PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Henderson

185 cm
27
212 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

186 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frank Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Henderson.
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alex James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Henderson.
Henderson looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.

James gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

James is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Henderson sees it coming and defends easily.
Henderson tries to roll over but James keeps him under control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. James connects with a nice short shot to Henderson's temple.

James is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Henderson keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
James throwing shots but Henderson is blocking nicely.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James throwing shots but Henderson is blocking nicely.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Henderson's head.
Henderson is trying to stand back up but James is controlling him
Henderson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from James.
James working Henderson over with strikes.
Henderson felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James misses with a head shot. Henderson uses the momentum to regain guard.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
James lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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!
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Henderson's brow.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James 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.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James throws an elbow that misses. Henderson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in James's guard. Nice move by Henderson!
James keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
James wants to get back to his feet but Henderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

James wriggles free and stands up.

James closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Henderson has hold of James's hands but James slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
James throwing shots but Henderson is blocking nicely.
James working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

James seems to be working for a kimura but Henderson defends the submission attempt.
Henderson regains full guard. Nicely done.
James lands a couple of digs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Horrible takedown by Henderson or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henderson pinned against the cage. Henderson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
James pushes Henderson off looking to stand but Henderson dives back in and keeps control.

James has one foot on Henderson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Henderson slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Henderson circles away.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson fails with the takedown.
Henderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.

Henderson tries to sprawl but James drives through with a takedown into half guard.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Henderson's head.
Henderson trying to control but James postures up.
James working over Henderson with some ground and pound. Henderson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James with the ground and pound but Henderson uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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!
Henderson wants to stand but James is controlling the position.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
James postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James distracts Henderson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James throws a strike but Henderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Henderson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James is looking to stand up but Henderson isn't so interested in that idea.
Henderson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Henderson stops James from standing up.
James trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
Henderson won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
Henderson prevents James from getting back to his feet.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James wants to stand and escape but Henderson is having none of it.
Henderson trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Henderson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Henderson won't allow James to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

James has his feet on Henderson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex James dominated that second round.
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 shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

James drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Henderson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now James has Henderson in his guard.
Henderson postures up.
Henderson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James wants to stand but Henderson is controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Henderson throws a strike but James rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a strike but Henderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Henderson distracts James with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

James kicks Henderson off and gets to his feet.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
James misses the shot to the body.
James shoots in for a double leg but Henderson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Henderson misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? James is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, James circles away and we're back to standing.
Alex James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Henderson.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling James to score with a decent uppercut.

James closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Henderson quickly recovers to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Henderson blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
James thows a huge punch but Henderson dodges it nicely.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Henderson defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Henderson's head.
James with the ground and pound but Henderson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Henderson is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.
James won't allow Henderson to sweep him here.
James throws a big elbow that misses.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Henderson has wrist control.
James trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Henderson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
James keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson chips away with some ground and pound.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James wants to stand but Henderson is controlling the position.
Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Frank Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Henderson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson distracts James with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alex James.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex James!
A very excited looking Alex James made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.