PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregory Matice Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson comes to the cage accompanied by Run this town - Jay Z. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Henderson
vs
Matice Jr

185 cm
21
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gregory Matice Jr!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson pushes Matice Jr away with a front kick.
Henderson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Sloppy strikes from Henderson. Those never looked like landing.
Henderson throws a lazy right hand but Matice Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matice Jr takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Henderson misses with a wild combination.
Henderson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Henderson tests Matice Jr's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Henderson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matice Jr.
Henderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henderson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Henderson.
Henderson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matice Jr.
Joe Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Matice Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Henderson which made him look bad.
Henderson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Henderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matice Jr.
Matice Jr tries for a takedown but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Matice Jr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Henderson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Henderson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Henderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matice Jr on the ground.
Matice Jr working the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matice Jr tries to move to mount but Henderson blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here as Matice Jr stalls from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson is trying to buck Matice Jr off.

Matice Jr looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Henderson is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Matice Jr asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The referee asks Matice Jr politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Matice Jr prefers to stall for the moment though.
Henderson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Matice Jr landing a few strikes.
The referee asks Matice Jr politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Matice Jr prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Matice Jr drags him back down.
Matice Jr staying calm.
Henderson is looking to get back to his feet here but Matice Jr is keeping cool and he's managed to take Henderson's back.

Matice Jr is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Henderson is defending well though. Matice Jr let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good control from Matice Jr.

Henderson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Matice Jr gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Henderson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Henderson throws a leg kick that misses.
Matice Jr shoots and misses
and Henderson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Henderson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Henderson lands with a cross.
Matice Jr misses with a body shot.
Matice Jr looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henderson is fending him off so far but Matice Jr persists. Nope, Henderson circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice straight punches there by Henderson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Henderson.
Joe Henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matice Jr has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Henderson finds it's way round the side to connect with Matice Jr's head.
Matice Jr shoots for a takedown but Henderson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joe Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregory Matice Jr.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Matice Jr on that attempt.
Matice Jr is breathing heavily.
Henderson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matice Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matice Jr tries to score a power double leg takedown but Henderson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matice Jr somewhat.
Matice Jr takes a jab right on the kisser.
Henderson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matice Jr's head backwards.
Matice Jr throws the left hand but Henderson avoids the punch easily.
Matice Jr takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Henderson misses with a straight left.
Henderson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Henderson scores with a one two! Matice Jr had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Henderson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matice Jr dodges the punch combination from Henderson.
Matice Jr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Henderson avoids it really well and circles away.
Joe Henderson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matice Jr looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matice Jr tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Henderson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matice Jr checks a leg kick.
Henderson throws a right and a left that Matice Jr avoids nicely.
Nice defenses there by Matice Jr.
A head kick misses from Matice Jr.
Horrible takedown by Matice Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Henderson which made him look bad.
Matice Jr takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matice Jr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matice Jr misses with a hook to the body
and Henderson counters with a straight right hand.
Henderson avoids the body shot from Matice Jr.
Henderson lands an overhand right.
Henderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matice Jr.
Joe Henderson is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice sprawl there from Henderson as Matice Jr shoots in.
No luck for Matice Jr with that takedown attempt.
Matice Jr is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Henderson.
Matice Jr walks into a jab.
Henderson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Matice Jr is rocked!
Matice Jr has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Henderson lands but Matice Jr takes it in his stride.
Matice Jr is still on wobbly legs! Can Henderson finish him?
Matice Jr takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Henderson cracks Matice Jr with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Matice Jr falls to his knees and Henderson doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joe Henderson!
During a confident post fight interview, Joe Henderson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.