PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 1931 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Henry Jr (ranked 21425 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Jiu Jitsu by Smoke Serpent blaring out of the sound system. Andrew Henry Jr has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gracie
vs
Henry Jr

185 cm
29
181 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

182 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrew Henry Jr!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henry Jr pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gracie.
Henry Jr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Henry Jr tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Henry Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie blocks an elbow strike from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry Jr tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Henry Jr tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Henry Jr back against the cage.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie blocks the elbow strike.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
We've been informed that Henry Jr has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Henry Jr tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Henry Jr back against the cage.
Henry Jr tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henry Jr doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr misses with a knee strike.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.
Henry Jr throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Henry Jr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gracie's brow.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henry Jr tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henry Jr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Henry Jr misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Henry Jr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Henry Jr throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henry Jr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Gracie avoiding damage as Henry Jr throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry Jr missing with knees to the body.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr throws an elbow that misses.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Henry Jr.
With the fighters up against the cage, Henry Jr throws an elbow but misses.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Henry Jr lands an elbow just above Gracie 's eye.
Henry Jr comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr throws a knee to the head but misses.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Henry Jr tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Henry Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henry Jr misses with a knee to the head.
Henry Jr lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr trying to land knees to the body.
Henry Jr tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Henry Jr unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Henry Jr throws an elbow that misses.
Henry Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrew Henry Jr will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Royce Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henry Jr. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Henry Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Henry Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie is looking for a counter combo.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Henry Jr.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry Jr looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Henry Jr looks to clinch
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.
Henry Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie throws a big counter combination but Henry Jr scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Henry Jr fails to land with a series of punches.
Henry Jr tries to clinch
and Gracie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Henry Jr throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henry Jr. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henry Jr looks to clinch
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Henry Jr.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henry Jr misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henry Jr darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
Henry Jr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Henry Jr avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Henry Jr tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Henry Jr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gracie's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Henry Jr.
Henry Jr is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Henry Jr misses with a knee to the head.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr digs a right hand into Gracie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gracie's gas tank.
Henry Jr misses with a punch to the body.
Henry Jr misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie working Henry Jr over with knees to the body.
Gracie avoids a wild elbow strike from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Henry Jr in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Henry Jr is breathing heavily.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.
Gracie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Henry Jr.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gracie landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gracie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Henry Jr.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Henry Jr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gracie's brow.
Gracie avoiding damage as Henry Jr throws knees to the body.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Henry Jr is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Henry Jr lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Henry Jr trying to land knees to the body.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Henry Jr pushes Gracie back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Henry Jr throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henry Jr misses with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henry Jr misses with a knee strike.
Henry Jr misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Henry Jr.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Andrew Henry Jr seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Henry Jr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.
Henry Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gracie.
Henry Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Henry Jr avoids it.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry Jr is defending well for now.
Henry Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Henry Jr throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Henry Jr misses with the combination.
Henry Jr misses with a body punch
and Gracie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Henry Jr misses with a body punch
and Gracie counters with a three punch combo that has Henry Jr backing up. Henry Jr nods at Gracie to acknowledge the strikes.
Henry Jr lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A jab from Henry Jr misses.
Gracie throws a big counter combination but Henry Jr scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Henry Jr misses.
Gracie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Henry Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie throws a big counter combination but Henry Jr scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Henry Jr closes the distance but Gracie moves to the side
and Gracie counters with a three punch combo that has Henry Jr backing up. Henry Jr nods at Gracie to acknowledge the strikes.
Henry Jr misses with a few strikes there.
Henry Jr swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Henry Jr is looking to clinch.
Gracie went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henry Jr.
Royce Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry Jr fails to land with a series of punches.
Henry Jr closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Left hook, right uppercut from Henry Jr.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Henry Jr misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry Jr swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a series of strikes. Henry Jr will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Henry Jr tries to clinch
and Gracie counters with a two punch combo.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Henry Jr.
Gracie seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Henry Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry Jr tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
It looked like Gracie was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Henry Jr fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Henry Jr.
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!
Henry Jr moves to clinch but Gracie breaks away
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Henry Jr.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Henry Jr.
Henry Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henry Jr lands a jab-cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Henry Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Henry Jr has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Henry Jr!
Andrew Henry Jr thanked the fans post fight for their support.