PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greek Rabio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henderson
vs
Rabio

190 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

200 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Greek Rabio!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rabio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Rabio shoots in but no luck this time.
Henderson wants to clinch up but Rabio keeps it at a distance.
No luck for Rabio with that takedown attempt.
Dan Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greek Rabio.
Rabio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Henderson as he jumps to the side.
Rabio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Rabio on that attempt.
Rabio throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Henderson's waist but Henderson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rabio off to one side.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rabio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rabio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Henderson as he avoids it easily.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rabio but Rabio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rabio has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Henderson as he jumps to the side.
Rabio looks for the body kick but Henderson saw that one coming.
Henderson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rabio circles away.
Rabio shoots in looking for a takedown. Henderson tries to sprawl out of it but Rabio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Henderson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Henderson tries to clinch but Rabio is having none of it.
Rabio misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rabio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rabio shoots for a double leg takedown but Henderson sprawls well. He's pushed Rabio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henderson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henderson wants it to stay on the feet.

Rabio clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Henderson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henderson tries to score a body lock takedown but Rabio shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rabio is trying to stall.
Henderson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rabio just stands there and leans against the cage.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rabio fails to land the takedown.
Rabio takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Dan Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a series of wild punches.
Rabio thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Henderson if he has to take too many more of those.
Rabio shoots in but no luck this time.
Henderson tries to clinch but Rabio moves away

and Rabio counters by clinching up.
A left hand lands to the body for Rabio.
Henderson wants to break free but Rabio has control.

Henderson manages to pull guard.
Rabio trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson wants to stand and escape but Rabio is having none of it.

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.

Henderson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rabio jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henderson walks away with a smile on his face. Rabio gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Henderson clinches but Rabio breaks the clinch

and Rabio counters by clinching up.
Rabio keeps control of Henderson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Henderson as Rabio shoots in.
Rabio looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henderson is fending him off so far but Rabio persists. Nope, Henderson circles away and we're back to standing.
Henderson swings for the body but Rabio moves out of range.
Henderson wants to clinch but Rabio slips to the side
and Rabio makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Henderson fails to land the takedown.
Rabio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Henderson avoids it really well and circles away.
Henderson wants to clinch

and Rabio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Henderson is looking to get back to is feet but Rabio passes into side control.
Henderson is pushing Rabio's head away, looking to escape. Rabio manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson is looking to get back to his feet here but Rabio is keeping cool and he's managed to take Henderson's back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Rabio from getting a body triangle.

Henderson is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

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 fails with the takedown

and Rabio counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Rabio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Rabio gets to his feet - Henderson follows without any prompting.
Henderson darts in trying to clinch

and Rabio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson pushes Rabio off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Henderson shoots in for a double leg but Rabio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rabio with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Henderson counter with a right hand.
Henderson darts in trying to clinch

and Rabio holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rabio wants a takedown but no success here.

Rabio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Henderson uses from the top position.
Henderson wants to stand but Rabio is controlling his posture from full guard.

Henderson stands up and waves to Rabio to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rabio counters with an inside leg kick.

Rabio moves into the clinch.
Henderson tries to pull guard but Rabio won't allow it.
Rabio is trying to maintain a safe position but Henderson gets an underhook and turns Rabio into the cage.
Rabio jumps guard but Henderson stands there with Rabio around his waist. Rabio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Henderson has had enough of the clinch but Rabio keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Henderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henderson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rabio counters with a nice double leg into side control. Henderson won't be happy with that.

Henderson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greek Rabio 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. This is the final round!

Henderson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rabio counters with a takedown into side control.
Rabio has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Henderson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Henderson 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rabio stands up from mount. Strange move.
Henderson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Henderson wants to clinch but Rabio slips to the side
and Rabio counters with a two punch combo.
Henderson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rabio counters with an outside leg kick.
Henderson tries to clinch

and Rabio counters with a nice double leg into side control. Henderson won't be happy with that.

Henderson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson closes the distance but Rabio moves to the side

and Rabio decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henderson's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rabio is standing up over Henderson. Henderson looks to escape but Rabio dives into side control.

Henderson throws Rabio to one side and escapes!
Henderson wants to clinch but Rabio slips to the side
and Rabio counters with a solid body kick.
Henderson darts in trying to clinch

and Rabio counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Henderson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rabio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Henderson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Henderson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rabio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henderson darts in trying to clinch

and Rabio counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Henderson's guard now.

Henderson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rabio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dan Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Greek Rabio.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Henderson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rabio counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is pushing Rabio's head away, looking to escape. Rabio manages to hold on to the position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greek Rabio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rabio 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greek Rabio!