PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergiy Bogdanov (ranked 4499 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julma Henri (ranked 3519 p4p, 0 weight class). Julma Henri acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Bogdanov
vs
Henri

183 cm
25
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergiy Bogdanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Julma Henri!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bogdanov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Henri has closed the distance and engaged Bogdanov in a clinch.
Bogdanov tries to pull guard but Henri forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Henri is looking to take this one to the mat.

Henri jumps guard and drags Bogdanov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Henri has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bogdanov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Henri working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bogdanov.
Henri striking off his back but it's not causing Bogdanov any problems.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henri trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bogdanov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bogdanov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Henri for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henri keeping moving, preventing Bogdanov from controlling successfully.
Bogdanov looking to sit in guard and control but Henri gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Henri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bogdanov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Henri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bogdanov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Bogdanov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Henri has picked Bogdanov up and slammed him! Bogdanov can't keep hold of the triangle and Henri manages to pass to side control!

Henri tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Henri has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bogdanov tries to buck Henri off but Henri is having none of it.

Henri is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bogdanov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Henri working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henri wants to stand but Bogdanov has his arm trapped.
Henri happy to just control the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bogdanov moves in looking to clinch but Henri pushes him off.
Sergiy Bogdanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bogdanov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Henri avoids it really well and circles away.
Henri fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Henri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bogdanov darts in looking for a takedown but Henri gets double underhooks and turns Bogdanov into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergiy Bogdanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bogdanov clinches with his opponent.
Bogdanov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Henri turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Henri manages to end up in side control.

Henri decides to stand back up.
Bogdanov shoots in but no luck this time.
Bogdanov looks for a takedown but Henri sprawls well.
Bogdanov is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bogdanov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bogdanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Henri, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julma Henri dominated that 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.

Bogdanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And Henri tries to counter it with a takedown but Bogdanov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bogdanov.
Henri slaps away a takedown attempt from Bogdanov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henri is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Henri looks for a takedown but Bogdanov sprawls well.
Henri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergiy Bogdanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bogdanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Henri counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henri throws a knee to the head but misses.
Henri changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bogdanov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henri.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bogdanov gets caught napping as Henri dives in and scores a takedown. Bogdanov manages to retain guard.
Bogdanov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Henri manages to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Henri is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Bogdanov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Henri scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henri is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bogdanov tries to kick Henri off but Henri keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bogdanov pushes Henri off but Henri dives into side control.
Henri connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bogdanov some visible discomfort.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Henri wants to stand but Bogdanov is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henri advances to full mount.
Henri sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Henri is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bogdanov is surviving well by controlling Henri's body position as best he can.
Henri sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Henri scoring with strikes but Bogdanov is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henri jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bogdanov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bogdanov is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henri working away.
Henri just content to control the position.
Henri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bogdanov is trying to control Henri's posture but Henri avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julma Henri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bogdanov is looking to clinch but Henri is avoiding it.
Henri flicks out a counter leg kick but Bogdanov steps away.

Bogdanov moves into the clinch successfully.
Henri digs a right hand underneath Bogdanov's ribcage. Bogdanov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Henri.
Henri is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Henri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bogdanov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henri defends it nicely.
Bogdanov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Henri's waist but Henri gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bogdanov off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bogdanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergiy Bogdanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bogdanov closes the distance and pushes Henri back into the cage.
Henri jumps guard but Bogdanov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bogdanov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henri gets control of Bogdanov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Henri will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Henri pulls Bogdanov in close to his closed guard and prevents Bogdanov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Henri lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Henri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bogdanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bogdanov trying to control the position.

Bogdanov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henri stands and throws Bogdanov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bogdanov taking punishment in the form of punches.

Henri is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bogdanov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Henri has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henri controlling the position easily from mount.
Henri's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bogdanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Henri raining down shots from the mount!
Bogdanov is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henri wants to get back to his feet but Bogdanov is holding on tight.

Henri wants to finish this one by submission but Bogdanov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Henri.
Bogdanov is trying to escape the mount.

Henri has hold of Bogdanov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bogdanov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henri controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julma Henri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henri 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julma Henri!