PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fiodor Kuzniecow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Henderson
vs
Kuzniecow

175 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shawn Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fiodor Kuzniecow!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Kuzniecow or perhaps it was just good defense by Henderson which made him look bad.
Kuzniecow wants to clinch

and Henderson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kuzniecow's guard now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuzniecow is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back.

Henderson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuzniecow is trying to control. Henderson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back.

Henderson looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Kuzniecow pushes past his half guard into mount!
Kuzniecow controlling his opponent.
Henderson is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzniecow tries to control but Henderson wriggling away.
Henderson is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuzniecow has a good base and remains in mount.
Kuzniecow controlling his opponent.
Henderson is trying to escape the mount.
Kuzniecow looking to control and managing it successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is working hard here to advance position.
Kuzniecow can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Henderson is looking to escape.
Henderson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kuzniecow controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that Kuzniecow has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to escape the mount.
Kuzniecow controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson working to try and regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuzniecow trying to control but Henderson is having none of it.
Kuzniecow sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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 Shawn Henderson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Henderson looking to score a takedown here. Kuzniecow is defending well but Henderson drives through and ends up in Kuzniecow's guard.

Henderson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kuzniecow looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kuzniecow looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kuzniecow!
Kuzniecow wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.
Henderson is trying to improve his position.
Henderson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Kuzniecow is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Kuzniecow controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzniecow tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Henderson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kuzniecow tries to control but Henderson wriggling away.
Henderson regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzniecow is trying to control the action in half guard but Henderson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fiodor Kuzniecow was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kuzniecow shoots in for a double leg but Henderson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kuzniecow dives in and grabs Henderson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Henderson pushes down on Kuzniecow's head and hops out.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Henderson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Henderson showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Henderson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuzniecow looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Henderson 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.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four 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.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but Kuzniecow is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Henderson to get the leverage.
Kuzniecow is trying to maintain the position but Henderson is very close to passing his half guard.

Henderson 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuzniecow has his hands clasped together around Henderson's back. He's all about the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Henderson dominated that second round.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kuzniecow dives in and grabs Henderson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Henderson pushes down on Kuzniecow's head and hops out.
Kuzniecow fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kuzniecow shoots for a takedown but Henderson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shawn Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fiodor Kuzniecow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuzniecow gets a takedown into half guard.

Henderson looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Kuzniecow pushes past his half guard into mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to escape the mount.
Henderson is squirming around, avoiding Kuzniecow's attempts to control the action.
Henderson is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuzniecow has a good base and remains in mount.
Kuzniecow controlling his opponent.
Henderson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is squirming around, avoiding Kuzniecow's attempts to control the action.
Henderson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Shawn Henderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Henderson has gone for a leg lock! Kuzniecow slips out almost immediately though and dives into Henderson's guard.
Fiodor Kuzniecow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Henderson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kuzniecow defends it easily.
Kuzniecow not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzniecow wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Kuzniecow advances to half guard.
Henderson is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuzniecow sitting and controlling from the half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Fiodor Kuzniecow hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt - Kuzniecow sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fiodor Kuzniecow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuzniecow has managed to clinch.
Kuzniecow is working for takedown but Henderson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Kuzniecow ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kuzniecow no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.

Henderson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuzniecow manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Henderson has Kuzniecow in his guard.
Shawn Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fiodor Kuzniecow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Henderson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Shawn Henderson!