PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malang Tangaloulango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tane Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Malang Tangaloulango has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tangaloulango
vs
Henderson

180 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
197 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malang Tangaloulango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tane Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tangaloulango can't keep his opponent in guard - Henderson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

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

Henderson wants to work for an arm triangle but Tangaloulango is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tangaloulango is trying to stand.
Henderson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tangaloulango is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Henderson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tangaloulango is trying to escape back to his feet but Henderson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Henderson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson throws an elbow but Tangaloulango slips to the side and avoids it well.
Tangaloulango is breathing heavily.
Henderson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sloppy strikes there by Henderson.
Henderson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Henderson is working Tangaloulango over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson landing strikes.
Henderson trying to control the position but Tangaloulango is working away.
Henderson is chipping away with strikes.
Henderson lands a nice forearm strike.
Henderson working the head with strikes.
Henderson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tangaloulango is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Henderson cracks Tangaloulango with a big right hand but Tangaloulango just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Henderson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tangaloulango sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tangaloulango stops Henderson from passing to mount.

Henderson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tangaloulango, who protects the arm well.
Henderson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tangaloulango down.

Henderson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tangaloulango is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Henderson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Tangaloulango!
Henderson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tangaloulango is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Henderson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Henderson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tangaloulango knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.
Henderson is keen to just control but Tangaloulango is a slippery customer.
Tangaloulango avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Henderson.
Henderson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Henderson lands strikes from half guard.
Henderson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tangaloulango 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Henderson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tangaloulango's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Henderson lands a nice short elbow.

That's two 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.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Tangaloulango's head.
Henderson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nice strikes from Henderson there.
Henderson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tangaloulango!
Henderson with shots to the head and body - Tangaloulango looks very uncomfortable down there.
Henderson controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Henderson connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Henderson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tangaloulango manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Henderson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Henderson lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Check out the look on Henderson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tangaloulango dodges the ground and pound from Henderson.

Henderson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tangaloulango is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Henderson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Henderson grinds an elbow into Tangaloulango's temple.
Henderson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Tangaloulango's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Henderson 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! This is the final round!

Henderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Henderson fails to land the takedown.
Henderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Malang Tangaloulango has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tane Henderson.
Tangaloulango tries to clinch up.
Tangaloulango fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tangaloulango moves in looking to clinch but Henderson pushes him off.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tangaloulango is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Tangaloulango circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tangaloulango wants to clinch up but Henderson keeps it at a distance.
Tangaloulango tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tangaloulango tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Henderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tangaloulango!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tangaloulango's face.
Henderson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Henderson working for a submission but Tangaloulango is keeping him at bay.
Tangaloulango is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tangaloulango is squirming around, avoiding Henderson's attempts to control the action.
Henderson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Henderson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tangaloulango is surviving well by controlling Henderson's body position as best he can.
Henderson lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looking to finish with strikes here!
Henderson wants to control the pace but Tangaloulango is squirming around nicely.
Henderson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Henderson landing shots from mount.
Henderson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Tangaloulango is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four 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.

Tangaloulango defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Henderson.
Henderson looking to control but Tangaloulango is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Henderson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Malang Tangaloulango has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tangaloulango flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tane 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

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