PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lappi Dar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dar comes to the cage accompanied by Hunting Song - Korpiklaani. Chuck Henderson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Dar
vs
Henderson

183 cm
24
199 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
26
200 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lappi Dar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chuck Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dar fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Henderson looking to score a takedown here. Dar is defending well but Henderson drives through and ends up in Dar's guard.
Dar keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dar wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Henderson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dar is really struggling to control Henderson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Henderson pushes down on Dar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Henderson is pressing down on Dar's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dar is holding on for now.

Henderson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Henderson.
Dar is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Well, if Henderson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dar taking some punishment here, with Henderson in his half guard.
Henderson trying to control the action but Dar is working from the bottom.
Dar is trying to control but can't.
Henderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Dar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dar shoots in for a takedown but Henderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Dar on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lappi Dar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dar shoots in but no luck this time.

Henderson instigates a clinch.

Dar jumps guard and drags Henderson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Henderson slips nicely into half guard.
Henderson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Dar trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Henderson seems content to control.
Henderson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dar tries to roll over but Henderson keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dar trying to hold on to Henderson's head to control him but Henderson postures up.

Henderson seems to be looking for submissions.
Dar is trying to control but can't.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Henderson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dar looking to score a takedown here. Henderson is defending well but Dar drives through and ends up in Henderson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Henderson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Henderson looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Dar clinches.
Dar goes for a takedown in the clinch but Henderson prevents it.
Dar jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henderson walks away with a smile on his face. Dar gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lappi Dar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henderson swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Henderson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dar to the ground. Henderson is now in Dar's guard.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Dar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Dar is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Henderson trying to control but Dar is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Henderson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Henderson as he avoids it easily.
Henderson throws a body kick that misses.
Dar fails to land the takedown.

Henderson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dar's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Dar keeps moving.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henderson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dar is proving hard to escape from.
Dar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dar swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to stand but Dar is controlling his posture from full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lappi Dar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Henderson gets a takedown into half guard.
Henderson is looking to take a break and control but Dar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chuck Henderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dar holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Henderson is looking to stall here but Dar recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dar is adopting a defensive guard.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Dar keeps moving.
Henderson controlling from the top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dar is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck 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!

Dar shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henderson defends it nicely.
Henderson unleashes a big counter combination but Dar bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nice sprawl there from Henderson as Dar shoots in.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dar manages to avoid it.

Henderson takes the fight into the clinch.

Henderson breaks the clinch.
Chuck Henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Henderson but Henderson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lappi Dar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dar gets a clinch.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
Dar shoots for a double leg takedown but Henderson sprawls well. He's pushed Dar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dar napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dar wants to control but Henderson postures up.
Dar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dar trying to remain calm as Henderson controls from the top position.
Henderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Henderson scoring with punches from side control.
Dar struggling a bit here.
Dar holds on to Henderson's head and controls the position momentarily.
Henderson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dar some visible discomfort.
Henderson lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson working away.
Dar is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Dar is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Henderson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Dar gets full guard.
Dar trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dar shoots for a double leg takedown but Henderson sprawls well. He's pushed Dar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henderson misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Henderson tries to avoid it but Dar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Henderson to the ground. Henderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Henderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Dar!
Henderson working the ground and pound from side control.
Henderson wants to stand but Dar has his arm trapped.

Henderson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dar is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dar is working hard here to advance position.
Dar trying to remain calm as Henderson controls from the top position.
Henderson misses with the ground and pound.

Henderson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Henderson wants to control but Dar is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Henderson really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Henderson pushes Dar up against the cage in a clinch.
Dar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dar tries for a takedown but Henderson manages to get underhooks.
Henderson taking a breather.
Dar tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lappi Dar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Henderson jumps into guard, dragging Dar to the mat.
Henderson wants to stand up but Dar is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dar wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Dar forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dar moves nicely into side control.
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 is looking to reverse the position.
Henderson struggling a bit here.

Dar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henderson keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Check out the look on Dar's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Dar trying to control the position but Henderson is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson struggling a bit here.
Henderson prevents Dar from improving position.
Dar prevents Henderson from escaping the position.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dar has a takedown stuffed.
Dar misses with a takedown

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Henderson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dar moves into full guard.
Dar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Henderson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dar trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.
Henderson throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Henderson dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Dar or perhaps it was just good defense by Henderson, which made it look bad.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dar or perhaps it was just good defense by Henderson, which made it look bad.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Dar on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lappi Dar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henderson looks to land a combination but Dar avoids it well.

Henderson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Henderson stands up over Dar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dar keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Dar trying to control the position here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dar seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Dar shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henderson defends it nicely.

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.
Dar takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Henderson clinches.
Henderson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dar tries for a takedown but Henderson manages to get underhooks.

Henderson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dar regains guard.
Dar is trying to keep Henderson in close.
Henderson trying to control but Dar is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Henderson trying to control but Dar is working from the bottom.
Henderson postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Dar.

Henderson clinches up against the cage.
Dar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Henderson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Henderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lappi Dar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chuck Henderson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Henderson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dar is letting Henderson control him for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Henderson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 44:50
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 44:50
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Henderson!
Chuck Henderson is the new light heavyweight champion!
Chuck Henderson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.