PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tolya Magomedov (ranked 24406 p4p, 2274 weight class) and Harry Henderson (ranked 366 p4p, 133 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Magomedov
vs
Henderson

183 cm
28
145
1 - 1 - 0

159 cm
29
135
6 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Self confident

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tolya Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Harry Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Magomedov sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Magomedov tries to counter with a takedown but Henderson is quick to defend against it.

Henderson scores with a takedown into Magomedov's guard.
Henderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Magomedov is retaining full guard.
Henderson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Magomedov is trying to keep Henderson in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson won't allow Magomedov to sweep him here.
Henderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
Henderson trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Henderson slips nicely into half guard.

Magomedov is defending against the submission attempts here by Henderson.
Magomedov trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Henderson controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson can't control as he wanted to and Magomedov manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson controlling the action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Magomedov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Magomedov trying to control the position.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Magomedov is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henderson controls the pace.
Magomedov wants to stand but Henderson is controlling the position.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Henderson controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Magomedov is looking to reverse the position.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Henderson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Henderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Magomedov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Magomedov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Henderson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Magomedov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Henderson but great work by Magomedov.
Henderson is not content to let Magomedov control the position.
Henderson tries to buck Magomedov off but Magomedov is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Magomedov throwing strikes but Henderson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Henderson wants to control but Magomedov is keeping him busy.
Henderson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Henderson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Henderson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Magomedov manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Henderson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Henderson has clasped his hands together around Magomedov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Harry Henderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson working away.
Henderson taking a break here but Magomedov is having none of it and regains half guard.
Henderson wants to pass to mount but Magomedov is defending the position.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson trying to mount his opponent but Magomedov defends it.
Magomedov wants to get back to full guard.
Henderson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Magomedov keeps working.
Henderson tries to pass to full mount but Magomedov defends it.
Henderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Henderson is controlling the pace.
Henderson wants to free his trapped foot but Magomedov is holding on for dear life with his legs.

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.
Magomedov is trying to stand.
Well, if Henderson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Henderson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Magomedov keeps working.
Henderson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt - Magomedov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Harry Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Magomedov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Henderson as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Magomedov as Henderson shoots in.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Magomedov sprawls well. Magomedov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Tolya Magomedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Henderson.
Henderson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henderson wants it to stay on the feet.
And Henderson tries to counter it with a takedown but Magomedov pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Henderson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Magomedov is keeping the position for now.
Henderson preventing the sweep.
Henderson controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Magomedov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Magomedov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Magomedov!

Sloppy strikes there by Magomedov.
Magomedov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Magomedov is trying to ground and pound but Henderson uses the momentary lack of control by Magomedov to regain half guard.
Henderson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Henderson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.
Magomedov tries to free his leg and advance position but Henderson is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tolya Magomedov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Henderson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Magomedov to the mat! Magomedov manages to get full guard.
Henderson trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Henderson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Magomedov keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Magomedov is keeping the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Magomedov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Magomedov fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Magomedov.
Magomedov stuffs the takedown.
Magomedov is looking to clinch.
Magomedov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Henderson looks for a takedown but Magomedov sprawls well.
Tolya Magomedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Henderson.
Magomedov stuffs the takedown.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Magomedov is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Magomedov circles away and we're back to standing.
Magomedov attempts a counter takedown but Henderson avoids it well and moves away.
Magomedov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Magomedov was covering up waiting for the punch and Henderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Magomedov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Magomedov wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Henderson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Henderson drops back looking for a leg! Magomedov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Magomedov manages to kick Henderson off! Henderson jumps back into Magomedov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is looking to sweep but instead, Henderson has passed into half guard.
Magomedov is looking to control Henderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Magomedov avoid being mounted?
Magomedov tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Henderson trying to pass the guard but Magomedov defending well.
Henderson moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Henderson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Magomedov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Henderson is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Magomedov is trying to escape and Henderson transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Magomedov is forced to tap! Nice work there by Henderson! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Harry Henderson!
A very excited looking Harry Henderson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.