PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between ben henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Khalidov

192 cm
22
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, ben henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mamed Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalidov fails to land the takedown.

Khalidov feints and as henderson raises his hands in defense, Khalidov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Khalidov wants to stand but henderson is controlling his posture from full guard.
henderson looking for a sweep. Not yet henderson, not yet.
henderson looking to control.
henderson trying to control the position here.
Khalidov wants to control from the top but henderson keeps moving.
Khalidov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control henderson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
henderson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Khalidov tries to score a power double leg takedown but henderson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Khalidov somewhat.
Good leg kick by henderson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Horrible takedown by Khalidov or perhaps it was just good defense by henderson which made him look bad.
ben henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mamed Khalidov.
henderson keeps the fight on the outside.
henderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Khalidov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Khalidov looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
henderson shoots in and drives through. Khalidov sprawls well.

henderson clinches up with Khalidov and pushes him back against the cage.

henderson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
henderson trying to control but Khalidov is working from the bottom.

henderson gets to his feet - Khalidov follows without any prompting.
Mamed Khalidov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalidov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Khalidov won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
henderson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Khalidov!
henderson looking to ground and pound but Khalidov is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
henderson landing strikes from the mount.
henderson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
henderson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Khalidov is in all sorts of trouble here.
henderson controlling from the full mount.
Khalidov tries to hold on but henderson postures up.

That's four 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.
Khalidov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
henderson controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

henderson working for a guillotine from mount but Khalidov is in no mood to give up.
Khalidov is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ben henderson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

henderson tries for a takedown but Khalidov circles away easily
and Khalidov counters with a head kick.

Khalidov has managed to clinch.
Khalidov controlling the action here for a moment.
Khalidov prevents henderson from breaking the clinch.
henderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Khalidov is pressed up against the cage. henderson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khalidov down to the mat. Khalidov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
henderson shoots for a takedown but Khalidov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for ben henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
henderson avoids the head kick by Khalidov.
henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khalidov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. henderson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Khalidov lands a high kick!
Khalidov shoots and misses

and henderson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Khalidov!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
henderson looking to control but Khalidov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Khalidov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Khalidov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
henderson controlling from the full mount.
Khalidov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
henderson controlling from the full mount.
Khalidov is desperately trying to improve his position but henderson has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, henderson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
henderson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Khalidov trying desperately to get to his feet.
henderson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
henderson lands a big shot there that rocks Khalidov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
henderson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Khalidov looks a forlorn figure.

That's four 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.
Khalidov tries to lock up and control but henderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
henderson landing strikes from the mount and Khalidov is in trouble!
Khalidov is trying to escape the mount.

henderson has control of Khalidov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Khalidov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Khalidov working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mamed Khalidov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Khalidov pushes henderson up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Khalidov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with henderson, pushing him back against the cage.

henderson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Khalidov trying to hold on to henderson's head to control him but henderson postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with henderson in particular looking to stall.

henderson seems to be working for a kimura but Khalidov defends the submission attempt.
henderson tries to stand and escape but Khalidov is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
henderson passes into side control, despite Khalidov's attempt to control the position.
You can see the frustration on Khalidov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
ben henderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khalidov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
henderson throws a lazy head kick

and Khalidov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khalidov wants to work for an arm triangle but henderson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Khalidov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Khalidov is just content to waste time from the top position. henderson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Khalidov trying to stand up but can't free himself from henderson's guard.

henderson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Khalidov is looking to clinch but henderson is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
henderson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Khalidov shoots in for a double leg but henderson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

henderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Khalidov is trying to defend but henderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

henderson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
henderson is keen to just control but Khalidov is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
henderson passes into side control, despite Khalidov's attempt to control the position.
henderson trying to control the action but Khalidov is working from the bottom.
Khalidov is letting henderson control him for a moment.

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 ben henderson.
I think henderson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ben henderson!