PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Hennig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aapo Kurko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aapo Kurko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hennig
vs
Kurko

185 cm
18
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
233 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chris Hennig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aapo Kurko!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Kavanagh and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hennig fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Hennig with that takedown attempt.
Kurko lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kurko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hennig.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Hennig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body kick from Kurko.
Kurko feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hennig's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kurko.
Kurko looks to land a right hand but Hennig moved out of range.
Aapo Kurko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hennig shoots in for a takedown but Kurko shows good takedown defense.
Kurko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kurko misses with a body shot.
Kurko lands a head kick. Hennig smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hennig shoots in for a double leg but Kurko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kurko now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kurko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kurko throws an overhand right that lands on Hennig's shoulder, as Hennig tries to avoid the shot.
Kurko fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hennig.
Hennig on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hennig shoots in for a takedown but Kurko shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Kurko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kurko tries a head kick but it misses.
Kurko connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hennig takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hennig will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kurko thuds a left hand into Hennig's body.

Hennig gets the takedown into side control.
Hennig has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Hennig could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hennig is working to tighten his grip on Kurko's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Kurko has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Hennig is really squeezing tight and eventually Kurko passes out! Hennig breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Chris Hennig!
During a confident post fight interview, Chris Hennig thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.