PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Finn Balor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jay Z- Big Pimpin. Balor has chosen Monster as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henderson
vs
Balor

176 cm
34
153 lbs
33 - 17 - 4

172 cm
33
152 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Kemists ↑™ 5x160Q - $149-199

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 17 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Finn Balor!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Henderson misses.
Balor tries to land a leg kick but Henderson saw it coming and moves away.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balor throws a hook but Henderson blocks it.
Balor walks into a straight right hand from Henderson.
Henderson misses the shot to the body.
Balor blocks a head kick by Henderson.
Balor throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.
Balor 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.
Balor throws a front kick that sends Henderson stumbling back into the cage.
Henderson throws a leg kick but Balor checks it.
Balor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mike Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balor. That's going to slow Henderson down.
Balor misses with a low kick.
Henderson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Henderson moves out of range of the leg kick from Balor.
Balor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson connects with a jab.
Balor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jab from Balor.
Henderson looks to land a left hand but Balor moved out of range nicely.
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balor dips to his left and cracks Henderson with an uppercut!
Balor throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Henderson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Balor attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Balor checks a low kick from Henderson.
Balor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson swings for the body but Balor moves out of range.
Balor throws a sloppy head kick and Henderson moves out of range easily.
Henderson fires out a quick counter leg kick but Balor just manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Balor throws a half hearted mid kick.
Henderson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balor tries to counter with a clinch but Henderson shakes him off and moves away.
A low kick from Balor is predictable there
enabling Henderson to counter with a crisp jab.
Balor is looking to score with low kicks.
Balor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Balor lands a glancing blow to the side of Henderson's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balor. Henderson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balor misses the shot to the body.
Balor lands a jab to the head.
Nice jab there from Henderson.
Balor moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Henderson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balor steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Balor looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balor appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Balor lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Henderson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Henderson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Henderson throws an overhand right that lands on Balor's shoulder, as Balor tries to avoid the shot.
Henderson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Balor looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Balor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Henderson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A combination from Henderson does no damage.
Balor throws a body kick that misses.
A big left from Balor misses.
Balor with a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Henderson.
Henderson misses with a right hand
and Balor counters with a nice low kick that buckles Henderson's knee momentarily.
Balor misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws out a powerful jab.
Henderson is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
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 misses with a body kick.
Balor avoids the head kick by Henderson.
Henderson blocks a head kick by Balor.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Henderson.
Henderson misses with a leg kick.
Henderson takes one on the button.
Balor just misses with a punch to the body.
Balor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A head kick by Balor misses
and Henderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henderson misses with a straight right.
Balor throws a leg kick which misses Henderson's front leg but catches the back leg as Henderson tries to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Henderson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Balor has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Balor and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A nice side step and Balor releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Finn Balor will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Balor scores with a head kick. Henderson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Henderson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balor throws a nice inside leg kick.
Henderson throws a looping overhand right but Balor ducks down to avoid it.
Henderson throws a hook to the side of Balor's head but Balor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Henderson throws a leg kick but Balor checks it.
Henderson throws a head kick but Balor moves out of range.
Balor throws a leg kick but Henderson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Henderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson slips a jab from Balor.
Balor looks to land a left hand but Henderson moved out of range nicely.
Henderson checks a leg kick.
Henderson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A lazy left from Henderson finds it's target.
Balor looks to land a body kick but Henderson moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor connects with a jab.
Balor lands a right hook to the body.
Henderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balor.
Balor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A swing and a miss from Henderson.
Henderson lands a jab.
Henderson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Henderson misses with a left hand
and Balor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Henderson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Balor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Henderson with a body shot.
Balor throws a lazy right hand but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A swing and a miss from Henderson.
Balor lands a jab to Henderson's midsection.
Balor throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Balor is able to avoid easily.
Balor throws out a counter right but Henderson avoids it with no problem.
Henderson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Henderson lands a leg kick that knocks Balor off balance momentarily.
Henderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balor.
Balor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henderson.
Balor let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Henderson scores with a nice body kick.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Balor.
Henderson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Henderson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Henderson tries a low kick but Balor avoids it.
Balor gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Balor checks a low kick from Henderson.
Balor looks to score with a jab to the body but Henderson is just out of range.
Balor swings for the body but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson throws a front kick aimed at Balor's knee but Balor avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Henderson.
Decent striking displayed by Henderson there.
Henderson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Balor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Balor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Henderson wants to slow Balor down by chopping away at his legs.
An inside leg kick from Henderson misses.
Henderson scores with a nice head shot.
Balor shoots in but no luck this time.
Balor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Balor tried to score with a low kick but Henderson checks it.
Balor throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Balor shoots in but Henderson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Finn Balor seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson lands a head shot.
Henderson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson throws a leg kick
and Balor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Henderson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Henderson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Henderson tries to work over Balor's front leg with a kick but Balor checks it.
Henderson looks to land a right hand but Balor moved out of range.
Balor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Henderson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Balor sprawls and moves away.
Henderson blocks a jab.
Henderson fires out a quick counter leg kick but Balor just manages to avoid it.
Henderson keeps the fight on the outside.
A chopping leg kick lands by Henderson.
Henderson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Finn Balor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Balor staying out of range there.
Henderson takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Balor is looking to score with low kicks.
Balor lands a nice shot that snaps Henderson's head back.
Henderson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Balor checks a leg kick.
Balor looks to score with a jab to the body but Henderson is just out of range.
Balor throws a leg kick
and Henderson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Henderson.
Henderson lands with a straight right. Balor didn't see that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Balor both land. Nice combination.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Balor pinned against the cage. Balor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henderson tries to land a leg kick but Balor saw it coming and moves away.
Balor flicks out a counter leg kick but Henderson steps away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson connects with a crisp jab.
Balor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Balor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Balor throws out a counter right but Henderson avoids it with no problem.
Henderson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Balor misses with a low kick.
Henderson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Balor looks to score with a jab to the body but Henderson is just out of range.
Balor takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Henderson looks to throw the jab but Balor is out of range.
Balor was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Henderson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Balor is looking to land body kicks.
Balor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Henderson is out of range.
Balor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Henderson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Henderson misses the target.
Balor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balor slips under a jab from Henderson.
Henderson thuds a left hand into Balor's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Balor drives through with a takedown into Henderson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Balor throws an elbow that misses. Henderson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Balor's guard. Nice move by Henderson!

Henderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Balor keeps moving.
Henderson stops Balor from standing up.
Henderson lands a couple of digs.

Balor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Henderson defends it easily.
Henderson won't allow Balor to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Balor keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson stands up over Balor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Henderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Finn Balor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Henderson postures up in Balor's guard and throws a big left but Balor blocks it.
Henderson postures up.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Balor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson won't allow Balor to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balor keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
Balor trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Balor checks the leg kick nicely there.
Balor on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Balor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henderson manages to avoid it.
Balor thuds a left hand into Henderson's body.
Good leg kick by Balor there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Henderson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Balor momentarily.
Balor throws a body shot but no joy.
Mike Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson thumps Balor with a low kick.
Balor ducks under a wild hook from Henderson.
Henderson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Henderson.
Well Balor 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!