PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Slopey Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Jawga Boyz - Rollin Like A Redneck. Henderson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Jay Z- Big Pimpin kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Smith
vs
Henderson

184 cm
36
159 lbs
34 - 19 - 0

176 cm
31
153 lbs
28 - 11 - 4

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Steel Penn\'s Laundry 80% LAUNDRY IS AVAILABLE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Slopey Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 11 - 4, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Henderson blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
Henderson lands a nice shot that snaps Smith's head back.
Smith has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Smith slips a straight right by Henderson.
Henderson moves away from the strike by Smith.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Henderson saw that one coming.
Henderson throws a predictable looking body shot

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henderson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Henderson passes into half guard.
Henderson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Henderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Henderson wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Smith is looking to control Henderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henderson pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Henderson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slopey Smith dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Henderson is out of range.
Smith listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Henderson avoids a kick to the body.
Henderson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A cross from Smith lands.
Henderson checks a low kick from Smith.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Henderson lands a lovely overhand right.
Smith thumps Henderson with a low kick.
A low kick from Smith misses
and Henderson counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
A big left from Smith misses.
Smith avoids the head kick by Henderson.
Smith lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Henderson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Smith is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Henderson lands a shoulder strike.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henderson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Henderson tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henderson throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Henderson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a straight left.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice inside leg kick there by Smith. That's going to slow Henderson down.
Henderson walks into a stiff left hand from Smith.
Some bone on bone action there as Henderson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Smith jabs at Henderson's body.
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Henderson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smith fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Henderson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Smith lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Henderson's head.
Henderson works Smith's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson takes one on the button.
Henderson tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith throws a front kick aimed at Henderson's knee but Henderson avoids it well.
Henderson misses with a right hand

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Henderson fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henderson 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.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Henderson is retaining full guard.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Henderson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smith's best efforts.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Smith passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson working to try and regain half guard.
Henderson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Henderson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith prevents Henderson from improving his position.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henderson keeps working.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is looking to stall here but Henderson recovers full guard.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slopey Smith dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Smith.
Henderson throws a front kick aimed at Smith's knee but Smith avoids it well.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Henderson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Henderson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jab from Henderson.
Henderson lands a head shot.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith lunges at Henderson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Henderson's hand.
Smith blocks a jab.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Henderson lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the cage and back into range.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Henderson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws out a leg kick but Henderson moves out of range and Smith only half commits.
Slopey Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Henderson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Smith is able to avoid easily.
Henderson jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Henderson misses with an uppercut.
Henderson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Henderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Henderson blocks a jab.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Henderson counter with a right hand.
Henderson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith moves out of range as Henderson throws a body kick.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Henderson throws out the jab.
Smith checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Henderson.
Smith tries a low kick but Henderson avoids it.
Slopey Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Henderson gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Henderson's elbow.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Henderson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Henderson throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mike Henderson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
A jab from Henderson misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Henderson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smith checks it well.
Henderson feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Henderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Henderson lands with a cross.
Henderson misses with an uppercut.
Smith throws a poor cross that misses
and Henderson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Henderson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Smith misses with a leg kick.
Mike Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Henderson has time to react.
Henderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Smith tries to work over Henderson's front leg with a kick but Henderson checks it.
Henderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Henderson misses with an uppercut.
Henderson lands a head shot.
Henderson is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Smith throws the left hand but Henderson avoids the punch easily.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Henderson uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith throws a hook but Henderson blocks it.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Henderson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Henderson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Smith has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slopey Smith!
An out of breath Slopey Smith thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Mike Henderson was interviewed post fight and said 'I knew he was going to try and just wrestle me. Just hold me down and hold on to me. Oh well maybe next he will want to fight instead of just hug me.'.