PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arlen Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Irina Sakolevna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlen Henderson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Henderson
vs
Sakolevna

204 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

181 cm
27
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arlen Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Irina Sakolevna!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakolevna feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sakolevna trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sakolevna is controlling him.
Henderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sakolevna throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Henderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sakolevna is looking to work some ground and pound but Henderson has wrist control.
Sakolevna not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Sakolevna from controlling successfully.
Henderson working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sakolevna is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sakolevna throws a big right hand that misses.
Henderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sakolevna passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Sakolevna wants to pass to mount but Henderson is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakolevna stops Henderson from getting back to his feet.
Sakolevna has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakolevna trying to control the pace.

Henderson actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Sakolevna is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sakolevna wants to take a breather but Henderson is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson dives in for a single leg takedown but Sakolevna sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Sakolevna manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Henderson on his heels. He'll look to pass Henderson's guard now, I'm sure.

Henderson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sakolevna defends well.
Sakolevna wants to pass the guard but Henderson is keeping the position.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Sakolevna isn't so interested in that idea.
Sakolevna trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakolevna trying to stand up but can't free himself from Henderson's guard.
Henderson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sakolevna not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sakolevna ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henderson moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson slips a jab from Sakolevna.
Henderson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sakolevna sprawls and moves away.

Sakolevna shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Henderson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Henderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irina Sakolevna dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Henderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sakolevna shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Henderson's guard.
Henderson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sakolevna engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Sakolevna is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson looking for a guillotine here but Sakolevna defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakolevna content to stall in guard here.
Sakolevna wants to pass the guard but Henderson is keeping the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Henderson tries to sprawl but Sakolevna drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Henderson is looking for a sweep. Sakolevna is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sakolevna uses his free foot to push down on Henderson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Henderson.
Henderson tries to buck Sakolevna off but he can't manage it.
Sakolevna tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Sakolevna working for a submission but Henderson is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakolevna controlling his opponent.
Henderson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Henderson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sakolevna. What's that going to do exactly?
Sakolevna breaks from Henderson's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Sakolevna is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Henderson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Henderson shrugs it off.
Sakolevna controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to buck Sakolevna off but Sakolevna takes his back!
Henderson prevents Sakolevna from getting a body triangle.
Sakolevna biding his time, looking for the opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irina Sakolevna 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!

Sakolevna moves into range and clinches up with Henderson.
Sakolevna displaying some good clinch control by pressing Henderson up against the cage.
Sakolevna is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Sakolevna successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakolevna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sakolevna holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson won't allow Sakolevna to sweep him here.
Sakolevna is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Henderson is controlling him.
Sakolevna lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sakolevna avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Henderson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sakolevna postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sakolevna working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Sakolevna is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sakolevna showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sakolevna trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakolevna pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sakolevna gets a takedown into half guard.

Henderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakolevna trying to control from half guard but Henderson is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakolevna is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Sakolevna is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Henderson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sakolevna is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arlen Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Irina Sakolevna is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Henderson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Irina Sakolevna comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sakolevna has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 24:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 24:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Irina Sakolevna!