PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Henn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Shevchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shevchenko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: SMC Hoodrats. BJ Henn has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Henn
vs
Shevchenko

177 cm
23
163 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

171 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Das Labor

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Henn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Roman Shevchenko!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shevchenko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henn somewhat.
Shevchenko wants to clinch.

Henn closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shevchenko did well to prevent Henn getting side control.
Henn not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Shevchenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shevchenko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shevchenko wants to stand but Henn is controlling the position.
Henn preventing the sweep.
Henn slips nicely into half guard.
Shevchenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henn works over Shevchenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Henn is in close to Shevchenko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shevchenko thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Henn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shevchenko wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Henn is now in half guard.
Henn winds up and cracks Shevchenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Shevchenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shevchenko looks gassed!

Shevchenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Henn lands strikes from half guard.
Henn is looking to take a break and control but Shevchenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henn is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Henn keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henn drops an elbow to the side of Shevchenko's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Henn is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shevchenko sees it coming and defends easily.

Henn decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Henn closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Henn lands in his opponent's guard.
Henn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Henn looking to pass the guard.
Henn works over Shevchenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Henn tries to free his leg and advance position but Shevchenko is retaining full guard.
Henn prevents Shevchenko from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henn postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Henn trying to control but Shevchenko is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shevchenko throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Shevchenko lands a head kick!
Henn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Shevchenko.

Henn closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Henn lands in his opponent's guard.

Shevchenko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henn is aware though and is defending well.
Henn is working Shevchenko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henn trying to control but Shevchenko is working from the bottom.
Henn wants to pass the guard but Shevchenko is keeping the position.
Shevchenko managing to control the position.

Shevchenko working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Shevchenko wants to control but Henn is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Henn dominated that round.
That's time! Henn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Henn shoots in looking for a takedown. Shevchenko tries to sprawl out of it but Henn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shevchenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Henn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shevchenko tries to clinch up but Henn circles away and keeps his distance.
Henn misses with a head kick.
No luck for Henn with that takedown attempt.
Henn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shevchenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick by Henn misses

and Shevchenko counters with a single leg into guard. Henn didn't expect that.
Shevchenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Henn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henn has a closed guard, preventing Shevchenko from standing up.
Shevchenko wants to control from the top but Henn keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henn looking for a sweep. Not yet Henn, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shevchenko has gone for a leg lock! Henn slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shevchenko's guard.

Shevchenko manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Henn doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shevchenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Henn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shevchenko throws a head kick but Henn moves out of range.
Shevchenko misses the shot to the body.
Henn with a poor takedown

and Shevchenko counters with a single leg into guard. Henn didn't expect that.
Henn 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.

Shevchenko has gone for a leg lock! Henn slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shevchenko's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko doesn't have the hooks in and Henn manages to turn into his guard.
Shevchenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Shevchenko, not yet.
Shevchenko wants to control the position but Henn says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Henn trying to control the pace.
Henn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shevchenko's head.
Shevchenko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Henn looking to sit in guard and control but Shevchenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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!
Henn throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Henn has a closed guard, preventing Shevchenko from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shevchenko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Henn blocks a head kick by Shevchenko.
Henn misses with a takedown
and Shevchenko counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Henn is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Henn takes a kick to the side of the head.
Henn doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shevchenko counters with a head kick.
Henn doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shevchenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Henn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shevchenko tries to score a body lock takedown but Henn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Shevchenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Shevchenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shevchenko shoots in but Henn avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henn shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Henn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Henn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
BJ Henn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shevchenko manages to get to full guard.
Henn wanted to stand there but Shevchenko had control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henn sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shevchenko's guard.
Shevchenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shevchenko trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Shevchenko 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! And we move into the final round!

Shevchenko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Henn to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Shevchenko working for a triangle but Henn defends it easily.
Henn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shevchenko's head.
Shevchenko wants to sweep here but Henn controlling him for the moment.
Henn working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Henn passes Shevchenko's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shevchenko wants to improve his position but Henn is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henn content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henn working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Henn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shevchenko defending well though.

Henn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shevchenko wants to get back to his feet.
Henn scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shevchenko is looking for a sweep. Henn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shevchenko leaves Henn with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Henn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shevchenko.
BJ Henn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shevchenko throws a head kick that misses.
Henn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Shevchenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Henn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henn misses with a takedown
and Shevchenko counters with a straight right hand.
Henn throws a sloppy head kick and Shevchenko moves out of range easily.
Henn with a poor takedown
and Shevchenko counters with a solid body kick.

Henn is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shevchenko's half guard.
Henn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shevchenko tries to roll over but Henn keeps him under control.

Shevchenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henn throws a strike but Shevchenko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Shevchenko had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Henn is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Shevchenko Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Henn's back instead.
Henn trying to control the position but Shevchenko manages to sink in the hooks.
Henn breaks Shevchenko's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Shevchenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Henn postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Henn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shevchenko is pulling down on Henn's head. It's preventing any offense from Henn, at least for the moment.

Shevchenko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henn defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shevchenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Henn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Henn lands a couple of digs.
Henn looking to pass the guard.
Henn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Shevchenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Henn showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henn 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for BJ Henn!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for BJ Henn!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Roman Shevchenko!

BJ Henn wins by split decision!