrique slips under a jab from Root.
Henrique avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henrique wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Root tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henrique swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pedro Henrique seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henrique misses with an attempted mid kick.

Henrique pushes Root up against the cage in a clinch.
Root trying to land knees to the body.
Henrique has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Henrique taking a breather.

Henrique breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Root buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Henrique. No joy for Root on that attempt.
Henrique rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Root moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Root avoids a punch combination nicely.
Root throwing a counter right hand but Henrique manages to avoid it.
Root tries for a takedown but Henrique sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henrique misses with a wild combination.
Henrique displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Root.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Root. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henrique throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Henrique will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Root shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henrique pinned against the cage. Henrique gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henrique throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Henrique misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Root tries to clinch but Henrique is having none of it.
Pedro Henrique seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Root shoots in but Henrique avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Henrique throws a counter combo.

Root clinches up against the cage.
Henrique tries to break free but Root pushes him back against the cage.
Root has Henrique pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Henrique manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Root scores with a shot to the side of Henrique's head.
Root has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Henrique is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Henrique can't break the clinch.
Root drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Henrique gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique is trying to push Root away but Root has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Root looking to throw knees to the head but Henrique is blocking nicely.

Henrique breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Root keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Root scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Henrique throws Root to one side and escapes!
Henrique closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henrique misses with a body kick.
Root fails in his attempt to clinch.
Root misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Root slips a jab and a cross from Henrique.
Root lands a head kick. Henrique smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Root moves into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Henrique is trying to break the clinch but Root has him pressed against the cage.

Root pulls guard successfully.

Root had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Henrique defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Henrique comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Henrique 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Henrique!
Pedro Henrique seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.