PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Karl Henriksen (ranked 763 p4p, 1537 weight class) and Darren Weeks (ranked 105 p4p, 211 weight class). Henriksen comes to the cage accompanied by OST Vikings - If I Had a Heart. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henriksen
vs
Weeks

184 cm
27
169
17 - 5 - 0

180 cm
30
168
16 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers 160q Rec&Str

Core Combat
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Karl Henriksen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darren Weeks!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weeks tries to clinch
and Henriksen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Weeks doesn't manage to clinch there - Henriksen circles away.
Weeks wants to clinch but Henriksen slips to the side
and Henriksen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Weeks closes the distance and pushes Henriksen back into the cage.
Henriksen tries to break free but Weeks pushes him back against the cage.
Henriksen working aggressively here.
Henriksen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Henriksen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Henriksen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Henriksen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henriksen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Weeks at a distance.

Weeks moves into the clinch.
Henriksen is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henriksen is trying to break the clinch but Weeks is controlling him.
A short left from Weeks.
Henriksen is trying to break the clinch but Weeks has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Henriksen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Henriksen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Weeks keeps control of Henriksen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Henriksen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Weeks clinches with his opponent.
Weeks is trying to drag Henriksen to the mat but Henriksen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Henriksen is trying to break free.
Henriksen has had enough of the clinch but Weeks keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henriksen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Henriksen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Henriksen breaks from the clinch.

Weeks darts in and clinches Henriksen up against the cage.
Weeks has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Henriksen after a bit of a struggle.

Henriksen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Weeks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Henriksen is trying to force a seperation but Weeks has the dominant position.
Henriksen is trying to break the clinch but Weeks has him pressed against the cage.

Weeks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Henriksen scores with a jab to the head.
Weeks tries to clinch but Henriksen moves out of range.
Henriksen looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Weeks doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Henriksen counter with a right hand.
Karl Henriksen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Weeks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henriksen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Weeks closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Henriksen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Weeks keeps control of Henriksen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Weeks has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Henriksen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Henriksen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henriksen swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Henriksen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Weeks fails with a takedown attempt.
Weeks wants to clinch but Henriksen slips to the side
and Henriksen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Weeks clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henriksen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Henriksen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Henriksen is trying to force a seperation but Weeks has the dominant position.
Henriksen tries to break the clinch but Weeks is controlling the position.
Henriksen wants to break free but Weeks has control.
Henriksen can't break the clinch.

Weeks wants the takedown. Henriksen is fighting it off but Weeks persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Henriksen's guard against the cage.
Henriksen wants to stand and escape but Weeks is having none of it.
Weeks cracks Henriksen with a solid left hand.
Weeks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henriksen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henriksen pulls Weeks in close to his closed guard and prevents Weeks from doing any damage or advancing position.
Weeks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Karl Henriksen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Weeks ducks right into an uppercut from Henriksen.
Weeks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Weeks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Weeks there as he acknowledges the shot.
Weeks slips under a jab.
Weeks tries to clinch but Henriksen is having none of it.

Weeks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henriksen, pushing him back against the cage.
Henriksen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Henriksen is trying to break the clinch but Weeks has him pressed against the cage.
Henriksen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Weeks has him pressed against the cage.
Weeks drops down looking for an ankle pick but Henriksen pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weeks moves in looking to clinch but Henriksen pushes him off.
Weeks wants to clinch but Henriksen slips to the side
and Weeks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Weeks misses with a takedown attempt
and Henriksen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Weeks fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weeks instigates a clinch.
Henriksen stalling in the clinch but Weeks improves position.

Weeks gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Henriksen looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Weeks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Weeks wants to free his trapped foot but Henriksen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weeks not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Weeks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Henriksen manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Karl Henriksen is winning the standup battle so far.

Weeks clinches up with Henriksen and pushes him back against the cage.
Henriksen is trying to maintain a safe position but Weeks gets an underhook and turns Henriksen into the cage.
Darren Weeks seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Henriksen is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Karl Henriksen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Weeks.
Henriksen is trying to break the clinch but Weeks has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weeks tries to score a body lock takedown but Henriksen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Weeks looking for a takedown.
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!
Henriksen working hard to break the clinch.
Weeks drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Weeks.

Weeks wants the takedown. Henriksen is fighting it off but Weeks persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Henriksen's guard against the cage.
Henriksen wants to stand and escape but Weeks is having none of it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Weeks working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Henriksen has control of Weeks's left arm, preventing Weeks from doing any damage.

Henriksen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weeks postures up in Henriksen's guard and throws a big left but Henriksen blocks it.
Henriksen wants to get back to his feet but Weeks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Henriksen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weeks.
Henriksen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Weeks lands a couple of digs.
Henriksen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henriksen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henriksen wants to sweep here but Weeks controlling him for the moment.
Weeks throws an elbow that misses. Henriksen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Weeks's guard. Nice move by Henriksen!

Weeks is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Henriksen has his hands clasped together but Weeks extends and breaks Henriksen's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Weeks.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Darren Weeks!
Our winner, Darren Weeks, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.