PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Gaios (ranked 4476 p4p, 3461 weight class) and Tormod Hendriksen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Gaios
vs
Hendriksen

170 cm
20
145
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
150
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenji Gaios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tormod Hendriksen!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendriksen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gaios throws a series of strikes that have Hendriksen backpedaling.
Gaios shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hendriksen sprawls well. Hendriksen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gaios gets slowly back to his feet.
Gaios moves in looking to clinch but Hendriksen pushes him off.
Hendriksen slaps away a takedown attempt from Gaios, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaios misses with a head kick.
Gaios tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hendriksen defends well and Gaios ends up having to push Hendriksen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Gaios. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hendriksen breaks from the clinch.
Hendriksen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gaios.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendriksen checks a low kick from Gaios.
Hendriksen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gaios throws out the jab.
Gaios tries to clinch there but Hendriksen circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gaios. Hendriksen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gaios fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hendriksen avoids it really well and circles away.
Gaios sets himself, and Hendriksen steps forward looking for the clinch! Gaios avoids it this time.
Hendriksen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendriksen misses with a body shot.
Gaios takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Hendriksen tries to keep at a distance but Gaios has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hendriksen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gaios with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hendriksen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gaios moves in looking to clinch but Hendriksen pushes him off.
Gaios is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hendriksen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gaios tries for a takedown but Hendriksen circles away easily
and Hendriksen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gaios is breathing heavily.
Hendriksen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendriksen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Gaios rushes Hendriksen and presses him up against the cage.

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

Gaios has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hendriksen managing to block the knees to the body from Gaios.

Hendriksen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaios is looking to clinch.
Gaios takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gaios shoots in but no luck this time.
Hendriksen thuds a left hand into Gaios's body.
Hendriksen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hendriksen scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendriksen jabs Gaios right on the nose. Gaios blinks but takes it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaios shoots in looking for a takedown but Hendriksen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gaios's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gaios throws a lazy body kick
and Hendriksen counters with a nice uppercut.
Gaios shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hendriksen but Hendriksen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hendriksen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Gaios.
Gaios gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kenji Gaios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good standup being displayed there by Hendriksen as he connects with a hook.
Hendriksen throws a one two combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tormod Hendriksen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gaios drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gaios moves in looking to clinch but Hendriksen pushes him off.
Hendriksen tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gaios is looking to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hendriksen. Gaios does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gaios tries to clinch but Hendriksen is having none of it.
Hendriksen unleashes a big counter combination but Gaios bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gaios misses with a right hand
and Hendriksen counters with a nice uppercut.
Hendriksen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendriksen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gaios manages to avoid it.
Hendriksen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gaios rather than just go for the knockout.
Gaios shoots in for a double leg but Hendriksen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A left and a right from Hendriksen both land. Nice combination.

Gaios darts in and clinches Hendriksen up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaios has Hendriksen pressed against the cage, preventing Hendriksen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hendriksen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tormod Hendriksen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hendriksen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gaios's head.
Hendriksen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gaios throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Hendriksen gets tackled into the cage by Gaios. Gaios maintains the clinch.

Hendriksen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaios fails with the takedown

and Hendriksen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Hendriksen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gaios closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hendriksen counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendriksen throws a combination. Gaios tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gaios slips a jab from Hendriksen.
Gaios changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gaios misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Gaios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaios shoots and misses
letting Hendriksen counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hendriksen connects with a body shot that sends Gaios's belly button to the back.
A cross from Hendriksen lands.
Gaios has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaios throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hendriksen wants to counter the offense by Gaios and move into the clinch position.
Hendriksen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hendriksen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gaios on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hendriksen swinging wildly here.
A combination from Hendriksen does no damage.
Hendriksen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hendriksen works Gaios's body with a nice hook.
Hendriksen scores with a punch to the head.
Hendriksen stuffs the takedown attempt from Gaios. Gaios gets slowly back to his feet.
Tormod Hendriksen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gaios clinches.

Hendriksen breaks the clinch.
Hendriksen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gaios moves in looking to clinch but Hendriksen pushes him off.
Hendriksen connects with a looping right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaios defending well as Hendriksen loads up on a big left hand.
Kenji Gaios is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaios uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hendriksen.
Gaios went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gaios tries to clinch but Hendriksen is having none of it.
A nice side step and Hendriksen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tormod Hendriksen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hendriksen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gaios moves away.
Tormod Hendriksen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gaios misses with a takedown
and Hendriksen counters with a nice uppercut.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Gaios. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Gaios tries to clinch there but Hendriksen circles away.
Gaios tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hendriksen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gaios clinches.
Gaios is trying to force a seperation but Hendriksen has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hendriksen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaios looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hendriksen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gaioss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hendriksen lands with a hook. Gaios tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gaios tries to land a front kick but Hendriksen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaios swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hendriksen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaios.
Hendriksen looks to land a right hand but Gaios moved out of range.
Hendriksen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gaios misses with a takedown attempt

and Hendriksen counters by moving into the clinch.

Hendriksen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gaios is looking to clinch.
Gaios looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Gaios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hendriksen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaios has managed to clinch.

Hendriksen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A left lands for Hendriksen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hendriksen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gaios looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hendriksen lands a body shot.
Hendriksen looks to land a left hand but Gaios moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaios tries to clinch up
and Hendriksen counters with a nice body shot.
A punch combination from Hendriksen misses.
Hendriksen throws a one two combo.
Gaios with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hendriksen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gaios is defended easily by Hendriksen.
Hendriksen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaios tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hendriksen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hendriksen scores with a body shot.
Gaios takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A telegraphed right hand from Hendriksen misses the target.
Hendriksen looks to land a combination. Gaios sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaios dives in and grabs Hendriksen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hendriksen pushes down on Gaios's head and hops out.
Hendriksen scores with a nice strike.
Gaios shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hendriksen counters with a straight right hand.
Kenji Gaios has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hendriksen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gaios looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tormod Hendriksen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hendriksen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tormod Hendriksen!