PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henzo Bendo (ranked 4500 p4p, 4491 weight class) and Nykolai Kersikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bendo
vs
Kersikov

199 cm
24
220
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
210
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Henzo Bendo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nykolai Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bendo rushes Kersikov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bendo tries to break the clinch but Kersikov is controlling the position.
Bendo can't get the takedown.
Kersikov is trying to pull guard but Bendo has him pressed against the cage.
Kersikov trying to control the position but instead, Bendo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kersikov into the cage.
Bendo is trying to push Kersikov away but Kersikov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kersikov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bendo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kersikov is keeping busy.
Bendo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kersikov is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Bendo.
Kersikov looking to slow down the pace here.
Bendo wants to get back to striking at distance but Kersikov won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Bendo avoids the damage to the body.
Bendo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kersikov is looking to break free of the clinch but Bendo has double underhooks.
Kersikov trying to stall but Bendo improves his position.
Bendo is working for takedown but Kersikov is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henzo Bendo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kersikov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kersikov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bendo after a bit of a struggle.

Kersikov jumps guard.
Kersikov wants to stand but Bendo is controlling the position.

Bendo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Bendo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kersikov misses with a body kick.

Bendo instigates a clinch.
Bendo looking to stall.
Kersikov tries to pull guard but Bendo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bendo misses with a body punch.
Kersikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bendo.
Bendo is looking for a takedown.
Bendo misses with a knee strike.
Bendo is trying to stall.
Bendo tries to circle away but Kersikov has him pinned against the cage.

Kersikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bendo closes the distance and clinches.
Kersikov fails to pull guard.

Kersikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kersikov. Bendo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henzo Bendo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bendo misses with a wild combination.

Bendo clinches.
Kersikov fails to pull guard.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kersikov wants to take the fight to the mat but Bendo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bendo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kersikov has him pressed against the cage.
Bendo wants to get back to striking at distance but Kersikov won't allow it.
Bendo tries to circle away but Kersikov has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov wants a takedown but no success here.
Kersikov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bendo up against the cage.
Bendo lands a damaging elbow.

Bendo jumps guard.

Bendo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kersikov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Bendo throws a right and a left that both miss.
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!
Bendo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bendo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bendo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Bendo.

Kersikov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bendo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bendo scores with a nice head shot.
Bendo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kersikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bendo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kersikov darts in trying to clinch
and Bendo counters with a two punch combo.
Bendo moves in looking to clinch but Kersikov pushes him off.
Kersikov feints the counter takedown.

Bendo rushes Kersikov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kersikov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bendo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bendo moves in looking to clinch but Kersikov pushes him off.
Kersikov tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kersikov wants to clinch but Bendo slips to the side
and Bendo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bendo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kersikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bendo cracks a nice hook into Kersikov's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bendo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kersikov back to the cage. Bendo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bendo moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Kersikov is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bendo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kersikov is still on wobbly legs! Can Bendo finish him?
Bendo connects with a jab, followed by a picture perfect straight right that sends Kersikov to the canvas, out cold! What a finish by Bendo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Henzo Bendo!