PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Henson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauri Torni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henson comes into the arena with Hit the Lights by Metallica blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Torni's choice of entrance music: Gallowbraid - Ashen Eidolon. 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.

Henson
vs
Torni

180 cm
25
192 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

189 cm
22
190 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Mickey Henson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lauri Torni!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torni throws out a leg kick but Henson moves out of range and Torni only half commits.
Henson lands a lovely overhand right.
Torni misses with a few strikes there.
Decent striking displayed by Torni there.
Henson moves forwards but Torni connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Torni fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Torni uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Henson has time to react.
Torni throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A nice leg kick lands there from Torni.
Torni swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Henson.
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!
Torni fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Henson checks it well.
Torni moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice straight punches there by Torni. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Torni.

Henson has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Torni breaks the clinch.
Henson looks to throw a body kick
and Torni counters with a three punch combo that has Henson backing up. Henson nods at Torni to acknowledge the strikes.
Henson slips a straight right by Torni.
A lazy body kick from Henson

and Torni counters by clinching up.

Torni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Henson throws a body punch but Torni moves out of range.

Henson has closed the distance and engaged Torni in a clinch.
Henson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Henson avoids a wild elbow strike from Torni.

Henson wants the takedown. Torni is fighting it off but Henson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Torni's guard against the cage.
Torni wants to stand up but Henson is controlling him.
Torni is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Henson dives into side control.
Torni managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Henson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Torni wants to get back to his feet.
Henson scoring with punches and elbows.
Henson controls the position.
Torni is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Henson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Henson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Henson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Torni has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Henson but great work by Torni.
Henson is trying to get back to half guard.
Henson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henson looking for submissions off his back.
Henson is trying to get back to full guard.
Torni tries to stand and escape but Henson is controlling the position.
Torni is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Henson punching from the bottom.
Torni tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Henson.
Henson tries to roll over but Torni keeps him under control.

Henson with the active half guard here but Torni passes nicely into side control.
Henson is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Henson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Torni dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Henson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Henson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Torni connects with a leg kick. Henson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Henson throws a head kick that misses

and Torni counters by clinching up.
Torni lands an elbow just above Henson 's eye.

Torni breaks from the clinch.
Torni throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Henson.
Henson misses with a low kick.
Good exchange - Torni coming out on top.
Nice cross by Torni.
A clash of legs there as Henson blocks the low kick.
Henson misses with a lunging right hand
and Torni counters with a thumping low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henson throws a solid leg kick but Torni takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Henson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henson misses with a wild body shot.
Torni tried to score with a low kick but Henson checks it.
Torni fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Torni scores with a head kick.
Henson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Torni misses with a low kick.
Henson lands a jab.
Torni swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Henson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lauri Torni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henson moves out of range as Torni throws a body kick.
Henson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Henson swings widly with a right hand
and Torni counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Henson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Torni throws a leg kick which misses Henson's front leg but catches the back leg as Henson tries to avoid it.
Torni tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Henson is looking to score with low kicks.
Henson checks a leg kick.

Henson clinches up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Torni blocks an uppercut.
Henson misses with an elbow strike.
Torni throws an elbow that misses.
Henson misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Torni blocks it with crossed arms.
Torni stops a takedown attempt from Henson.
Torni looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Torni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick by Henson misses
and Torni counters with a one-two to the body.
Henson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Torni counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Torni misses with a body shot.
Torni lands a nice hook to Henson's body. Henson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Torni with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Torni moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Torni lunges at Henson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Henson's hand.
Henson checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torni with a hook.
Henson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Torni throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lauri Torni seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Henson thows a leg kick but Torni checks it
and Torni counters with an outside leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Torni.
Torni throws a sloppy head kick and Henson moves out of range easily.
Torni turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Torni scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Henson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Torni throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Henson on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Torni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henson tries for a takedown but Torni sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Torni is looking to clinch.
Henson misses with a leg kick

and Torni counters with a head kick that drops Henson to the mat! Henson scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Henson is rocked!

Torni closes the distance and clinches.
Oh Henson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Torni lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Henson seems to have got his legs back now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Torni.

Torni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henson throws a lazy uppercut
letting Torni counter with a right hand.
Henson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Torni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Torni fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Henson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Henson lands a head shot.
Torni throws a leg kick
and Henson counters with a left and a right that stings Torni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torni scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lauri Torni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A clash of legs there as Henson blocks the low kick.
Henson staying out of range there.
Henson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Torni.
Torni wants to land a leg kick but Henson is out of range.
Torni lands a glancing blow to the side of Henson's head.
Henson avoids the head kick by Torni.
Torni looks to score with a jab to the body but Henson is just out of range.
Henson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Torni. Torni obviously looking to wear him down.
Torni throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Henson swings widly with a right hand
and Henson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That kick from Torni tenderised Henson's leg. Henson is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Torni lands a nice leg kick that just misses Henson's sensitive parts.
Torni lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Torni has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Henson moves out of range of the leg kick from Torni.
Torni scores with a decent looking hook.
A head kick by Henson misses
and Torni counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Torni.
Torni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Torni moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torni throws a right and a left that both miss.
Torni throws a front kick aimed at Henson's knee but Henson avoids it well.
Torni scoring well with a low kick there.
Henson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Henson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Torni fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Henson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Torni misses with a double jab.
Torni motions for Henson to come forward. Torni throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Torni fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Henson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lauri Torni is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torni throws a nice inside leg kick.
Henson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Henson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mickey Henson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henson fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick by Henson misses
and Torni counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Henson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Torni takes a swing at Henson's ribcage but misses.
Torni dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Henson. That did some damage!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Torni.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Torni misses with a low kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Henson blocks the leg kick.

Henson clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lauri Torni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Torni 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauri Torni!