PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armand Agasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Henke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Agasi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, GSP walk out KOSv1. Tom Henke struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. 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.

Agasi
vs
Henke

177 cm
24
198 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

192 cm
25
202 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Armand Agasi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom Henke!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Agasi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Agasi closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Henke to counter with a crisp jab.
Henke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Agasi throws a nice looking combination but Henke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some bone on bone action there as Henke checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Agasi moves out of range as Henke strikes.
Henke lands the left hand.

Agasi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short uppercut from Henke.
Henke tries to throw a body punch but Agasi avoids it by throwing Henke back against the cage.
Henke is pressed up against the cage. Agasi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Henke down to the mat. Henke avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Agasi looks to clinch
and Henke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Agasi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Agasi wants to clinch up but Henke keeps it at a distance.
Henke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Agasi wants to clinch but Henke slips to the side
and Henke makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Agasi fails with a takedown attempt.
Armand Agasi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Henke.
Henke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Henke scores with a nice head shot.
Henke lands a two punch combo.
Donk. Henke catches Agasi right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Agasi misses.
Agasi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Agasi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Henke.
Henke throws a sloppy body shot

and Agasi counters with a single leg into guard. Henke didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Agasi looking to pass the guard.
Agasi trying to control the position from guard on top but Henke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Agasi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Agasi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henke working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Agasiis looking to pass into half guard but Henke pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Henke is in guard.
Agasi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henke being controlled here momentarily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Agasi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Henke has passed into side control.
Agasi is trying to control Henke's posture but Henke avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Agasi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Agasi is positioning himself well to prevent Henke advancing to mount.
Agasi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Henke's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Henke's back!

Henke preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Agasi.
Henke covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Henke showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Agasi trying to control momentarily.
Agasi gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

Henke defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Agasi throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armand Agasi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Henke throws a combination. Agasi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Henke shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Agasi eats them both and turns towards Henke to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Henke tries to bum rush Agasi with a series of wild strikes but Agasi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Henke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Agasi wants to clinch up but Henke keeps it at a distance.
Agasi tried to score with a low kick but Henke checks it.

Agasi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Henke tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Agasi is in Henke's guard.
Agasi passes Henke's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Agasi 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.

Agasi is working for a kimura but Henke is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Agasi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henke keeps working.

Agasi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Henke sees it coming and defends easily.

Henke makes his way to full guard, as Agasi worked for a kimura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Agasi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Henke is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Henke has escaped and now he's on top!
Agasi pulls Henke in to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henke wants to control from the top but Agasi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Agasi trying to keep a closed guard but Henke is proving a slippery customer.
Agasi has control of Henke's left arm, preventing Henke from doing any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Henke stopping the sweep attempt from Agasi.

Armand Agasi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Agasi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Agasi misses with a straight left.

Agasi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Henke's half guard.
Henke is pressing down on Agasi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henke keeping full guard, as Agasi tries to pass.
Agasi trying to control the position from guard on top but Henke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Agasi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Henke dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armand Agasi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Agasi closes the distance and clinches up with Henke, looking for a takedown. Agasi pushes Henke against the cage but Henke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Agasi wants to clinch up but Henke keeps it at a distance.
Henke misses the shot to the body.

Agasi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henke was covering up waiting for the punch and Agasi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Henke is adopting a defensive guard.
Agasi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Agasi trying to control but Henke is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Agasi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Agasi controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Agasi working some strikes from top position.
Henke keeping full guard, as Agasi tries to pass.

That's two 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.
Agasi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Agasi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Agasi slips under a jab.
Henke bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Agasi clinches with his opponent.

Agasi breaks the clinch.
Tom Henke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Henke digs a good hook to Agasi's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Agasi.
Henke lands with a good body shot.
Henke swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Agasi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

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

Agasi has managed to clinch.

Agasi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Agasi stopping the sweep attempt from Henke.
Henke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Agasi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tom Henke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henke really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Agasi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Agasi throwing strikes but missing.
Agasi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Armand Agasi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Agasi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Henke looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Henke looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Henke!
Agasi gets back to half guard.
Agasi is pressing down on Henke's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Agasi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Agasi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Henke is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armand Agasi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Agasi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armand Agasi!