PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tolegen Akylbekov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (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.

Akylbekov
vs
Henderson

171 cm
24
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Tolegen Akylbekov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akylbekov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown. Akylbekov fights it but they end up in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Henderson wanted to stand there but Akylbekov had control of the position.

Akylbekov is working an open guard so Henderson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Akylbekov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Henderson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Henderson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Akylbekov is looking for a sweep. Henderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Henderson stands up from half guard.
Akylbekov misses with a double jab.
Henderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Akylbekov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Akylbekov quickly recovers to half guard.
Henderson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Akylbekov controls his leg.

Akylbekov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Henderson passes into side control!
Akylbekov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Henderson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Henderson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Henderson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Akylbekov is trying to keep Henderson in close.

Henderson gets to his feet. Akylbekov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson slips a jab and a cross from Akylbekov.
Akylbekov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akylbekov lands a jab to the nose.
Tolegen Akylbekov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Henderson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Akylbekov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henderson pulls his head out easily.
Akylbekov is breathing heavily.

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

Henderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Akylbekov is trying to defend but Henderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Akylbekov wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akylbekov actively working from the bottom here.

Henderson escapes and gets back to his feet.

Henderson drives through with a takedown into Akylbekov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Henderson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Akylbekov's guard.

Henderson stands and steps away. Akylbekov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Akylbekov scores with the left hand. Henderson knows he should have avoided that one.
Akylbekov lands with an overhand left.
Akylbekov looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.
Henderson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akylbekov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Akylbekov connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akylbekov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A left and a right from Akylbekov both land. Nice combination.
Akylbekov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Akylbekov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Henderson in his tracks.
Akylbekov misses with a few strikes there.
Akylbekov jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Akylbekov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Akylbekov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Henderson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Henderson stands up from Akylbekov's guard - Henderson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Akylbekov works over Henderson's head and body with a nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Akylbekov throws a series of punches but Henderson avoids them all with ease.
Akylbekov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akylbekov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Henderson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Henderson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Akylbekov. Henderson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Akylbekov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Henderson escapes and gets back to his feet.

Henderson shoots in and gets a takedown into Akylbekov's guard.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Akylbekov won't let him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akylbekov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henderson is aware though and is defending well.

Akylbekov looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.

Henderson gets to his feet - Akylbekov follows without any prompting.
Akylbekov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Henderson circles away quickly and effectively.
Henderson looks for a takedown but Akylbekov sprawls well.
Henderson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Akylbekov.
Akylbekov misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akylbekov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Akylbekov wants it to stay on the feet.
Akylbekov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Akylbekov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akylbekov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tolegen Akylbekov is winning the standup battle so far.

Henderson shoots in and gets a takedown into Akylbekov's guard.
Akylbekov has a closed guard, preventing Henderson from standing up.

Henderson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Akylbekov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Henderson has managed to get both his arms back between Akylbekov's legs - danger averted.

Henderson is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Akylbekov has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Henderson is looking to defend but Akylbekov has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Henderson! Akylbekov pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Henderson taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Tolegen Akylbekov!