PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Armand Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anakin Alkofer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anakin Alkofer will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Henderson
vs
Alkofer

176 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Armand Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anakin Alkofer!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alkofer closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Henderson did well to prevent Alkofer getting side control.
Henderson is doing well to control the position and prevent Alkofer from advancing to side control.

Alkofer seems to be working for a kimura but Henderson defends the submission attempt.

Alkofer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Alkofer wants to free his trapped foot but Henderson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Alkofer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Henderson manages to get to full guard.

Alkofer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Henderson seems keen to control Alkofer's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson looking for a guillotine here but Alkofer defends easily.

Alkofer drops back looking for a leg! Henderson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Henderson manages to kick Alkofer off! Alkofer jumps back into Henderson's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Alkofer wants to pass the guard but Henderson is keeping the position.

Alkofer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Alkofer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henderson is on top in guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Alkofer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henderson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alkofer looks gassed!

Alkofer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Henderson defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alkofer's guard.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Alkofer keeps moving.

Alkofer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henderson is aware though and is defending well.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Alkofer keeps moving.
Henderson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Alkofer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.

Alkofer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alkofer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henderson is aware though and is defending well.
Henderson stays in close to Alkofer's body and controls the position.
Henderson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alkofer is proving hard to escape from.
Henderson 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Henderson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Henderson trying to control but Alkofer is working from the bottom.

Alkofer isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Henderson stacks Alkofer on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Henderson!

Henderson is trying to get an arm triangle but Alkofer is defending well.
Henderson trying to control the action but Alkofer is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alkofer pushes Henderson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Henderson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Henderson lands an elbow.
Henderson working the body and head with strikes.
Henderson working the ground and pound from side control.
Alkofer wants to get back to his feet but Henderson drags him back down.
Check out the look on Henderson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Henderson wants to control but Alkofer is keeping him busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Henderson happy to just control the position for now.
Alkofer is not content to let Henderson control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Armand Henderson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Henderson drives through with a takedown into guard.

Alkofer is looking for a triangle but Henderson pushes his legs off easily.
Henderson is pushing down on Alkofer's leg trying to pass to half guard. Alkofer is fighting to maintain full guard but Henderson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Henderson trying to control the action but Alkofer is working from the bottom.

Alkofer actively working from the bottom here.
Alkofer tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Alkofer is breathing heavily.
Alkofer is refusing to be controlled, as Henderson sits in half guard.

Alkofer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Alkofer's head.
Still in half guard, Henderson seems content to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Alkofer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Henderson controlling the pace.

Alkofer actively working from the bottom here.
Henderson working over Alkofer with some ground and pound. Alkofer looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Henderson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Henderson duly obliges.
Henderson wants to land a leg kick but Alkofer is out of range.

Henderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Henderson pulls guard successfully.

Alkofer drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Henderson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Alkofer has Henderson in his guard.
Henderson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Alkofer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alkofer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to control but Alkofer is keeping him busy.

Alkofer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Henderson controlling the action here.
Alkofer is in trouble now - Henderson has advanced to mount!
Alkofer is bucking up trying to escape but Henderson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Alkofer regains half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Henderson lands a nice short elbow.

Alkofer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Henderson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Alkofer!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Henderson prevents Alkofer from getting the reversal.
Alkofer is squirming around, avoiding Henderson's attempts to control the action.
Henderson with shots to the head and body - Alkofer looks very uncomfortable down there.
Alkofer is squirming around, avoiding Henderson's attempts to control the action.
Alkofer is looking to improve his position but Henderson isn't that keen on the idea.

Alkofer defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Henderson.
Henderson working Alkofer over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armand Henderson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Alkofer rushes Henderson and presses him up against the ropes.
Henderson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Henderson manages to pull guard.
Henderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Alkofer drops back looking for a leg! Henderson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Henderson manages to kick Alkofer off! Alkofer jumps back into Henderson's guard.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Alkofer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alkofer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alkofer manages to get himself to full guard.

Alkofer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Henderson passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alkofer is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Henderson is controlling him well.
Henderson happy to just control the position for now.
Alkofer takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Henderson takes a little break here. Alkofer wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Alkofer is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Henderson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Henderson takes a little break here. Alkofer wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Henderson tries for a kimura but Alkofer is defending well.
Alkofer wants to get back to his feet but Henderson drags him back down.
Alkofer tries to bench press Henderson off him but Henderson keeps the position.
The referee asks Henderson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Henderson prefers to stall for the moment though.
Alkofer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Henderson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Henderson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Alkofer from escaping the position.

Henderson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Henderson throws a hook but Alkofer avoids it easily.

Henderson clinches.
Henderson lands an elbow inside that Alkofer shrugs off.

Henderson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Alkofer clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Alkofer manages to reverse the position and now he's in Henderson's guard. Nice work there by Alkofer.
Henderson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Alkofer has gone for a leg lock! Henderson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Alkofer's guard.

Henderson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alkofer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Henderson has managed to get both his arms back between Alkofer's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alkofer is looking for a triangle here but Henderson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Anakin Alkofer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Henderson decides to stand back up. Henderson steps back and let's Alkofer get back to his feet.
Armand Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Henderson takes the fight into the clinch.
Henderson blocking some punches.

Alkofer has hold of one of Henderson's legs. Henderson is fighting the takedown attempt but Alkofer gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alkofer throws and elbow that misses. Henderson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alkofer's guard. Nice move by Henderson!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Alkofer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henderson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Henderson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Henderson landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armand Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Henderson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armand Henderson!