PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Street Swag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jay Z- Big Pimpin. 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
Swag

176 cm
30
153 lbs
24 - 9 - 4

180 cm
28
170 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 4, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Henderson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Street Swag!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson throws a lazy head kick
and Swag counters with a nice low kick that buckles Henderson's knee momentarily.
Henderson connects with a leg kick. Swag looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Henderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Henderson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Swag's sensitive parts.
Henderson scores with a body shot.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Swag.
Henderson throws an overhand right that lands on Swag's shoulder, as Swag tries to avoid the shot.
Swag tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swag avoids a kick to the body.
Henderson misses with a head kick.
Swag connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swag is looking to slow Henderson down with leg kicks.
Swag moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Swag fails to land with a series of punches.
Swag throws an off balance right hand

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Swag keeps moving.

Swag pushes Henderson off and gets back to his feet.
Swag pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Henderson moves forwards but Swag connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swag misses with a hook.
Swag lands a nice hook to Henderson's body. Henderson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Henderson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Swag ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Henderson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henderson blocks a head kick by Swag.
Swag tries a head kick but it misses.
Swag throws a poor cross that misses
and Henderson counters with a straight right hand.
Swag misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henderson tries to land a front kick but Swag steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Swag throws a head kick that half lands.
Swag misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson blocks a jab.
Crunch! Henderson slams his shin into Swag's torso.
Swag takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Swag wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Henderson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Swag connects with a nice looking jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson. Swag does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henderson cracks Swag with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Swag is just out of range.
Henderson circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've been informed that Swag has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Henderson throws a body punch but Swag moves out of range.
Henderson scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Swag counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Swag moves forwards but Henderson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Henderson throws a leg kick but Swag sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Henderson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Swag counters with a nice uppercut.

Henderson gets tackled into the cage by Swag. Swag maintains the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Swag.
Swag scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Swag swings wildly with an uppercut but Henderson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Swag pushes Henderson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Swag misses with a hook to the ribs.
Henderson avoiding damage as Swag throws knees to the body.
Swag prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Street Swag will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight stays on the outside here - Swag looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swag cracks Henderson with an open hand slap.
Henderson throws a hook but Swag avoids it easily.
Henderson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Swag on the side of the head.
Swag cracks Henderson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Henderson scores with a sloppy right hand. Swag should have avoided that one.
Swag misses with a body shot.
Swag swinging wildly here.
Henderson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Swag throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson throws a lazy head kick
and Swag connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Henderson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Swag closes the distance but Henderson moves to the side

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Swag won't be happy with that.
Henderson lands a decent elbow from side control.
Swag is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Swag's face as Henderson controls the position.
Henderson advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swag blocking the ground and pound.
Henderson throws some wild stikes that Swag manages to avoid easily.
Swag is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Henderson tries to control but Swag wriggling away.
You get the feeling that Swag really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swag blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Swag hang on?
Henderson won't let Swag get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Henderson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Henderson with good strikes from the mount here!
Swag wants to try and get back to his feet.
Henderson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson with good strikes from the mount here!
Henderson wants to control the pace but Swag is squirming around nicely.
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!
Henderson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Swag hang on?
Henderson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Henderson with the ground and pound from mount.

Swag is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Swag is in a horrible position here. Henderson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Swag tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swag takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Swag is looking to slow Henderson down with leg kicks.
That kick from Henderson tenderised Swag's leg. Swag is trying to keep his angry face on.
Swag blocks a head kick by Henderson.
Henderson throws a sloppy body shot
and Swag counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Swag bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Swag tries to clinch up.
Swag throws a jab when Henderson was well out of range.
Henderson dives in and grabs Swag's left leg, looking for a takedown. Swag pushes down on Henderson's head and hops out.
Henderson scores with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swag stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Henderson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Henderson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Swag feints and then cracks Henderson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Henderson down.
Henderson avoids the head kick by Swag.
Henderson lands a front kick.
Henderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Swag scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Swag wants to clinch.
A big left from Swag misses.
Street Swag seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Henderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Henderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swag tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson stalling away here and it's allowed Swag to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Henderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henderson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Swag is looking to stand up but Henderson isn't so interested in that idea.
Henderson throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swag preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson stops Swag from standing up.
Swag is wriggling around but Henderson manages to pass to half guard.
Henderson stops Swag from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson working Swag over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Street Swag just about did enough to take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Swag tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Henderson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson. Swag does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henderson takes a swing at Swag's ribcage but misses.
A head kick misses from Henderson.
Swag tries to clinch but Henderson is having none of it.
Swag connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Both fighters circling a little - Henderson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Swag cracks Henderson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Henderson clobbers Swag with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Swag doesn't manage to clinch there - Henderson circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swag takes a swing at Henderson's ribcage but misses.
Swag blocks a low kick nicely.
Swag tries to clinch but Henderson is having none of it.

Henderson shoots in and bounces Swag off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Henderson throws a big right hand that misses.
Henderson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Swag wants to get back to his feet but Henderson passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Swag is trying to stand.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Henderson lands a nice short elbow.
Henderson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Swag with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Henderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swag has hold of Henderson's hands but Henderson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Swag avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Henderson.
Henderson is controlling the pace.
Swag is trying to stand back up but Henderson is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to advance position but Swag won't allow it.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Swag's head.
Henderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Swag is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Henderson stops Swag from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Henderson connects with a nice short shot to Swag's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Henderson had his way with Street Swag in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Swag scores with a nice right hand.
Swag throws a lazy right hand but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Swag lands the left hand.
Henderson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Swag scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Swag throws a big shot that misses.
Henderson throws a looping overhand right but Swag ducks down to avoid it.
Henderson misses with a body shot.
A big left from Henderson misses.
Henderson shoots in looking for a takedown. Swag tries to sprawl out of it but Henderson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Swag manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Henderson or perhaps it was just good defense by Swag which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swag keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson lands a jab to Swag's midsection.
Swag tries a head kick but it misses.

Henderson tries to keep at a distance but Swag has taken the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Swag misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swag fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Henderson presses Swag against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Swag lands a body punch in the clinch.
Henderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Swag uses good head movement to avoid it.
Swag working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Henderson misses with the head strike.
A right hand to the body from Henderson.
Henderson lands a shot to the body.
Swag misses with a knee strike.
Swag is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Henderson lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from Henderson.

Henderson has hold of one of Swag's legs. Swag is fighting the takedown attempt but Henderson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Swag wants to stand and escape but Henderson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swag is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Henderson stands up over Swag, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Henderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Mike Henderson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Swag.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swag throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Swag throws a hook but Henderson avoids it easily.
Henderson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Swag under the eye.
Swag tries to clinch up.
Henderson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Henderson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Swag.
Henderson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson takes one on the button.
Swag missing with a left hand there. Henderson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 49:47
Judge George Francis scores the fight 50:47
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Henderson!
Mike Henderson retains his lightweight title!
After winning the bout, Mike Henderson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.