PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kassidy Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson has chosen Jay Z- Big Pimpin as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Cullen
vs
Henderson

180 cm
31
169 lbs
26 - 10 - 2

176 cm
28
153 lbs
21 - 9 - 2

Great wrestler
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kassidy Cullen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Cullen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cullen lands a nice hook to Henderson's body. Henderson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Cullen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cullen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cullen throws a big right hand that misses.
Cullen wants to pass the guard but Henderson is keeping the position.
Henderson looking to control.
Cullen working some strikes from top position.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Henderson has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Placeholder name. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Cullen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cullen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cullen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henderson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Cullen isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Henderson pushes Cullen off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henderson.
Henderson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cullen throws a jab when Henderson was well out of range.
Henderson connects with a nice looking jab.
Henderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Henderson instigates a clinch.
Henderson misses with a knee strike.
Henderson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Henderson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Henderson blocks an uppercut.
Henderson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Henderson is looking for a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cullen.
Henderson presses Cullen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Henderson misses with a knee strike.
Cullen lands an elbow inside.
Henderson avoiding damage as Cullen throws knees to the body.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cullen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cullen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson lands a body shot.
Henderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Henderson misses with some punches.
Henderson lands a hook that snaps the head of Cullen backwards.
Cullen managing to block the knees to the body from Henderson.
Cullen stops a takedown attempt from Henderson.
Henderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Henderson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cullen misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to push Cullen away but Cullen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cullen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cullen trying to land knees to the body.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Henderson blocks an elbow strike.
Henderson lands with a left to the head.
Cullen scores with a shoulder strike.
A short left from Cullen.
Henderson presses Cullen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cullen can't find room to land a body shot as Henderson controls the action.
Henderson misses with a body punch.
Henderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Henderson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cullen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henderson walks away with a smile on his face. Cullen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice defenses there by Cullen.
Cullen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cullen with a jab.
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!
Cullen looks to land a left hand but Henderson moved out of range nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Henderson blocks the leg kick.
Cullen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
That kick from Cullen tenderised Henderson's leg. Henderson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Henderson checks a low kick from Cullen.

Henderson scores with a takedown into Cullen's guard.

Cullen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Henderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Henderson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A nice leg kick lands there from Henderson.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cullen moves away.
Henderson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cullen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henderson moves away.
Cullen drops his hands momentarily and Henderson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Henderson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cullen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Cullen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cullen walks into a straight right hand from Henderson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson misses the shot to the body.
Cullen throws a low kick, looking for Henderson's leg but Henderson calmly moves out of range.
Henderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cullen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson checks a low kick from Cullen.
Cullen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Henderson avoids the head kick by Cullen.
Cullen fails to land the takedown.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Henderson checks a leg kick.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Cullen.
Crunch! Cullen slams his shin into Henderson's torso.

Cullen gets caught napping as Henderson dives in and scores a takedown. Cullen manages to retain guard.
Henderson stays in close to Cullen's body and controls the position.
Henderson lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henderson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cullen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cullen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Henderson has passed into side control.
Cullen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Henderson's best efforts.
Henderson working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen wants to improve his position but Henderson is controlling well.
Cullen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Henderson.

Cullen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson with a nice head shot there.

