PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aleksander Shlemenko has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Shlemenko
vs
Henderson

197 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

180 cm
25
207 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aleksander Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Shlemenko sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shlemenko looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shlemenko is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Shlemenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Shlemenko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Henderson dives in and scores a takedown into Shlemenko's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shlemenko is keeping the position for now.
Shlemenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Shlemenko kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Henderson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Shlemenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aleksander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Henderson.
Henderson throws the kick towards the body but Shlemenko avoids it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Henderson.
Shlemenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Henderson circles away.
Shlemenko avoids the head kick by Henderson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shlemenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Henderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shlemenko works over Henderson's head and body with a nice combination.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Henderson.
Shlemenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shlemenko tries to get out of the position.

Henderson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Henderson stands up.

Henderson takes the fight into the clinch.

Henderson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to keep Shlemenko in close.
Henderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Henderson, not yet.

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

Henderson pushes Shlemenko off and gets back to his feet.
Shlemenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Henderson throws a right hand that Shlemenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Shlemenko also avoids with ease.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henderson is defended easily by Shlemenko.
Henderson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson fails with the takedown
and Shlemenko counters with a three punch combo that has Henderson backing up. Henderson nods at Shlemenko to acknowledge the strikes.
Shlemenko throws a chopping leg kick but Henderson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Henderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Henderson jumps guard and drags Shlemenko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Shlemenko from controlling successfully.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Henderson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson wants to sweep here but Shlemenko controlling him for the moment.
Henderson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Henderson shoots in and drives through. Shlemenko sprawls well.
Sloppy strikes from Shlemenko. Those never looked like landing.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Henderson controlling the pace.
Henderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Shlemenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dan Henderson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shlemenko slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch but Shlemenko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aleksander Shlemenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Henderson shoots in for a double leg but Shlemenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henderson is defended easily by Shlemenko.
Aleksander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Henderson.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shlemenko pinned against the cage. Shlemenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Shlemenko misses.

Henderson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shlemenko, pushing him back against the cage.

Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shlemenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shlemenko stuffs the takedown.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Aleksander Shlemenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henderson shoots in but Shlemenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shlemenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henderson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shlemenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Shlemenko is looking to clinch but Henderson is avoiding it.
Shlemenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Henderson.
Henderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shlemenko tries to avoid it but Henderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shlemenko to the ground. Shlemenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shlemenko scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Henderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shlemenko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henderson somewhat.
A head kick misses from Shlemenko.
Aleksander Shlemenko is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko lands with an uppercut that bounces Henderson off the cage and back into range.

Shlemenko gets caught napping as Henderson dives in and scores a takedown. Shlemenko manages to retain guard.
Shlemenko keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Shlemenko keeps moving.

Henderson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Henderson has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Henderson with that takedown attempt.

Henderson darts in and clinches Shlemenko up against the cage.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shlemenko tries to clinch up but Henderson circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice defenses there by Shlemenko.
Henderson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shlemenko circles away.
Shlemenko tries to clinch there but Henderson circles away.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but Shlemenko shows good takedown defense.
Aleksander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Henderson.
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Shlemenko sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henderson throws a push kick but Shlemenko slaps the foot to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shlemenko lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Shlemenko fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Henderson.
Henderson throws a strike aimed at the side of Shlemenko's head but Shlemenko avoids it well.
Henderson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson throws a strike aimed at the side of Shlemenko's head but Shlemenko avoids it well.
Shlemenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Shlemenko takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Shlemenko is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Henderson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Shlemenko!
Henderson trying to control but Shlemenko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson working for a guillotine from mount but Shlemenko is in no mood to give up.

Henderson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Shlemenko is surviving well by controlling Henderson's body position as best he can.
Henderson controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Henderson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Aleksander Shlemenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henderson 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Henderson!