PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Karbo Darganyan (ranked 5497 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noah Hensley (ranked 5716 p4p, 361 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Darganyan
vs
Hensley

168 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karbo Darganyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Noah Hensley!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hensley tries to land a body kick

and Darganyan counters with a shoot takedown. Hensley fights it but they end up in guard.
Darganyan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Darganyan wants to control from the top but Hensley keeps moving.
Darganyan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hensley is keeping the position for now.
Darganyan wants to get up but he can't break Hensley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hensley looking to control.
Darganyan pushes down on Hensley's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hensley tries to kick Darganyan off but Darganyan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hensley is looking to improve his position.
Hensley wants to get back to his feet.
Darganyan controlling the action here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Darganyan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Darganyan is trying to control the action in half guard but Hensley is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Darganyan darts in and clinches Hensley up against the cage.

Darganyan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Darganyan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hensley sprawls well. Hensley wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Darganyan gets slowly back to his feet.
Hensley dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hensley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sloppy strikes from Hensley. Those never looked like landing.
Darganyan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hensley circles away.
Hensley lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hensley lands with a cross.
Hensley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Darganyan circles away quickly and effectively.
Darganyan is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hensley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hensley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Darganyan thinks about countering with a head kick.
Hensley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Darganyan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hensley shoots for a takedown but Darganyan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karbo Darganyan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noah Hensley.
Hensley misses with a kick to the body

and Darganyan counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hensley!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hensley looks winded!
A lull in the action here as Darganyan stalls from top position.
Hensley is not content to let Darganyan control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darganyan scores with punches from side control.
Darganyan in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The strikes coming from Darganyan are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Darganyan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Darganyan working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Karbo Darganyan will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hensley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Darganyan is looking to counter punch.
Hensley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Darganyan shoots in for a double leg but Hensley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Darganyan shoots in for a double leg but Hensley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hensley is looking to land body kicks.
Hensley misses with a head kick.
Hensley scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hensley enables Darganyan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hensley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Darganyan throws a strike but Hensley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hensley stopping the sweep attempt from Darganyan.

Darganyan has his foot on Hensley's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hensley works his way back into a safe position though.
Karbo Darganyan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hensley gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hensley throws a head kick that misses.
Hensley tests Darganyan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hensley swats away the attempt to clinch by Darganyan.
Noah Hensley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Darganyan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karbo Darganyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Darganyan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hensley is fending him off so far but Darganyan persists. Nope, Hensley circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hensley is defended easily by Darganyan.
Hensley throws a head kick but Darganyan moves out of range.

Darganyan gets caught napping as Hensley dives in and scores a takedown. Darganyan manages to retain guard.
Darganyan keeping moving, preventing Hensley from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hensley forces his way into half guard.
Darganyan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hensley keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hensley prevents Darganyan from improving his position.
Darganyan tries to kick Hensley off but Hensley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hensley is controlling the pace.

Hensley is trying to work for a kimura but Darganyan is defending well.
Darganyan is looking for a sweep. Hensley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Darganyan tries to kick Hensley off but Hensley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hensley stuffs the takedown attempt from Darganyan. Darganyan gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Darganyan. No joy for Hensley on that attempt.
Darganyan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A combination from Hensley does no damage.
Darganyan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hensley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hensley pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Hensley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Darganyan stalls.
Darganyan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Hensley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hensley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Darganyan seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Hensley fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Darganyan sprawls well initially but Hensley persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hensley trying to advance position but Darganyan counters by regaining guard.
Darganyan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hensley is one step ahead there.
Darganyan working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hensley got a little sloppy there for a moment and Darganyan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hensley has managed to get both his arms back between Darganyan's legs - danger averted.
Hensley passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hensley wants to take a breather but Darganyan is having none of it.
Darganyan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Darganyan.
Hensley trying to control the position from guard on top but Darganyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.

Darganyan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hensley is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Darganyan.
Darganyan holding on.
Darganyan wants to control but Hensley postures up.

Hensley decides to stand up, so the ref orders Darganyan to his feet.
Hensley looks to land a combination. Darganyan sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Noah Hensley seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hensley closes the distance and clinches.
Darganyan is trying to pull guard but Hensley has him pressed against the cage.
Darganyan wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Darganyan has Hensley pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Darganyan pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hensley tumbling to the mat - Darganyan dives into Hensley's guard.
Hensley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Darganyan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Darganyan prevents Hensley from getting back to his feet.
Karbo Darganyan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hensley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Darganyan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Darganyan preventing the sweep.
Darganyan throwing strikes but missing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hensley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noah Hensley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hensley 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Noah Hensley!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Noah Hensley!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Noah Hensley!

Noah Hensley wins by unanimous decision!