PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sam Kwaak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jay Z- Big Pimpin. Mike Henderson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kwaak
vs
Henderson

175 cm
31
152 lbs
24 - 13 - 0

176 cm
29
153 lbs
23 - 9 - 2

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Cynical Truth (steel penn)

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Kwaak!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kwaak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Henderson.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Henderson. Kwaak shrugs it off though.
Henderson slips a jab and a cross from Kwaak.
Henderson scores with a decent looking hook.
Henderson blocks the body kick.
Sam Kwaak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kwaak throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henderson.
The crowd cheers as Henderson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kwaak doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like Sam Kwaak has been cut.
Henderson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Henderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kwaak was well out of range. Poor timing from Henderson.
Henderson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sloppy strikes from Kwaak. Those never looked like landing.
Henderson throws a solid leg kick but Kwaak takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Henderson.
Kwaak tried to score with a low kick but Henderson checks it.
Kwaak lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Henderson.
Henderson's coach down at Soul Supremacy - UK was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Henderson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Henderson thuds his shin into the meat of Kwaak's side.
Kwaak bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kwaak misses the shot to the body.
Kwaak keeps the fight on the outside.
Kwaak bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Henderson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kwaak in his tracks.
Kwaak with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Henderson to score with a decent uppercut.
Henderson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kwaak.
Kwaak keeps the fight on the outside.
Kwaak connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Henderson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Henderson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kwaak cracks Henderson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've been told by Kwaak's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kwaak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henderson misses with a low kick.
Kwaak throws a jab but it's blocked by Henderson.
A jab from Kwaak finds it's way through Henderson's defenses.
Kwaak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kwaak buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kwaak misses with a low kick.
Kwaak connects with an inside leg kick.
Henderson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kwaak.
Henderson jabs at Kwaak's body.
Henderson tries a low kick but Kwaak avoids it.
Henderson keeps Kwaak at a distance using the push kick.
Henderson misses with a low kick.
Henderson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kwaak throws a leg kick but Henderson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Henderson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kwaak, right into the meat.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kwaak moves away.
Henderson misses with a hook. Kwaak ducked under it nicely.
Kwaak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kwaak throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
That kick from Henderson tenderised Kwaak's leg. Kwaak is trying to keep his angry face on.
Henderson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kwaak checks it well.
Kwaak tries to clinch there but Henderson circles away.
Kwaak jabs at Henderson's body.
Kwaak staying out of range there.
Kwaak scores with a decent looking hook.
Kwaak connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kwaak.
Henderson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kwaak circles away quickly and effectively.
Henderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kwaak swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Henderson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Kwaak's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kwaak ducks under a wild hook from Henderson.
Kwaak fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Henderson on the side of the head.
Henderson cracks Kwaak with a good jab.
Kwaak rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henderson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab, jab by Kwaak - just one landing.
Kwaak closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Henderson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kwaak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kwaak with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kwaak tries to close the distance and clinch but Henderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice cross by Henderson.
Henderson keeps the fight on the outside.
Kwaak scores with a crisp jab that stopped Henderson in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwaak stuns Henderson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kwaak wants to clinch up but Henderson keeps it at a distance.
Henderson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Henderson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kwaak.
Kwaak misses with a body shot.

Henderson drives through and clinches with Kwaak against the cage.
Henderson scores with a shot to the side of Kwaak's head.
A hook to the body from Kwaak.
Henderson misses with a body punch.
Kwaak throws a punch but it's blocked by Henderson.
Henderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kwaak has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Henderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Kwaak misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kwaak working aggressively here.
Kwaak is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henderson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson scores with a hook to the body.
Henderson is trying to maintain a safe position but Kwaak gets an underhook and turns Henderson into the cage.
Kwaak creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Henderson's defenses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kwaak just misses with a elbow thrown towards Henderson's brow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice right hand lands inside from Henderson.
Kwaak wants to get back to striking at distance but Henderson won't allow it.
Henderson scores with a shoulder strike.
Kwaak takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kwaak tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kwaak misses with a hook to the ribs.

Henderson breaks the clinch.
Henderson throws a low kick but Kwaak avoids it.
Kwaak throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.
Kwaak lands a nice looking body shot.
Kwaak throws a body punch but Henderson moves out of range.
Kwaak cracks Henderson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kwaak avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Henderson thows a body shot but no joy.
Henderson goes for a double leg but Kwaak avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kwaak continues to drive forward.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Henderson blocks the leg kick.
Henderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kwaak manages to avoid it.
Kwaak takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kwaak connects with a crisp jab.
A big left from Kwaak misses.
Kwaak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Henderson.
Kwaak buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kwaak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henderson moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak throws a jab but it's blocked by Henderson.
Henderson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kwaak throws a front kick that sends Henderson stumbling back into the cage.
Mike Henderson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kwaak closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kwaak tries for a takedown. No joy.
Henderson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kwaak is defending well.
Kwaak swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Henderson blocks an elbow strike from Kwaak.
Henderson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kwaak backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kwaak waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Henderson.
Henderson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Henderson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kwaak momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Henderson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sam Kwaak's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kwaak slips under a jab.
Henderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kwaak was well out of range. Poor timing from Henderson.
Kwaak avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Henderson moves in looking to clinch but Kwaak pushes him off.
Henderson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kwaak.
Henderson is looking to clinch but Kwaak is avoiding it.
Kwaak looks to land a left hand but Henderson moved out of range nicely.
Henderson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Henderson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kwaak takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kwaak pinned against the cage. Kwaak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henderson blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwaak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Henderson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kwaak throws a hook but Henderson avoids it easily.
Henderson checks a leg kick nicely.
Good leg kick by Henderson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Henderson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Henderson closes the distance but Kwaak moves to the side
and Kwaak counters with a three punch combo that has Henderson backing up. Henderson nods at Kwaak to acknowledge the strikes.
Henderson keeps the fight on the outside.
Henderson lands a lovely overhand right.
Henderson connects with a leg kick. Kwaak looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Henderson as he connects with a hook.
Henderson looks to throw the jab but Kwaak is out of range.
Henderson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson throws a body punch but Kwaak moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Henderson - that will leave a mark!
Henderson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kwaak connects with a solid leg kick.

