PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Henson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henson comes to the cage accompanied by A Warrior's Call by Volbeat. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Henson
vs
Emelianenko

180 cm
31
192 lbs
28 - 21 - 1

179 cm
33
185 lbs
24 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 21 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mickey Henson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mirko Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henson lands with a good body shot.
Emelianenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Henson. Henson gets slowly back to his feet.
Emelianenko connects with a solid leg kick.
Henson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Henson connects with a crisp jab.
Emelianenko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Henson throws a low kick but Emelianenko avoids it.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Henson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emelianenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henson manages to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Henson blocks the low kick.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Henson throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Henson shoots for a double leg takedown but Emelianenko sprawls well. He's pushed Henson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Emelianenko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Henson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henson throws a series of punches but Emelianenko moves out of range.

Henson gets tackled into the cage by Emelianenko. Emelianenko maintains the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Henson blocks a body shot from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko lands a nice uppercut.
Emelianenko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Henson breaks from the clinch.
Henson connects with a right hand. Emelianenko shakes it off.
Emelianenko drops his hands momentarily and Henson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Good leg kick by Emelianenko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Emelianenko tries a low kick but Henson avoids it.
Mirko Emelianenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Henson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emelianenko throws a looping overhand right but Henson ducks down to avoid it.

Emelianenko gets a clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko slips a jab and a cross from Henson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henson misses with a takedown attempt
and Emelianenko counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Henson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Henson.
Nice straight punches there by Emelianenko. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a low kick but Henson avoids it.
Henson lands a jab to the nose.
Henson just misses with a punch to the body.
Henson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Henson duly obliges.

It looks like Mirko Emelianenko has been cut.
Henson 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.

Emelianenko forces Henson back against the cage and clinches.
Emelianenko struggles to land a body shot inside as Henson controls his hands.

Emelianenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Henson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Henson tries to bum rush Emelianenko with a series of wild strikes but Emelianenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A leg kick checked by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko is looking to land body kicks.
Emelianenko throws a leg kick that is checked
and Emelianenko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Henson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Henson keeps the fight on the outside.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
Emelianenko throws a lazy body kick
enabling Henson to counter with a crisp jab.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Henson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Emelianenko. That's going to slow Henson down.
Emelianenko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Henson circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Emelianenko misses with a low kick as Henson jumps back.
A slapping leg kick lands for Emelianenko.
Henson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Henson moves away
and Henson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Emelianenko avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Emelianenko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Henson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Henson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Henson lands in his opponent's guard.
Henson trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mirko Emelianenko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mirko Emelianenko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No joy there for Emelianenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Henson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Henson moves away
and Henson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Emelianenko thinking.
Emelianenko is looking to chop away at Henson's legs.
Emelianenko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mirko Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henson cracks Emelianenko with an open hand slap.
Emelianenko cracks Henson with an open hand slap.
Henson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Henson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Henson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Henson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking to improve his position.
Emelianenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Henson.
Emelianenko is refusing to be controlled, as Henson sits in half guard.
Emelianenko won't allow Henson to pass to mount.
Henson is looking to stall here but Emelianenko recovers full guard.
Henson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henson throws a big elbow that misses.
Henson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Emelianenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Henson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Henson trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko keeping full guard, as Henson tries to pass.
Henson looking to sit in guard and control but Emelianenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henson trying to control the position.
Henson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Emelianenko's guard.
Henson throwing strikes from guard but Emelianenko blocks nicely.
Henson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is pulling down on Henson's head to control his posture.
Henson trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Emelianenko lands a front kick.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Henson moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Henson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mirko Emelianenko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Henson misses with a two punch combination.
Henson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Emelianenko.
Henson scores with a shot to the body.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up but Henson circles away and keeps his distance.
Emelianenko walks into a straight right hand from Henson.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henson takes a swing at Emelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Henson moves out of range of the body kick.
Sloppy strikes from Emelianenko. Those never looked like landing.
Henson throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko moves in looking to clinch but Henson pushes him off.
Henson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Emelianenko.
Henson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Emelianenko. That's going to slow Henson down.
Henson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Emelianenko can pounce on him.
Emelianenko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mickey Henson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Emelianenko loads up on a big right hand but Henson slips the punch.
Emelianenko tries to clinch there but Henson circles away.
A shot to the liver by Emelianenko. Beautiful body shot.

Emelianenko closes the distance and pushes Henson back into the cage.
Emelianenko misses with a punch to the body.
Emelianenko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Emelianenko lands with a left to the head.
Emelianenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Henson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Emelianenko can't find room to land a body shot as Henson controls the action.
Emelianenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Emelianenko tries to throw a body punch but Henson avoids it by throwing Emelianenko back against the cage.
Emelianenko tries to throw a body punch but Henson avoids it by throwing Emelianenko back against the cage.
Emelianenko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henson wants to take the fight to the mat but Emelianenko manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Henson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Henson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Henson is trying to maintain a safe position but Emelianenko gets an underhook and turns Henson into the cage.
Emelianenko scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees to the body from Emelianenko.
A short body shot lands from Emelianenko as the two fighters clinch.
Emelianenko taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Emelianenko - that landed with a thud.
Emelianenko tries a body shot but Henson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Emelianenko keeps control of Henson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Henson stalling in the clinch but Emelianenko improves position.
Emelianenko working Henson over with knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Emelianenko as the two fighters clinch.
Emelianenko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Emelianenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Emelianenko lands a nice knee to the body.
Henson looking to slow down the pace here.
Henson managing to block the knees to the body from Emelianenko.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch.
Emelianenko throws a series of punches but Henson avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Emelianenko misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henson sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
Emelianenko avoids the body shot from Henson.
Emelianenko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mirko Emelianenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Emelianenko lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Henson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Emelianenko counters with a big head kick but Henson shrugs it off.
That kick from Emelianenko tenderised Henson's leg. Henson is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Emelianenko takes the fight into the clinch.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Emelianenko 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Emelianenko!
Mirko Emelianenko seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.