PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sauli Niinisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sauli Niinisto told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Henry
vs
Niinisto

180 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

190 cm
26
178 lbs
13 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Henry!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sauli Niinisto!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry swats away the attempt to clinch by Niinisto.
Henry misses with a left hand
and Niinisto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Henry scores with a hook to the body. Niinisto takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Henry throws a jab but it's blocked by Niinisto.
Henry throws a body punch but Niinisto moves out of range.
Henry fails to land the takedown.
Niinisto staying out of range there.
Henry misses with a looping right.
Niinisto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Henry throws a hook but Niinisto avoids it easily.
Niinisto moves out of range of the strikes.
Henry steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Niinisto. That one must have hurt.
Henry swats away the attempt to clinch by Niinisto.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but Niinisto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Niinisto throws a nice head kick!
Henry just misses with a punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Henry.
Henry looks to land a left hand but Niinisto moved out of range nicely.
A big right from Henry misses.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niinisto takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Robert Henry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henry stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Niinisto.
Sauli Niinisto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Henry fails to land the takedown.
Henry misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Niinisto takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Henry fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Niinisto is out of range.
Niinisto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henry.
Niinisto throws a head kick that misses.
Henry takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Niinisto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henry.
Niinisto throws out a leg kick but Henry moves out of range and Niinisto only half commits.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niinisto takes a swing at Henry's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Henry does no damage.
Henry misses with a straight left.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niinisto has Henry pressed against the cage.
Henry wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry avoids the damage to the body.
The referee calls for Niinisto to work.
Henry dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry avoids the damage to the body.
Henry is looking to take this one to the mat.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto pushes off an throws an elbow but Henry leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Niinisto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry blocks an elbow strike from Niinisto.
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Niinisto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Niinisto misses with an elbow strike.
Henry takes an elbow to the temple.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Henry will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Niinisto up against the cage.
Henry is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Niinisto's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Niinisto looking to throw knees to the head but Henry is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Niinisto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Henry won't want to take too many of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henry blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Niinisto scores with a head kick.
Henry misses with a looping right.
Henry lunges at Niinisto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Niinisto's hand.
Henry throws a nice looking combination but Niinisto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Henry stuns Niinisto with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Henry misses the body punch
and Niinisto counters with a head kick. That will keep Henry thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Robert Henry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Niinisto ducks under a wild hook from Henry.
Niinisto connects with a solid leg kick.
Niinisto throws a head kick that misses.
Niinisto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Henry checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Niinisto misses with a series of wild punches.
A low kick from Henry misses
and Niinisto counters with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto connects with a solid leg kick.
Niinisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Henry.
Niinisto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Henry connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Niinisto scrambles back to his feet.
Niinisto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henry.
Niinisto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Niinisto slips a jab from Henry.
Henry shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niinisto pinned against the cage. Niinisto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Niinisto explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Niinisto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Henry throws a lazy right hand but Niinisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry keeps the fight on the outside.
Niinisto defending well as Henry loads up on a big left hand.
Henry looks to land a right hand but Niinisto moved out of range.
A good leg kick by Niinisto.
Henry keeps the fight on the outside.
Henry closes this distance looking for a takedown but Niinisto circles away.
Henry cracks Niinisto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Henry fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Niinisto manages to avoid it.
Henry getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Henry. Niinisto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henry fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henry looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Niinisto moves into range and clinches up with Henry.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto stalling.
Niinisto is trying to stall.
Niinisto throws an elbow that misses.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.
Henry is trying to break the clinch but Niinisto is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Henry's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Henry dodges an elbow strike from Niinisto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry has had enough of the clinch but Niinisto keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Henry's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henry goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niinisto prevents it.
Niinisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Henry avoids the damage to the body.
Henry blocks an elbow strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Henry as Niinisto tries to tie him up.

