PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Henson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Van der Laan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henson comes to the cage accompanied by A Warrior's Call by Volbeat. Van der Laan has chosen Eazy-E ft. Tupac, The Game - How We Do as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Henson
vs
Van der Laan

180 cm
32
192 lbs
28 - 22 - 1

185 cm
34
195 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Key Clothing LLC

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 - 22 - 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 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andre Van der Laan!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van der Laan cracks the inside of Henson's front leg.
Van der Laan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Henson is out of range and Van der Laan settles back down.
Henson lunges at Van der Laan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Van der Laan's hand.
Henson throws a leg kick but Van der Laan checks it.

Van der Laan gets caught flat footed, as Henson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Henson trying to control but Van der Laan is working from the bottom.
Henson is looking to work some ground and pound but Van der Laan has wrist control.
Henson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henson throws a big elbow that misses.
Henson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van der Laan controlling Henson's posture.
Henson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Henson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Henson trying to control but Van der Laan is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A jab from Henson misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van der Laan. Henson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van der Laan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Henson moves away from the strike by Van der Laan.
Van der Laan misses the shot to the body.
Henson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Van der Laan moves out of range as Henson strikes.
Van der Laan misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van der Laan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Henson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Henson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Henson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Henson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Van der Laan is trying to keep an underhook but Henson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Henson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Van der Laan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Van der Laan defending well though.
Van der Laan wants to improve his position but Henson is controlling well.
Henson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan is positioning himself well to prevent Henson advancing to mount.
Van der Laan wants to stand back up but Henson manages to pass into side control.
Henson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Van der Laan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Henson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Van der Laan has escaped the position, nice work there.

Henson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henson trying to control the action but Van der Laan is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Henson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Henson swings for the body but Van der Laan moves out of range.
Henson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Van der Laan circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice defenses there by Henson.
Van der Laan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Henson.
Henson shoots in but no luck this time.
Van der Laan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Henson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A telegraphed right hand from Van der Laan misses the target.
Henson lands a jab to Van der Laan's midsection.
Van der Laan is looking to clinch.
Henson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van der Laan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henson checks a leg kick.
Van der Laan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Henson has time to react.
Van der Laan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henson.
Van der Laan scores with a leg kick.
Andre Van der Laan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van der Laan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Henson is able to avoid easily.
Van der Laan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Henson throws a hook to the side of Van der Laan's head but Van der Laan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van der Laan throws a nice head kick!
Van der Laan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henson moves away.
Andre Van der Laan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Van der Laan avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Henson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan lands a nice looking body kick.
Andre Van der Laan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van der Laan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van der Laan misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good standup being displayed there by Van der Laan as he connects with a hook.
Henson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A left and a right from Van der Laan both land. Nice combination.
Van der Laan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Henson. That did some damage!
Van der Laan lands with a straight right. Henson didn't see that one coming.
Van der Laan lands a high kick!
Henson lands with a good body shot.
Henson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Henson throws a chopping leg kick but Van der Laan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henson lands with an overhand left.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Van der Laan.
Henson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good exchange - Van der Laan coming out on top.
Van der Laan connects with a single shot there.
Van der Laan looks for the body kick but Henson saw that one coming.
Van der Laan moves out of range of the leg kick from Henson.
Van der Laan dodges the punch combination from Henson.
Henson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Henson misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henson fails to land the takedown.
Henson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van der Laan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henson shoots for a double leg takedown but Van der Laan sprawls well. He's pushed Henson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henson throws a jab but it's blocked by Van der Laan.
Van der Laan throws a leg kick but Henson checks it.
Van der Laan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van der Laan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henson throws a lazy uppercut
and Van der Laan counters with a left to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henson throws a jab but it's blocked by Van der Laan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Henson tries to move into range but Van der Laan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Van der Laan looks to throw the jab but Henson is out of range.
Van der Laan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Van der Laan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Good exchange - Henson coming out on top.
Henson swinging wildly here.
Henson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van der Laan throws a right and a left that Henson avoids nicely.
Henson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Henson tries a low kick but Van der Laan avoids it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van der Laan.
Henson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van der Laan moves away.
Van der Laan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henson manages to avoid it.
Henson blocks a head kick by Van der Laan.
Van der Laan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Henson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van der Laan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Henson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Van der Laan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Henson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Henson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van der Laan.
Henson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A decent looking cross lands there for Van der Laan.
Henson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Van der Laan sprawls well. Van der Laan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henson gets slowly back to his feet.
Van der Laan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Henson momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Van der Laan.
Henson is looking to score with low kicks.
Henson tries to score with a low kick but Van der Laan moves his leg out of the way.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van der Laan scores with a decent looking hook.
Good work by Henson as he checks the leg kick.
Henson tries to bum rush Van der Laan with a series of wild strikes but Van der Laan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Henson thows a body shot but no joy.
Van der Laan 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.
Henson lands a jab to Van der Laan's midsection.
Van der Laan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van der Laan ducks under a wild hook from Henson.
Van der Laan throws the kick towards the body but Henson avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van der Laan moves away from the strike by Henson.
Henson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van der Laan moves out of range of the strikes.
Henson cracks Van der Laan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Van der Laan just misses with a punch to the body.
Van der Laan's corner calls for a 1-2. Van der Laan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Henson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Henson tries to keep at a distance but Van der Laan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Van der Laan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Henson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van der Laan keeps control of Henson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Henson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Henson avoiding damage as Van der Laan throws knees to the body.
Henson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Henson taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henson decides to pull guard.
Henson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Van der Laan trying to control but Henson is working from the bottom.

Henson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Van der Laan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van der Laan wants to control from the top but Henson keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Van der Laan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van der Laan 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Van der Laan!
Andre Van der Laan tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.