PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phillip Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Musaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Musaki has chosen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQObWW06VAM as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henderson
vs
Musaki

187 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phillip Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Musaki!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Musaki fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Henderson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Henderson misses with a body shot.

Henderson drives through and clinches with Musaki against the cage.
Musaki wants a takedown.
Musaki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Phillip Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Musaki.
Musaki wants a takedown but no success here.

Henderson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Musaki is trying to keep an underhook but Henderson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Henderson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Musaki!
Musaki looks winded!
Henderson controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson controlling the position easily from mount.
Henderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Henderson looking to ground and pound but Musaki is blocking nicely.
Musaki blocking the ground and pound.
Henderson tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Henderson fails to take his opponent's back.
Henderson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Henderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson content just to control the position here.
Henderson thowing shots but they're missing.

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 throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Musaki wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Henderson.
Henderson looking to ground and pound but Musaki is blocking nicely.
Henderson pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
The referee warns Musaki that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Henderson dominated that 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.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Musaki.

Henderson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Henderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Henderson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Musaki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Musaki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Phillip Henderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henderson pulls Musaki in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Musaki trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson wants to stand and escape but Musaki is having none of it.
Musaki is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Musaki is one step ahead there.
Musaki wanted to stand there but Henderson had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Henderson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Musaki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Henderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Henderson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Henderson showed some decent athleticism there.
Henderson is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musaki tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Henderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Musaki from improving his position.
Musaki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Henderson controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Phillip Henderson wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Henderson gets a clinch.
Musaki keeps control of Henderson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Henderson controlling the action here for a moment.

Henderson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Musaki is trying to keep an underhook but Henderson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Henderson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Musaki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Musaki wants to get back to full guard.
Henderson not doing much here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Henderson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Musaki for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Phillip Henderson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Henderson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Musaki.
Phillip Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Musaki.

Henderson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Musaki's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Musaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Henderson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Henderson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Musaki is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Henderson is really struggling to control Musaki but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Henderson wants to stand but Musaki has his arm trapped.
Musaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Musaki gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wants to control but Musaki is keeping him busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Phillip Henderson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Henderson dives in and scores a takedown into Musaki's guard.
Henderson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Musaki has a closed guard, preventing Henderson from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

We're going to have a standup here because Phillip Henderson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Henderson clinches with his opponent.

Henderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Henderson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henderson wants it to stay on the feet.
Musaki looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Henderson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Henderson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Henderson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Musaki is trying to control Henderson's posture but Henderson avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji Musaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson is staying tight to Musaki's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Henderson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Phillip Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Musaki throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phillip Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Henderson 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phillip Henderson!