Cullen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cullen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henderson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson chips away with some ground and pound.
Henderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Henderson trying to control but Cullen is working from the bottom.
Henderson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henderson throws a big right hand that misses.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Henderson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cullen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Henderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cullen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Henderson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cullen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cullen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cullen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson throws a looping overhand right but Cullen ducks down to avoid it.
Cullen throws a low kick but Henderson avoids it.
Henderson connects with a body shot.
Henderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Henderson misses with a kick to the body.
Henderson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Cullen.
Cullen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A clash of legs there as Henderson blocks the low kick.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cullen throws a body punch but Henderson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cullen throws a sloppy body shot
and Henderson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Henderson throws a leg kick which misses Cullen's front leg but catches the back leg as Cullen tries to avoid it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Henderson, as that shot connected.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kassidy Cullen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson misses with a wild body shot.
Henderson checks a leg kick.
Henderson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henderson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henderson.
Nice body punch from Henderson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henderson.
Cullen is looking to wear down Henderson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Henderson works Cullen's body with a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson swings for the body but Cullen moves out of range.
Cullen ducks right into an uppercut from Henderson.
Cullen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cullen misses with a leg kick.
Henderson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Henderson is looking to clinch but Cullen is avoiding it.
Cullen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Henderson blocks a low kick nicely.
Cullen takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson scores with a hook to the body. Cullen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice shot lands for Henderson.
Henderson thows a body shot but no joy.
Henderson throws a big shot that misses.
Henderson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cullen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Henderson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cullen swats away the attempt to clinch by Henderson.
Henderson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A slow jab from Henderson misses its intended target.
Henderson scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cullen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Henderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cullen manages to avoid it.
Cullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Cullen tries to score with a low kick but Henderson moves his leg out of the way.
Henderson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A punch combination from Henderson misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cullen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Henderson checks a leg kick.
Cullen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Henderson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cullen scrambles back to his feet.
Mike Henderson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson lands a nice hook to Cullen's body. Cullen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch but Cullen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Henderson really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Henderson tries to score with a low kick but Cullen moves his leg out of the way.
Cullen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Henderson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cullen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Cullen is just out of range.
A clash of legs there as Henderson blocks the low kick.
Henderson moves out of range of the strikes.
Henderson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Henderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cullen manages to avoid it.
Cullen swings for the body but Henderson moves out of range.
Cullen thows a body shot but no joy.
Cullen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Henderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson lands a jab to the nose.
Cullen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cullen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jab from Cullen.
Henderson throws a leg kick
and Cullen counters with a straight right hand.
Henderson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cullen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cullen.
Cullen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cullen scores with the left hand. Henderson knows he should have avoided that one.
Cullen lands a nice hook to Henderson's body. Henderson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cullen tries to land a leg kick but Henderson saw it coming and moves away.
Henderson scores with a body shot.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Cullen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Henderson.
Henderson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Henderson wants to clinch.
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Cullen is just out of range.
Cullen throws a leg kick but Henderson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Henderson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cullen's calf.
Cullen tries to land a body kick

and Henderson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cullen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Mike Henderson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cullen.
Henderson lands with an uppercut that bounces Cullen off the cage and back into range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a wild body shot.
Cullen misses with a low kick.
Henderson checks a leg kick.
Cullen connects with a single shot there.
Henderson misses with a body kick.
Henderson staying out of range there.
Henderson throws out a leg kick but Cullen moves out of range and Henderson only half commits.
Cullen misses with a low kick.
Henderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Henderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cullen was covering up waiting for the punch and Henderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Henderson dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Henderson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cullen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Henderson.
Cullen scores with a decent looking hook.
Henderson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cullen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Henderson checks a leg kick nicely.
Henderson lands a slapping body shot.
Henderson jabs Cullen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Henderson misses the jab.
Cullen cracks the inside of Henderson's front leg.
Henderson blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen throws a poor cross that misses
and Henderson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cullen takes a swing at Henderson's ribcage but misses.
Henderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Donk. Henderson catches Cullen right on the button with a cross.
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Cullen is just out of range.
Cullen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cullen missing with a left hand there. Henderson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cullen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cullen lands a high kick!

Henderson has managed to clinch.
Cullen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cullen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hendersons head.
Kassidy Cullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Henderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson lands a shoulder strike.
Henderson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Henderson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cullen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cullen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Henderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cullen.
Cullen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Henderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cullen is defending well for now.
Cullen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Henderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Cullen.
Mike Henderson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Henderson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cullen.
Cullen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cullen misses with the head strike.
Henderson tries to break the clinch but Cullen is controlling the position.
Henderson wants to take the fight to the mat but Cullen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to land knees to the body.
Henderson working aggressively here.
Cullen fails to pull guard.
Cullen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Henderson struggles to land a body shot inside as Cullen controls his hands.
Henderson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cullen tries to throw a body punch but Henderson avoids it by throwing Cullen back against the cage.
Henderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cullen's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Henderson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Cullen controls the action.
Henderson misses with some punches.
Henderson trying to land knees to the body.
Henderson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cullen is looking to control Henderson's arms but Henderson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cullen has his back to the cage.
Cullen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Henderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cullen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Henderson misses with the head strike.
Henderson misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Henderson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
A shot in the inside from Cullen.
Cullen jumps guard but Henderson stands there with Cullen around his waist. Cullen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Henderson blocks the elbow strike.
Cullen blocking some punches.
Henderson blocks an elbow strike from Cullen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Cullen.
Cullen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Henderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cullen prevents Henderson from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Henderson.
Well Henderson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 45:50
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 45:50
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Henderson!
Mike Henderson is the new lightweight champion!
A relieved looking Mike Henderson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.