PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mantequilla Smith (ranked 4229 p4p, 4759 weight class) and Larry Henry (ranked 512 p4p, 545 weight class). Larry Henry will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Henry

185 cm
25
195
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
193
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Bondi MMA

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mantequilla Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Larry Henry!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henry tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Henry is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Henry trying to control the position.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Nice shot lands for Smith.
Henry looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Henry misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith feinted with a counter takedown.

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Henry on his heels. He'll look to pass Henry's guard now, I'm sure.

Henry pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henry makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Henry.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Henry looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith trying to control but Henry is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henry is on top in guard.

Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Henry avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Henry avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Henry forces his way into half guard.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Smith tries to roll over but Henry keeps him under control.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henry working Smith over with strikes.
Henry is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith wants to improve his position but Henry is controlling well.
Henry trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Henry manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.

Henry wriggles free and stands up.
Henry misses with a wild combination.
Smith tries to counter with a takedown but Henry is quick to defend against it.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Henry manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As Smith backs off Henry throws a huge counter combo but Smith manages to avoid it all.
A combination from Henry does no damage.
Henry on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Smith's jab looks to have found its range, popping Henry under the eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Henry feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Henry content to stall in guard here.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Henry from controlling successfully.
Henry has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith working for a triangle but Henry defends it easily.
Smith is trying to control the position but Henry postures up.
Henry wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Henry throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Henry is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith tries for a takedown but Henry sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mantequilla Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry is looking to improve his position.
Smith content to control rather than advance.
Henry works his way to full guard. Good work.
Henry looking for a sweep. Not yet Henry, not yet.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Henry bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Henry has managed to sneak the leg through.
Henry controlling the pace.
Henry not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Henry trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Henry might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four 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.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Henry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A thudding body kick lands there by Henry!
Henry throws a left and a right that both miss

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.

Henry throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Henry looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Smith working for a triangle but Henry defends it easily.
Henry looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Smith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henry can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Henry pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith wants to improve his position but Henry is controlling well.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Henry is very close to passing his half guard.
Henry trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henry's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Henry wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Henry works his foot free and advances to mount.
Smith is trying to escape the mount.
Henry mounts Smith! Really nice guard pass there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Henry takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Smith tries to hold on but Henry postures up.
Henry controlling from the full mount.
Henry prevents Smith from getting the reversal.

That's four 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.
Henry tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Smith manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mantequilla Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Henry slows the pace down in half guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Larry Henry is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henry doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Henry manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Henry comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Henry 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Henry!