PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Mwekassa (ranked 3522 p4p, 2219 weight class) and Ryan Henderson (ranked 380 p4p, 248 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mwekassa
vs
Henderson

176 cm
24
165
2 - 7 - 0

170 cm
22
165
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Maximus Mwekassa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Henderson !
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mwekassa 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 jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Henderson lands a lovely overhand right.
Mwekassa throws a good cross that connects.
Henderson misses with a takedown
and Mwekassa counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Henderson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mwekassa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mwekassa tries to get out of the position.
Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mwekassa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henderson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mwekassa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Henderson stops Mwekassa from standing up.
Henderson chips away with some ground and pound.
Henderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mwekassa's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henderson landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson with a nice head shot there.
Mwekassa is trying to keep Henderson in close.
Mwekassa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Henderson lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Henderson works over Mwekassa with some ground and pound from guard.
Mwekassa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.
Henderson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mwekassa keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
Mwekassa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mwekassa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson stopping the sweep attempt from Mwekassa.
Henderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Mwekassa has wrist control.
Henderson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Henderson stands up over Mwekassa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mwekassa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mwekassa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Henderson misses with a combination
and Mwekassa counters with a nice uppercut.
Mwekassa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Henderson under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mwekassa throws a lazy right hand but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Henderson tries to bum rush Mwekassa with a series of wild strikes but Mwekassa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A cross from Henderson lands.
Henderson throws a hook to the side of Mwekassa's head but Mwekassa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mwekassa misses with a series of wild punches.
Henderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mwekassa manages to avoid it.
Mwekassa misses with a two punch combination.
Henderson cracks Mwekassa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Henderson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Henderson misses with an uppercut. Mwekassa saw that one coming.
Henderson throws a jab but it's blocked by Mwekassa.
Henderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mwekassa was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Henderson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mwekassa ducks under a wild hook from Henderson .
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mwekassa lands a nice hook to Henderson 's body. Henderson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson darts in looking for a takedown but Mwekassa gets double underhooks and turns Henderson into the cage.
Henderson misses with a right hand
and Mwekassa counters with a straight right hand.
Henderson misses with a left hand
and Mwekassa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henderson misses with a left hand
and Mwekassa counters with a straight right hand.
Mwekassa scores with a punch to the head.
Henderson throws a sloppy body shot
and Mwekassa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Henderson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mwekassa counters with a nice uppercut.
Maximus Mwekassa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Henderson .
Mwekassa ducks under a wild hook from Henderson .
Mwekassa is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Mwekassa is just out of range.

Mwekassa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The referee calls for Henderson to work.
Henderson lands a shoulder strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryan Henderson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mwekassa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Maximus Mwekassa is winning the standup battle so far.
Mwekassa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Henderson goes for a double leg but Mwekassa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mwekassa continues to drive forward.
Mwekassa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Henderson misses with a lunging right hand
and Mwekassa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mwekassa scores with a hook to the body. Henderson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Maximus Mwekassa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mwekassa connects with a high kick.
Henderson lands a jab.
Henderson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mwekassa counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mwekassa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Henderson .
Henderson sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mwekassa as he jumps to the side.
Mwekassa throws a counter high kick but Henderson was just alert enough to avoid it.
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maximus Mwekassa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Henderson .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a looping right.
Mwekassa is looking to counter punch.
Mwekassa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Henderson .
Henderson blocks a head kick by Mwekassa.
Mwekassa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henderson throws a hook but Mwekassa avoids it easily.
Mwekassa seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mwekassa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Henderson .
Henderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mwekassa.
Henderson throws the left hand but Mwekassa avoids the punch easily.
Mwekassa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Henderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Henderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mwekassa lands a nice hook to Henderson 's body. Henderson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mwekassa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Henderson throws a poor cross that misses
and Mwekassa counters with a stiff right hand.
Henderson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A big right from Henderson misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mwekassa was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Henderson misses with an uppercut
and Mwekassa counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mwekassa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Henderson darts in looking for a takedown but Mwekassa gets double underhooks and turns Henderson into the cage.
Mwekassa looks to score with a jab to the body but Henderson is just out of range.
Henderson misses with a looping left.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henderson .
Henderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mwekassa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Henderson is rocked!
Henderson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Henderson is still on wobbly legs! Can Mwekassa finish him?
Henderson misses with a straight left.
Mwekassa appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Henderson looks to land a right hand but Mwekassa moved out of range.
Henderson seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mwekassa misses with a series of wild punches.
Henderson missing with a left hand there. Mwekassa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Henderson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mwekassa to the ground. Henderson is now in Mwekassa's guard.
Henderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Henderson trying to control but Mwekassa is working from the bottom.
Mwekassa working a defensive guard here.
Henderson scoring with some ground and pound.
Henderson won't allow Mwekassa to get back to his feet.
Mwekassa is trying to keep Henderson in close.
Henderson lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Henderson landing some decent shots from guard.
Henderson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Henderson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Henderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henderson works over Mwekassa with some ground and pound from guard.
Mwekassa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henderson controls the pace.
Henderson connects with a couple of short punches.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maximus Mwekassa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

No joy there for Henderson , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mwekassa tries to land a front kick but Henderson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mwekassa takes a jab right on the kisser.

Henderson looking to score a takedown here. Mwekassa is defending well but Henderson drives through and ends up in Mwekassa's guard.
Mwekassa keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Mwekassa trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.
Mwekassa working a defensive guard but Henderson passes into half guard.
Mwekassa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Henderson scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson slips a nice elbow through Mwekassa's hands, connecting with Mwekassa's forehead.
Henderson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mwekassa tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Henderson connects with a nice short shot to Mwekassa's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is pressing down on Mwekassa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mwekassa is holding on for now.
Henderson working the head and body with strikes.
Henderson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mwekassa keeps working.
Henderson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Henderson slows the pace down in half guard.
Mwekassa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Mwekassa's head.
Henderson winds up and cracks Mwekassa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Mwekassa is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Oh Mwekassa is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mwekassa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Henderson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Henderson lands strikes from half guard.
Henderson is pressing down on Mwekassa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mwekassa is holding on for now.
Henderson scores with a big shot! Mwekassa's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Mwekassa! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ryan Henderson !