PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kirill Danilevskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nad Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Danilevskiy
vs
Henderson

191 cm
25
239 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Kirill Danilevskiy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nad Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson clinches up with Danilevskiy and pushes him back against the cage.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
Danilevskiy throws a combination that misses

and Henderson counters by clinching up.

Henderson has clasped his hands together around Danilevskiy's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Henderson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Henderson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Danilevskiy misses with a takedown

and Henderson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Danilevskiy's guard.
Danilevskiy keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Henderson wanted to stand there but Danilevskiy had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control but Danilevskiy is working from the bottom.
Danilevskiy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henderson is working Danilevskiy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Henderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Danilevskiy has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Henderson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Danilevskiy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kirill Danilevskiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danilevskiy throws a lazy uppercut

and Henderson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Henderson.

Henderson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Henderson stands and steps away. Danilevskiy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Danilevskiy tries for a takedown but Henderson circles away easily

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Danilevskiy is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Danilevskiy is trying to stand back up but Henderson is controlling him
Danilevskiy is staying active underneath Henderson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Henderson is looking to advance position but Danilevskiy won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Danilevskiy is not content to let Henderson control the position.

Henderson escapes and gets back to his feet.

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

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Henderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Danilevskiy is trying to defend but Henderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Danilevskiy is refusing to be controlled, as Henderson sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Danilevskiy wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nad Henderson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Danilevskiy throws a right hand that misses

and Henderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Danilevskiy keeps moving.
Danilevskiy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Danilevskiy keeps moving.
Henderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henderson trying to control but Danilevskiy is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nad Henderson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Henderson avoids a kick to the body.

Henderson rushes Danilevskiy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Danilevskiy trying to control the position but instead, Henderson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Danilevskiy into the cage.
Henderson misses with a knee to the head.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Henderson moves into the clinch successfully.
Danilevskiy wants to break the clinch but can't.

Henderson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Henderson looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Danilevskiy lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Danilevskiy scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danilevskiy cracks Henderson with a solid left hand.
Danilevskiy postures up in Henderson's guard and throws a big left but Henderson blocks it.
Danilevskiy trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson looking to control.
Danilevskiy has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Danilevskiy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Danilevskiy from controlling successfully.
Henderson being controlled here, momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Henderson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Henderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Danilevskiy's guard.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Danilevskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Danilevskiy from getting back to his feet.
Danilevskiy keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Danilevskiy throws a lazy uppercut

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Danilevskiy keeps moving.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Danilevskiy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Danilevskiy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.

Henderson gets to his feet - Danilevskiy follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson swinging wildly here.
Danilevskiy fails with the takedown

and Henderson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Henderson.
Henderson looking to throw knees to the head but Danilevskiy is blocking nicely.

Henderson pulls guard effortlessly.
Danilevskiy lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Danilevskiy has gone for a leg lock! Henderson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Danilevskiy's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Henderson gets to his feet - Danilevskiy follows without any prompting.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Danilevskiy lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Henderson backs up against the cage.

It looks like Nad Henderson has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson scores with a hook to the body. Danilevskiy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nad Henderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nad Henderson's cut.
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!

Danilevskiy misses with a double jab

and Henderson moves into the clinch.
Henderson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Danilevskiy is trying to push Henderson away but Henderson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Henderson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Danilevskiy is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Danilevskiy is trying to push Henderson away but Henderson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Danilevskiy tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Henderson decides to pull guard.
Danilevskiy wants to stand and escape but instead Henderson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Danilevskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Danilevskiy keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Danilevskiy holds on and takes a little breather.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Danilevskiy keeps moving.

Henderson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Henderson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Danilevskiy is working an open guard so Henderson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kirill Danilevskiy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A punch combination from Danilevskiy misses.
Henderson moves out of range as Danilevskiy strikes.
Danilevskiy moves out of range of the leg kick from Henderson.
Danilevskiy pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Danilevskiy misses with a straight left.
Henderson shoots for a takedown but Danilevskiy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Henderson closes the distance and pushes Danilevskiy back into the cage.
Henderson has Danilevskiy pressed against the cage, preventing Danilevskiy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Henderson has clasped his hands together around Danilevskiy's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Nad Henderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henderson working the body and head with strikes.
Henderson landing a few strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Henderson decides to stand back up.
Danilevskiy has his takedown stuffed

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danilevskiy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henderson passes Danilevskiy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Henderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Henderson is keen to just control but Danilevskiy is a slippery customer.
Henderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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.
Danilevskiy looks like he's trying to stand up.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Danilevskiy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Nad Henderson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Danilevskiy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Danilevskiy fails with the takedown

and Henderson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Henderson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Danilevskiy keeps moving.
Nad Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nad Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henderson 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 26:30

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