Henderson moves into the clinch.
Kwaak can't find room to land a body shot as Henderson controls the action.
Kwaak lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Henderson lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kwaak throws a head punch that misses.
Henderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kwaak blocks it with crossed arms.
Henderson prevents a body shot from Kwaak.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Kwaak controls the action.

Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henderson thuds his shin into the meat of Kwaak's side.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kwaak.
Henderson stuns Kwaak with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Henderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Henderson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kwaak lands a jab to Henderson's midsection.
Henderson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kwaak.
Kwaak uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Henderson has time to react.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak misses with a kick to the body.
Kwaak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kwaak tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Henderson swivels and escapes.
Kwaak doesn't manage to clinch there - Henderson circles away.
Henderson throws a right hand that misses
and Kwaak counters with a nice body shot.
Henderson misses the shot to the body.
Henderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kwaak throws out the jab.
Kwaak is looking to chop away at Henderson's legs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson tries a head kick but it misses.
Kwaak bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kwaak stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Henderson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Henderson really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Kwaak's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Henderson scores with a jab. Kwaak acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Henderson misses with a body shot.
Kwaak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Henderson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Henderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kwaak sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A clash of legs there as Henderson blocks the low kick.
Henderson thows a body shot but no joy.
Henderson misses with a low kick.
Kwaak connects with a right hand. Henderson shakes it off.
Henderson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kwaak tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henderson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kwaak.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwaak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henderson.
Kwaak lands a right hook to the body.
Henderson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kwaak throws a combination. Henderson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Henderson lands with an overhand left.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kwaak moves away.
A head kick misses from Henderson.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kwaak sprawls well. Kwaak wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Kwaak is looking to chop away at Henderson's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kwaak throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kwaak attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kwaak looks to land a body kick but Henderson moved away.
Henderson throws a leg kick that misses.
Henderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kwaak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henderson somewhat.

Kwaak closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Henderson did well to prevent Kwaak getting side control.
Kwaak not doing much here.
Kwaak's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Henderson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Henderson is pulling down on Kwaak's head to control his posture.
Kwaak trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Henderson, not yet.
Kwaak is pushing down on Henderson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Henderson is fighting to maintain full guard but Kwaak has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kwaak is trying to control. Henderson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Henderson is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is staying active underneath Kwaak, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Henderson wants to improve his position but Kwaak is controlling well.
Henderson gets full guard.

Henderson pushes Kwaak off and scrambles back to his feet.
A left lands for Kwaak.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Henderson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kwaak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henderson swings for the body but Kwaak moves out of range.
Kwaak lands a glancing blow to the side of Henderson's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Sam Kwaak will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sam Kwaak's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kwaak fakes the leg kick and cracks Henderson in the body.

Henderson darts in and clinches Kwaak up against the cage.
Henderson tries to score a body lock takedown but Kwaak shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kwaak lands a right hand.
Henderson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kwaak lands a right hand.
Henderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kwaak's elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Henderson.
Henderson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kwaak goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Henderson.
Kwaak creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kwaak doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kwaak will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Henderson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sam Kwaak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Henderson.
Henderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Henderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Kwaak works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwaak stays in close to Henderson's body and controls the position.
Kwaak won't allow Henderson to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kwaak has passed into side control.
Kwaak remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Henderson struggling a bit here.
Kwaak just content to control the position.
Mike Henderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Henderson but he's now mounted!
Henderson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kwaak can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Henderson is looking to escape.
Kwaak avoids the attempt from Henderson to control.
Henderson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kwaak content just to control the position here.
Henderson is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is working to get back to half guard.
Henderson has given up his back.
I really don't envy Henderson right now.
Henderson keeps trying to improve his position.
Henderson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kwaak trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Henderson doesn't escape.
Henderson trying to control the hands but Kwaak breaks the grip.
Henderson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Kwaak off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kwaak slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Henderson trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Henderson tries to roll but Kwaak sticks to his back.
Kwaak keeps control of the position easily here as Henderson tries to buck him off.
Kwaak controlling well, preventing Henderson from escaping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sam Kwaak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Kwaak showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henderson 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 47:49
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Henderson!
Mike Henderson is the new featherweight champion!
After winning the bout, Mike Henderson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.