PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adriano Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ribeiro comes into a darkened arena with his song building. System Of A Down - Chop Suey kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Henderson
vs
Ribeiro

190 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
207 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adriano Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson dives in and grabs Ribeiro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ribeiro pushes down on Henderson's head and hops out.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Henderson punching from mount but Ribeiro doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Henderson unloads with some shots from mount but Ribeiro bucks and avoids them well.
Henderson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ribeiro is looking to escape.
Ribeiro holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Henderson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Henderson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Henderson unloads with some shots from mount but Ribeiro bucks and avoids them well.
Ribeiro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Henderson looking to control but Ribeiro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Henderson throws a wild left hand from mount and Ribeiro manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A right-left combo lands from Ribeiro.

It looks like Dan Henderson has been cut.
Ribeiro changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ribeiro.
Henderson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ribeiro defends it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Ribeiro as Henderson shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ribeiro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henderson manages to avoid it.
Ribeiro misses with a head kick.
Adriano Ribeiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ribeiro wants to clinch up but Henderson keeps it at a distance.
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No joy there for Ribeiro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Henderson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ribeiro sprawls well initially but Henderson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson thows a huge punch but Ribeiro dodges it nicely.
Henderson wants to take a breather but Ribeiro is having none of it.
Henderson thows a huge punch but Ribeiro dodges it nicely.
Henderson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ribeiro tries to roll over but Henderson keeps him under control.
Henderson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Ribeiro's thigh. Ribeiro counters though and makes it back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.
Henderson lands a couple of elbows.
Henderson controlling from the top position.
Henderson postures up in Ribeiro's guard and throws a big left but Ribeiro blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Henderson looking to sit in guard and control but Ribeiro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Henderson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ribeiro defends it easily.
Henderson has Ribeiro pulled in close to control his posture.
Ribeiro wants to stand but Henderson is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Ribeiro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Henderson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ribeiro throws a head kick that misses.
Ribeiro thows a body shot but no joy.
Ribeiro throws a nice looking combination but Henderson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Henderson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ribeiro did well to prevent Henderson getting side control.
Henderson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ribeiro's head.
Ribeiro is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Henderson working the head and body with strikes.
Henderson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ribeiro is trying to stand back up but Henderson is controlling him
Henderson is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henderson is working away from the top position though.
Ribeiro wants to get back to his feet.
Henderson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Henderson is nestled in close to Ribeiro, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ribeiro taking some punishment here, with Henderson in his half guard.
Henderson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Henderson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Henderson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Henderson wants to take a breather but Ribeiro is having none of it.
Henderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Henderson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ribeiro for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to escape back to his feet but Henderson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Henderson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ribeiro tries to escape but Henderson is in control.
Henderson working the ground and pound from side control.
Henderson scores with punches from side control.
Henderson wants to control but Ribeiro is keeping him busy.
Henderson working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Henderson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Henderson staying calm.
Henderson throws an elbow but Ribeiro slips to the side and avoids it well.
Henderson is staying tight to Ribeiro's torso, preventing him from escaping.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dan Henderson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Henderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ribeiro closes the distance and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Henderson as Ribeiro tries to tie him up.

Ribeiro manages to break the clinch.

Ribeiro rushes Henderson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ribeiro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Henderson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ribeiro can't fight it off and eventually Henderson manages to take the fight to the floor. Ribeiro looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Ribeiro keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson stops Ribeiro from standing up.
Henderson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ribeiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
Henderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Henderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ribeiro throws a series of punches but Henderson avoids them all with ease.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Ribeiro moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Henderson dodges the punch combination from Ribeiro.
Henderson shoots in but Ribeiro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Henderson has Ribeiro up against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ribeiro avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ribeiro gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ribeiro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch.
Ribeiro leaves Henderson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Henderson has a takedown stuffed.
Henderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for Ribeiro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ribeiro tries to clinch but Henderson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ribeiro throws and low kick but Henderson moves out of range easily.
Henderson slips a jab and a cross from Ribeiro.
Henderson shoots for a takedown but Ribeiro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ribeiro throws a hook but Henderson blocks it.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Ribeiro misses with a low kick.
Ribeiro throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.
Ribeiro scores with a nice body kick.
Ribeiro looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.
Ribeiro throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adriano Ribeiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ribeiro 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adriano Ribeiro!