Henry's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Niinisto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Henry is able to avoid easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niinisto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Niinisto walks into a jab.
Niinisto throws a low kick, looking for Henry's leg but Henry calmly moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robert Henry will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Niinisto misses with a low kick.
No joy there for Henry, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Niinisto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Niinisto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henry.
Niinisto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Henry takes a swing at Niinisto's ribcage but misses.
Henry throws a looping overhand right but Niinisto ducks down to avoid it.
Niinisto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Henry was well out of range. Poor timing from Niinisto.
Nice defenses there by Henry.
Henry thows a body shot but no joy.
Niinisto connects with a solid leg kick.
Henry is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Henry misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Niinisto takes a swing at Henry's ribcage but misses.
Robert Henry is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Henry.
Henry scores with a nice right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Niinisto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Henry lands with a shot to the body.
Niinisto checks a leg kick.
Henry throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Henry avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Niinisto defending well as Henry loads up on a big left hand.
Henry misses the shot to the body.
Niinisto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Henry doesn't seem bothered though.
Sloppy strikes from Henry. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henry swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henry tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
An inside leg kick lands from Niinisto.
Niinisto plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Henry misses with a series of wild punches.
Henry pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Henry misses with a hook. Niinisto ducked under it nicely.
Henry checks a leg kick.
Niinisto slips under a jab from Henry.
Henry shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henry scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto throws a head kick but Henry moves out of range.
Niinisto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niinisto tries a head kick but it misses.
Niinisto staying out of range there.
Niinisto is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Henry rather than just go for the knockout.
Niinisto is looking to clinch but Henry is avoiding it.
Niinisto throws a head kick that misses.
Niinisto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Henry manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Henry throws a lazy right hand but Niinisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Henry rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Niinisto counters with an outside leg kick.
Niinisto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henry paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Niinisto moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Henry can't break the clinch.
Henry is trying to break the clinch but Niinisto is controlling him.
Niinisto misses with an elbow over the top.
Niinisto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henry is defending well for now.
Henry being controlled against the cage.
Henry on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henry takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto trying to land knees to the body.
Niinisto stalling in the clinch but Henry improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Henry misses with a few strikes there.
Henry connects with a looping right hand.
Henry thuds a left hand into Niinisto's body.
Henry checks a leg kick.
Henry misses with a shot to the body
and Niinisto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Henry looks to land a combination but Niinisto avoids it well.
Henry cracks a nice hook into Niinisto's ribs.
A jab lands there for Niinisto.
Henry throws a body punch but Niinisto moves out of range.
Henry swinging wildly here.
Henry throws a leg kick that is checked
and Niinisto counters with a low kick, right behind Henry 's knee.
A telegraphed right hand from Henry misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Niinisto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A punch combination from Henry misses.
Niinisto defending well as Henry loads up on a big left hand.
Good work by Henry as he checks the leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Henry. Those never looked like landing.
Niinisto ducks under a wild hook from Henry.
Henry misses with a hook. Niinisto ducked under it nicely.
Niinisto tries to clinch up.
Good leg kick by Niinisto there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Henry throws a hook to the side of Niinisto's head but Niinisto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick misses from Niinisto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto slips a straight right by Henry.
Henry shoots for a double leg takedown but Niinisto sprawls well. He's pushed Henry's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henry misses with a hook. Niinisto ducked under it nicely.
Niinisto is looking to slow Henry down with leg kicks.
Henry circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henry is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Henry throws out a loose jab but Niinisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niinisto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Niinisto slips under a jab.
Henry fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Henry tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry misses with a double jab
and Niinisto counters with a nice kick to the body.
Henry takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Niinisto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Henry waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Niinisto.
Henry is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Niinisto.
Some wild striking there from Henry.
Henry connects with a crisp jab.
Henry tries for a takedown but Niinisto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Niinisto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Henry shrugs off.
Sauli Niinisto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Niinisto throws an elbow but misses.
Niinisto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Henry avoids the elbow strike from Niinisto, against the cage.
Niinisto controlling the action here for a moment.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niinisto just leaning against Henry, taking a breather.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Sauli Niinisto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henry takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Henry misses with a wild combination.
Henry avoids the head kick by Niinisto.
A nice leg kick lands there from Niinisto.
Henry tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Niinisto was well out of range. Poor timing from Henry.
Niinisto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch lands to the side of Niinisto 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Niinisto scores with a kick to the midsection.
Henry fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Niinisto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henry.
Niinisto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry misses with a series of wild punches.
Henry throws the left hand but Niinisto avoids the punch easily.
Henry misses the jab.
Henry throws a series of punches but Niinisto avoids them all with ease.
Henry bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Niinisto's head.
Niinisto leaves Henry with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Niinisto stuffs the takedown attempt from Henry. Henry gets slowly back to his feet.
Henry tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry shoots for a double leg takedown but Niinisto sprawls well. He's pushed Henry's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niinisto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Henry throws a right hand that Niinisto ducks under and follows up with a left that Niinisto also avoids with ease.
Henry pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Niinisto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henry, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Henry 's eye.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Robert Henry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henry takes an elbow to the temple.
Niinisto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Henry takes an elbow to the forehead.
Henry wants to take the fight to the mat but Niinisto manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry blocks the elbow strike.
Henry on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niinisto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Henry is keeping busy.

Henry is trying to trip Niinisto. He has hold of a leg but Niinisto is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Henry persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Henry with a flurry of punches that miss.
Niinisto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niinisto is looking to stand up but Henry isn't so interested in that idea.
Niinisto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Henry throws a big elbow that misses.
Niinisto keeping full guard, as Henry tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry throwing strikes but missing.
Henry working some strikes from top position.
Niinisto is trying to control the position but Henry postures up.
Henry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Henry throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henry connects with a couple of short punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niinisto is trying to control the position but Henry postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Robert Henry.
I think Niinisto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 48:48
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 47:49
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sauli Niinisto!
Sauli Niinisto is the new welterweight champion!