PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karl Henriksen (ranked 2078 p4p, 280 weight class) and Darius McCrae (ranked 4304 p4p, 469 weight class). Henriksen comes to the cage accompanied by OST Vikings - If I Had a Heart. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Henriksen
vs
McCrae

184 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

181 cm
19
175 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl Henriksen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius McCrae!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henriksen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McCrae.
Henriksen appears to be looking for a big counter.
A head kick misses from Henriksen.
McCrae with the counter takedown but Henriksen avoids it easily.
Henriksen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
McCrae shoots in but Henriksen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Henriksen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henriksen throws a head kick but McCrae moves out of range.
McCrae looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henriksen is fending him off so far but McCrae persists. Nope, Henriksen circles away and we're back to standing.
Henriksen throwing a counter right hand but McCrae manages to avoid it.
Karl Henriksen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darius McCrae.
Henriksen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henriksen wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrae tries for a takedown but Henriksen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henriksen tries to land a front kick but McCrae steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McCrae shoots in looking for a takedown. Henriksen tries to sprawl out of it but McCrae keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Henriksen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Henriksen lands a nice looking body kick.
McCrae takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henriksen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Henriksen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McCrae.
A telegraphed right hand from McCrae misses the target.
McCrae shoots in but Henriksen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McCrae closes the distance and clinches up with Henriksen, looking for a takedown. McCrae pushes Henriksen against the cage but Henriksen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McCrae tries for a takedown but Henriksen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henriksen thuds his right hand into McCrae's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
McCrae tries to clinch up
and Henriksen counters with a left and a right that stings McCrae.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrae with a lazy takedown attempt
and Henriksen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McCrae fails with a takedown attempt.
Henriksen is looking to counter with head kicks.

McCrae gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCrae is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Henriksen to keep the fight standing.
McCrae tries to pull guard but Henriksen holds him up against the cage and eventually McCrae drops back down to his feet.
McCrae is trying to drag Henriksen to the mat but Henriksen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
McCrae tries to pull guard but Henriksen won't allow it.
McCrae goes for a takedown in the clinch but Henriksen prevents it.
McCrae tries to pull guard but Henriksen holds him up against the cage and eventually McCrae drops back down to his feet.
Henriksen gets underhooks to prevent McCrae's takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McCrae gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Henriksen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
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!
McCrae ducks right into an uppercut from Henriksen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Henriksen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

McCrae has his takedown stuffed
and Henriksen counters with a straight right hand.
McCrae moves in looking to clinch but Henriksen pushes him off.
McCrae shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Henriksen as he avoids it easily.
McCrae shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Henriksen as he jumps to the side.
Karl Henriksen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darius McCrae.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCrae misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Henriksen throws a big counter combination but McCrae scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
McCrae gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Henriksen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henriksen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Henriksen slaps away a takedown attempt from McCrae, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henriksen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McCrae shoots and misses
and Henriksen counters with a big head kick but McCrae shrugs it off.
McCrae shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Henriksen as he avoids it easily.
Darius McCrae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Henriksen, as that shot connected.
McCrae steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Henriksen. That one must have hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Henriksen misses.
McCrae shoots in for a takedown but Henriksen shows good takedown defense.
McCrae fails with the takedown
letting Henriksen counter with a right hand.
McCrae loads up on a big right hand but Henriksen slips the punch.
McCrae takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice uppercut there from Henriksen.
McCrae shoots in looking for a takedown but Henriksen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McCrae's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Henriksen misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrae fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Henriksen.
McCrae feints the counter takedown.
McCrae tries for a takedown but Henriksen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henriksen lands a lovely overhand right.
Henriksen lands a head kick!
McCrae takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henriksen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Henriksen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCrae can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - McCrae looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Karl Henriksen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck for McCrae with that takedown attempt.
McCrae with a lazy takedown attempt
and Henriksen counters with a one-two to the body.
Henriksen throws a head kick but McCrae moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCrae swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Henriksen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

McCrae shoots and misses
and Henriksen counters with a head kick. That will keep McCrae thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
McCrae shoots and misses
and Henriksen counters with a head kick. That will keep McCrae thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

McCrae is rocked!
Henriksen lands an uppercut out of nowhere! McCrae falls backwards - clearly groggy! Henriksen dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Karl Henriksen!
After winning the bout, Karl Henriksen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.