PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ignacio Henson (ranked 4636 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauris Darzins (ranked 2416 p4p, 281 weight class). Lauris Darzins will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Henson
vs
Darzins

188 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ignacio Henson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lauris Darzins!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darzins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Henson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Henson drives through and clinches with Darzins against the cage.
Henson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Darzins with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Darzins gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Henson is looking to escape.

Darzins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Henson is just riding it out for now. Darzins eventually gives up the hold.

Darzins decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henson gets a takedown into half guard.
Henson controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henson working the head and body with strikes.
Henson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Henson is thwarting Darzins's attempts to control the position.
Nice strikes from Henson there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Henson lands a nice short elbow.
Darzins tries to roll over but Henson keeps him under control.

Henson is working for a kimura but Darzins is defending it quite comfortably.
Darzins is trying to get back to full guard.
Darzins desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Darzins is looking to control Henson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Darzins avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darzins is pressing down on Henson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Henson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Our spies down at at The Samurai - Elite Fight Club inform us that Darzins has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Henson landing some decent shots from guard.
Henson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Darzins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henson trying to control but Darzins is working from the bottom.
Henson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Darzins's head.
Henson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
Darzins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Darzins looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Henson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Darzins doesn't seem bothered though.
Horrible takedown attempt by Darzins or perhaps it was just good defense by Henson, which made it look bad.
Henson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Darzins.
Darzins tries to clinch up.
Darzins just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHenson.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Henson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Darzins quickly recovers to half guard.
Nice strikes from Henson there.

Henson is trying to work for a kimura but Darzins is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignacio Henson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A low kick from Henson is predictable there

and Darzins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Henson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Henson pushes Darzins off looking to stand but Darzins dives back in and keeps control.

Darzins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Henson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Darzins.
Henson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darzins is trying to control the action in half guard but Henson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Darzins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Henson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Henson taking some punishment here, with Darzins in his half guard.
Henson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Henson trying to keep a closed guard but Darzins is proving a slippery customer.
Darzins wants to pass the guard but Henson is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Darzins postures up.
Henson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Darzins takes the fight into the clinch.
Henson stalling against the cage.
Henson wants to break free but Darzins has control.

Henson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darzins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henson throws a quick counter kick to the body but Darzins avoids it.
Henson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Darzins. No joy for Henson on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Henson. No joy for Darzins on that attempt.
Darzins fails with the takedown.
Darzins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Henson tries to avoid it but Darzins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Henson to the ground. Henson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ignacio Henson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauris Darzins.

Darzins closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Henson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henson wants to sweep but Darzins has passed to side control!
Henson is trying to control Darzins's posture but Darzins avoids it.
Darzins trying to control the action but Henson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauris Darzins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Darzins is defended easily by Henson.
Darzins lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henson throws a front kick aimed at Darzins's knee but Darzins avoids it well.
Henson stuffs the takedown attempt from Darzins. Darzins gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darzins fails with the takedown.
Ignacio Henson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauris Darzins.
Darzins misses with an uppercut.
Darzins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Darzins throws out a loose jab but Henson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henson is looking to counter the offense by Darzins and move into the clinch.
Darzins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Henson counter with a right hand.
Henson tries a head kick but it misses.
Darzins shoots in for a takedown but Henson shows good takedown defense.
As Darzins tries to get set, Henson tries to push him back and clinch up but Darzins manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Darzins.

Henson moves into range and clinches up with Darzins.

Darzins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Henson stopping the sweep attempt from Darzins.
Darzins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Henson distracts Darzins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lauris Darzins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Henson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Henson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Darzins on the ground.
Henson stands up over Darzins, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Henson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henson postures up and lands a big shot to Darzins's brow.
Darzins looking for a sweep. Not yet Darzins, not yet.
Henson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Henson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Henson lands a couple of elbows.
Darzins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henson working some strikes from top position.
Henson working some strikes from top position.
Henson distracts Darzins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Henson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Henson lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henson cracks Darzins with a solid left hand.
Darzins trying to control the position.
Henson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Henson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Darzins can do to turn this around?
Henson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Darzins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henson is one step ahead there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Darzins shoots in looking for a takedown but Henson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Darzins's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Darzins tries to close the distance and clinch but Henson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Darzins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Henson sprawls well. Henson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Darzins gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ignacio Henson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Henson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ignacio Henson!