PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wai Man Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Henderson
vs
Man Li

175 cm
29
150 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

176 cm
31
153 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jordan Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wai Man Li!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Henderson catches Li right on the button with a cross.
Henderson moves out of range of the strikes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Henderson throws a shot from downtown. Li moves away and avoids it.
A clash of legs there as Li blocks the low kick.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Li moves away.
Henderson misses with a body shot.
Li misses with a body shot.
Henderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Henderson.
Li shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Henderson throws a lazy right hand but Li sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Henderson works over Li's head and body with a nice combination.
Henderson connects with a right hand. Li shakes it off.
Henderson missing with a left hand there. Li was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Li takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Li keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henderson.
Li tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Henderson was well out of range. Poor timing from Li.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson misses with a low kick.
Henderson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Li finds it's way round the side to connect with Henderson's head.
Henderson is looking to score with low kicks.
Henderson tries to work over Li's front leg with a kick but Li checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a hook.
A big left from Li misses.
Henderson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Li misses with a straight right.
It looked like Henderson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Li takes one to the side of the head.
Li checks a leg kick.
And Li tries to counter it with a takedown but Henderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Henderson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Li. Li circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Henderson throws a body shot but no joy.
Henderson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Henderson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Henderson misses with a looping left.
Henderson lands a nice shot that snaps Li's head back.
Li misses the jab.
Li shoots for a double leg takedown but Henderson sprawls well. He's pushed Li's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henderson is looking to counter punch.
Li feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hendersons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li misses with a series of wild punches.
Li throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li misses with a lunging right hand
and Henderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Henderson lands with a nice combination. Li backs away looking to recover.
Li steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henderson.
Henderson throws a series of punches but Li avoids them all with ease.
Li uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Henderson.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big right from Henderson misses.
Decent striking displayed by Li there.
Li walks into a straight right hand from Henderson.
Li is looking to land body kicks.
Henderson misses the shot to the body.
Li lands with a good body shot.
Li stuns Henderson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Li throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Li loads up on a big right hand but Henderson slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Henderson misses the target.
Henderson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Henderson cracks Li with a good jab.
Henderson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Henderson throws an overhand right that lands on Li's shoulder, as Li tries to avoid the shot.
Henderson takes one to the chin there.
Li slips a jab from Henderson.
Li looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Henderson.
Li changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Li. That's going to slow Henderson down.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Li drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Li uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Henderson.
Li takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Henderson misses with an uppercut. Li saw that one coming.
Henderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Li ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henderson moves away.
Henderson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A shot to the liver by Li. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li throws a body punch but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Henderson throws a hook but Li avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li misses with a hook to the body
enabling Henderson to counter with a crisp jab.
Henderson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Li displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Henderson throws out the jab.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Henderson as he jumps to the side.
Jordan Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wai Man Li.
Li swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Li - that will leave a mark!
Henderson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Crunch! Li slams his shin into Henderson's torso.
Henderson misses with a straight right.
Henderson throws a leg kick but Li sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A punch combination from Henderson misses.
Henderson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Li uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Henderson.
Henderson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Li.
Li changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Henderson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice uppercut there from Li.
Li throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Henderson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Li misses with a head kick.
Henderson is looking to counter punch.
Henderson avoids the body shot from Li.
It looked like Henderson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Li throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Henderson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Li.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And Li tries to counter it with a takedown but Henderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Li throws a nice inside leg kick.
Henderson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Li back to the cage. Henderson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Li throws a body shot but no joy.
Henderson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Li uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Henderson.
Henderson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson throws a wild body kick that Li sees coming a mile off.
Li takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but Henderson is just out of range.
Li just misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson throws a right and a left that Li avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Li on that attempt.
Henderson looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Li scores with a nice right hand.
Li blocks a jab.
Li is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Henderson with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Henderson misses the target.
Henderson scores with a jab. Li acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Henderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Henderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Li was covering up waiting for the punch and Henderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Li punching from the bottom - just letting Henderson know he's still in a fight.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Li is on top in guard.

Li is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Li sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Henderson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Henderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Li is one step ahead there.
Li trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Li controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Li is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Li is stalling in the full guard.
Li lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Li has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Henderson is trying to keep Li in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Li controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Li gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Henderson.
Sloppy strikes from Henderson. Those never looked like landing.

Henderson tries to sprawl but Li drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Li slows the pace down in half guard.

Li wants to work for an arm triangle but Henderson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Li wants to pass the guard but Henderson is defending well.
Li thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Henderson's head.
Li sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wai Man Li will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Henderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Li swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Henderson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Henderson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jordan Henderson is winning the standup battle so far.
Li dodges the punch combination from Henderson.
Li throws a body punch but Henderson moves out of range.
Li connects with an inside leg kick.
Li is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Henderson rather than just go for the knockout.
Henderson looks to land a right hand but Li moved out of range.
Henderson scores with a sloppy right hand. Li should have avoided that one.
Li looks to score with a jab to the body but Henderson is just out of range.
A big left from Henderson misses.
Li connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Li.
Henderson tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Henderson avoids the body shot from Li.
Henderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Li.
Li takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Henderson moves away from the strike by Li.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Henderson. That snapped Li's head back.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Henderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Li is trying to defend but Henderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.
Li is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Henderson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Henderson's back!

Li is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Henderson is defending well though. Li let's go of the attempt for now.
Henderson trying to control the action but Li just sinks the hooks in.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to break free.
Li lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
I really don't envy Henderson right now.
Henderson trying to control the hands but Li breaks the grip.
Li is trying to stick to Henderson's back but Henderson is turning into Li. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Li's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Henderson.
Wai Man Li has got the better of the ground game so far.
Li wants to sweep here but Henderson controlling him for the moment.
Henderson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henderson is on top in guard.

Li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Li trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Li looking to control.
Henderson trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Henderson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Li is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Li is trying to control the position but Henderson postures up.
Henderson preventing the sweep.
Henderson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Li is proving hard to escape from.
Henderson postures up in Li's guard and throws a big left but Li blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Li is on top in guard.

Li is pushing down on Henderson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Henderson is fighting to maintain full guard but Li has managed to sneak the leg through.
Li lands strikes from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wai Man Li.
I think Li 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wai Man Li!
In his post fight interview, Wai Man Li started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.