PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brant Murray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Murray
vs
Henderson

180 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
227 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brant Murray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacob Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson throws a sloppy head kick
and Murray counters with a low kick, right behind Henderson 's knee.

Henderson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Murray sprawls well initially but Henderson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Henderson stops Murray from getting back to his feet.
Murray keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Henderson trying to work for an americana but Murray has managed to regain full guard.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Murray keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murray working for a triangle but Henderson defends it easily.
Murray tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson gets to his feet. Murray looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Henderson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Murray's guard.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Murray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Murray manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Murray's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Henderson working a defensive guard but Murray manages to pass into side control anyway.
Murray in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Henderson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Henderson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Murray.
Murray 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.

Murray has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Henderson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murray turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Murray manages to end up in side control.

Henderson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Murray is just out of range.

Henderson moves into the clinch.
Murray has Henderson pushed against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Murray misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray misses with a punch to the body.
Murray keeps control of Henderson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Murray misses with a hook to the ribs.
Henderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Murray has him pressed against the cage.

Henderson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Murray kicks Henderson off and gets to his feet.
Murray throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Murray checks the leg kick nicely there.
A nice combination there by Henderson.

Henderson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Henderson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Henderson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murray keeps working.
Henderson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Henderson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murray's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Murray sees it coming and defends easily.
Henderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Murray is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Murray manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Murray uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Henderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Murray was covering up waiting for the punch and Henderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Murray wants to stand and escape but Henderson is having none of it.
Henderson throws a strike but Murray rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Henderson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murray throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Murray trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murray scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Murray cracks Henderson with a solid left hand.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson wants to stand up but Murray is controlling him.
Murray postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Murray throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Murray distracts Henderson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Murray landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murray scoring with some ground and pound.
Murray is working Henderson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Murray cracks Henderson with a solid left hand.
Murray scoring with some ground and pound.
Murray really is a fat lump.
Henderson is trying to hold Murray in close to prevent damage but Murray has managed to pass into half guard.
Murray missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murray looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Henderson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ground and pound from Murray.
Murray scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Henderson pushes Murray off and gets back to his feet.

Henderson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Murray to the ground. Henderson is now in Murray's guard.
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!

Murray pushes Henderson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Murray takes the fight into the clinch.

Murray breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brant Murray dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Henderson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Murray checks it well.
Murray is looking to counter with head kicks.
Murray avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Henderson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Murray sprawls well initially but Henderson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Murray is looking to escape.
Murray gets back to full guard.

Murray pushes Henderson off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Henderson lands in his opponent's guard.
Henderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray being controlled here, momentarily.
Henderson looking to sit in guard and control but Murray gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Murray scoring with punches to the head and body.
Murray lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Murray preventing the sweep.
Brant Murray overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henderson trying to control the position.
Murray lands a couple of digs.
Murray tries to stand but Henderson is controlling from the bottom.

Murray decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Henderson, up you get!

Henderson rushes Murray and presses him up against the cage.
Henderson letting Murray take a breather here.
Murray tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Henderson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Murray has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Murray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Murray has taken the fight to the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Murray is working for takedown but Henderson is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brant Murray. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Henderson jumps guard and drags Murray to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Murray works over Henderson with some ground and pound from guard.
Murray works over Henderson with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Henderson is striking but Murray is not phased and passes to half guard.
Henderson is trying to maintain the position but Murray is very close to passing his half guard.
Murray scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Murray is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Henderson trying to control but Murray postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murray missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Murray lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brant Murray showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Murray has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brant Murray!