PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Norbert Schwager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson has chosen Open The Floodgate as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Schwager
vs
Henderson

175 cm
24
142 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

174 cm
31
145 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Norbert Schwager!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andy Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson doesn't manage to clinch there - Schwager circles away.
A swing and a miss from Schwager.
Schwager rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Henderson counters with a series of strikes. Schwager will be more careful next time no doubt.
A punch combination from Schwager misses.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Schwager.
Henderson doesn't manage to clinch there - Schwager circles away.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Schwager is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Schwager circles away and we're back to standing.

Schwager tries to keep at a distance but Henderson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Schwager.
Henderson throws a head punch that misses.
Schwager prevents a body shot from Henderson.
Schwager wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson tries a body shot but Schwager blocks it.

Henderson breaks the clinch.

Henderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Schwager is trying to defend but Henderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Schwager is refusing to be controlled, as Henderson sits in half guard.
Schwager wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Henderson wants to work for an arm triangle but Schwager is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Henderson prevents Schwager from standing back up.
Schwager keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Schwager manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Henderson lands with a nice combination. Schwager backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schwager swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schwager paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Henderson clinches with his opponent.
Henderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwager blocks an uppercut.
Henderson lands a nice uppercut.

Schwager is fighting off a takedown attempt but Henderson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Schwager to the mat. Schwager regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Schwager is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Schwager is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Schwager blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Henderson misses with a body punch.
Henderson is working for takedown but Schwager is calmly controlling the position for now.
Schwager wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Schwager wants to get back to striking at distance but Henderson won't allow it.
Henderson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwager being controlled against the cage.
Schwager prevents a body shot from Henderson.
Henderson working aggressively here.
Schwager wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Henderson scores with a shoulder strike.

Henderson breaks the clinch.
Schwager swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Schwager throws a front kick aimed at Henderson's knee but Henderson avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson slips a straight right by Schwager.

Henderson clinches with his opponent.
Schwager blocks a body shot from Henderson.
Schwager blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Henderson digs a right hand into Schwager's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Schwager's gas tank.
Henderson prevents Schwager from breaking the clinch.
Henderson lands with a left to the head.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Schwager wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Henderson tries to work over Schwager's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Henderson scores with a shoulder strike.
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!

Henderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Henderson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Schwager looks to throw the jab but Henderson is out of range.
Henderson tries to clinch but Schwager is having none of it.
Henderson wants to clinch up but Schwager keeps it at a distance.
Schwager throws an overhand right that lands on Henderson's shoulder, as Henderson tries to avoid the shot.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schwager swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henderson throws a series of punches but Schwager avoids them all with ease.
Schwager swats away the attempt to clinch by Henderson.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henderson is looking to clinch but Schwager is avoiding it.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schwager swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Schwager throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Henderson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Henderson moves in looking to clinch but Schwager pushes him off.
Schwager lands a right hook to the body.
Schwager keeps the fight on the outside.
Schwager will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson has Schwager up against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson lands a right hand.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.
Schwager lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Norbert Schwager is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henderson checks the leg kick.
Schwager throws a poor cross that misses

and Henderson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Henderson.
Henderson lands with a light punch inside.

Henderson breaks the clinch.
Henderson walks into a jab.

Henderson closes the distance and pushes Schwager back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson keeps control of Schwager as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Henderson scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Henderson scores with a shot to the side of Schwager's head.
Schwager wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Schwager is trying to break the clinch but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson scores with a shoulder strike.
Henderson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Schwager wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Henderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Henderson presses Schwager against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Henderson is stalling here.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Schwager controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Henderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Schwager's elbow.
Schwager wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Schwager blocks a body shot from Henderson.
Henderson lands a shoulder strike.
Andy Henderson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Henderson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Schwager thows a body shot but no joy.
Norbert Schwager is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Schwager throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Schwager's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Schwager duly obliges.
Henderson is looking to clinch but Schwager is avoiding it.
Henderson throws a right and a left that Schwager avoids nicely.
Henderson slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Henderson scores with a three punch combo!
Schwager misses with a looping left.
Nice defenses there by Henderson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schwager throws a hook but Henderson blocks it.
Norbert Schwager is winning the standup battle so far.
Schwager swats away the attempt to clinch by Henderson.
Andy Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Schwager.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schwager looks to land a left hand but Henderson moved out of range nicely.
Schwager scores with a punch to the head.
Henderson doesn't manage to clinch there - Schwager circles away.
Schwager misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andy Henderson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Schwager takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Henderson doesn't manage to clinch there - Schwager circles away.

Henderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Schwager blocks a body shot from Henderson.
Henderson tries a body shot but Schwager blocks it.
Schwager wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Schwager blocking some punches.
A short right from Henderson.
Henderson misses with some punches.
Schwager being controlled against the cage.
Henderson tries a body shot but Schwager blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson tries to work over Schwager's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Henderson.
Henderson digs a right hand into Schwager's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Schwager's gas tank.
Henderson working aggressively here.
Schwager wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson has a couple of punches blocked by Schwager.
Henderson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Henderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Henderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Schwager.
Henderson lands a nice uppercut.
Henderson lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Schwager's efforts to push away.
Henderson avoiding damage.

Schwager breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Henderson defending well as Schwager loads up on a big left hand.
Schwager misses with a few strikes there.
Schwager lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Henderson circles away quickly and effectively.
Schwager circles away from the clinch attempt.
Schwager swats away the attempt to clinch by Henderson.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but Schwager shows good takedown defense.
A bone on bone clash there as Henderson blocks the leg kick.

Henderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schwager jabs at Henderson's body.
Schwager lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Schwager scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Henderson doesn't seem bothered though.
Schwager lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Schwager throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.

Henderson forces Schwager back against the cage and clinches.
Schwager is looking to break free of the clinch but Henderson has double underhooks.
Schwager blocks a body shot from Henderson.
Schwager is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Henderson misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Schwager.
Henderson works on Schwager's body with a couple of short punches.
Andy Henderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Schwager.
Henderson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson has Schwager pressed against the cage, preventing Schwager from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Henderson has Schwager pressed against the cage, preventing Schwager from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Henderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Schwager uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schwager prevents a body shot from Henderson.
Norbert Schwager has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.
Schwager struggles to land a body shot inside as Henderson controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henderson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Henderson!