PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Henderson

185 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

190 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Henderson!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diaz's half guard.
Diaz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Henderson uses his free foot to push down on Diaz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Diaz.
Henderson controlling the pace for now.
Henderson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Henderson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Diaz gets caught flat footed, as Henderson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson wanted to stand there but Diaz had control of the position.
Henderson is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wanted to stand there but Diaz had control of the position.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Henderson landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Diaz can't keep his opponent in guard - Henderson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Well, if Henderson 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.
Henderson prevents Diaz from improving his position.
Henderson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Diaz trying to hold on to Henderson's head to control him but Henderson postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Henderson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Henderson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Diaz controls his leg.
Henderson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Diaz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Diaz tries to roll over but Henderson keeps him under control.
Henderson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Henderson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diaz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Henderson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
Henderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Despite being in the dominant position, Blake Henderson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Henderson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diaz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Henderson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Henderson moves into the clinch successfully.
Henderson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Henderson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Diaz regains guard.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henderson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Henderson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Henderson tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.
Henderson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Henderson controlling him for the moment.
Henderson controlling from the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Henderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Henderson stands up and waves to Diaz to follow him.

That's two 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.

Henderson drives through and clinches with Diaz against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Henderson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Henderson jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Henderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diaz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henderson lands a decent shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Henderson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Henderson wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Henderson misses with a low kick.

Henderson gets the takedown into side control.

Henderson stands up and beckons Diaz to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diaz tries to land knees in the clinch but Henderson avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Henderson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Diaz jumps guard but Henderson stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Henderson jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.

Diaz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Henderson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Diaz has managed to get both his arms back between Henderson's legs - danger averted.

Diaz drops back looking for a leg! Henderson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Henderson manages to kick Diaz off! Diaz jumps back into Henderson's guard.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Henderson 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henderson gets a clinch.

Henderson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Diaz clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Blake Henderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Diaz rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Henderson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Henderson scores a takedown into full mount!
Henderson controlling the pace for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz tries to lock up and control but Henderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Henderson controlling his opponent.
Henderson landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Henderson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Diaz to take his back!
Henderson keeps control of the position as Diaz tries to break free.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Henderson controlling the positon.
Henderson controlling well, preventing Diaz from escaping the position.
Henderson is riding his opponent, not letting Diaz buck him off.
Diaz trying to control but not successfully.
Henderson is working the ground and pound. Can Diaz escape?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson scores with punches to the body.
Henderson gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Henderson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Diaz.
Diaz rolls, trying to escape but Henderson keeps control of the position.
Henderson controlling the position well here. Diaz rolled but Henderson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Henderson loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Diaz hold on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Despite being in the dominant position, Blake Henderson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Henderson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Henderson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Diaz!
Henderson controlling from the full mount.
Diaz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Henderson 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 Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Henderson!