PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Henke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashawn Curry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Henke has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Henke
vs
Curry

192 cm
26
200 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

180 cm
24
195 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

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 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom Henke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rashawn Curry!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henke misses the body punch
and Curry counters with a head kick.
Nice straight punches there by Henke. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Henke.
Curry connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Curry throws a low kick but Henke avoids it.

Curry throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Henke tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Curry is in Henke's guard.
Curry throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Henke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Henke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Curry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Henke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Curry throwing strikes but missing.
Curry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curry stays in close to Henke's body and controls the position.
Curry postures up in Henke's guard and throws a big left but Henke blocks it.
Curry throws a big right hand that misses.
Curry trying to control but Henke is working from the bottom.
Curry throwing strikes but missing.
Curry pushing down on Henke's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curry thows a huge punch but Henke dodges it nicely.
Curry sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Henke defending well though.
Henke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Curry.
Henke is breathing heavily.
Curry wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henke keeps working.

Curry seems to be working for a kimura but Henke defends the submission attempt.
Henke is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henke is refusing to be controlled, as Curry sits in half guard.

Curry looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Curry not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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.

Curry is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Henke defends it well.
Henke avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Curry.
Curry wants to control but Henke is keeping him busy.

Curry is working for a submission of some sort.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Curry is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashawn Curry dominated that round.
That's time! Henke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Curry moves out of range of the strikes.
Curry throws a half hearted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Curry throws a solid leg kick but Henke takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Curry.
Henke lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henke lands a right hook to the body.

Curry feints and as Henke raises his hands in defense, Curry changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Curry is looking to work some ground and pound but Henke has wrist control.
Curry wants to pass the guard but Henke is keeping the position.
Curry throwing strikes but missing.
Curry slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Henke keeping full guard, as Curry tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rashawn Curry has got the better of the ground game so far.
Curry with a flurry of punches that miss.
Curry throws a strike but Henke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Henke is fighting to break Curry's control of his arms but Curry is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry keeping moving, preventing Henke from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Curry drives through with a takedown into Henke's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Curry's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Curry trying to control but Henke is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Curry postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Henke is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Curry, into his guard.

Curry looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Henke won't allow Curry to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashawn Curry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Henke scores with a body shot.
A clash of legs there as Henke blocks the low kick.
Curry thows a leg kick but Henke checks it
and Henke counters with a left and a right that stings Curry.
Curry ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Curry shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Curry showed some decent athleticism there.
Curry missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curry is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Henke!
Curry thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Henke takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Curry connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Curry controlling from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice elbow there by Curry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curry wants to control the pace but Henke is squirming around nicely.
Curry landing strikes, looking to finish!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Curry thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Henke in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Curry working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Curry throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Curry is landing with some decent strikes but Henke is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Henke is rocked!
Curry postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Henke looks a forlorn figure.
Oh Henke is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Curry connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Curry connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Curry connects with a bit shot that sees Henke covering up! More strikes from Curry and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Curry is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rashawn Curry!