PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luke Lepinakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lepinakov
vs
Henderson

170 cm
23
214 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

185 cm
25
210 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luke Lepinakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lepinakov feints and as Henderson raises his hands in defense, Lepinakov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Lepinakov is stalling in the full guard.
Henderson wants to stand and escape but Lepinakov is having none of it.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Lepinakov from controlling successfully.
Henderson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lepinakov is controlling him.

Lepinakov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Henderson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Henderson has escaped and now he's on top!
Henderson wants to stand but Lepinakov is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lepinakov looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.
Lepinakov trying to control the position.

Lepinakov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henderson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lepinakov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Lepinakov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Henderson manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Lepinakov from moving into mount.
Henderson seems a little lost for a moment, as Lepinakov dominates the positioning.

Henderson sneaks out the side door and pushes Lepinakov away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Henderson stuffs the takedown attempt from Lepinakov. Lepinakov gets slowly back to his feet.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Lepinakov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lepinakov moves out of range as Henderson strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson loads up on a big right hand but Lepinakov slips the punch.
Henderson throws a shot from downtown. Lepinakov moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut lands for Henderson. That snapped Lepinakov's head back.
Henderson lands an overhand right.
Lepinakov misses with a takedown attempt - Henderson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lepinakov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lepinakov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henderson pinned against the cage. Henderson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Lepinakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lepinakov is defended easily by Henderson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Henderson lands the left hand.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lepinakov takes one to the chin there.
Henderson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson dominated that 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.

Lepinakov looks for a takedown but Henderson sprawls well.
Lepinakov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Henderson lands with a good body shot.
Lepinakov shoots in and drives through. Henderson sprawls well.
Lepinakov tries to clinch up but Henderson circles away and keeps his distance.
Henderson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Lepinakov on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Lepinakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Henderson drops Lepinakov with a right and a left! Henderson comes rushing in but Lepinakov regains his composure and manages to keep Henderson in guard.

It looks like Luke Lepinakov has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lepinakov is working an open guard so Henderson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lepinakov throws a combination that misses
and Henderson counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson throws a big shot that misses.
Henderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lepinakov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Henderson to counter with a crisp jab.
Henderson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lepinakov shoots and misses
and Henderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A jab lands there for Henderson.
Henderson scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Henderson.
Dan Henderson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Henderson cracks Lepinakov with an uppercut from hell and Lepinakov crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Henderson's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Lepinakov is rocked!
Henderson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lepinakov is proving hard to escape from.
Lepinakov is trying to control the position but Henderson postures up.

Henderson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lepinakov, up you get!
Lepinakov falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Henderson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lepinakov fails with the takedown
and Henderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lepinakov tries for a takedown but Henderson circles away easily
and Lepinakov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Henderson lands with a cross.
Good standup being displayed there by Henderson as he connects with a hook.
Henderson lands a nice shot to the body.
Luke Lepinakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Henderson bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Lepinakov! He dives into his guard looking to finish!
Oh Lepinakov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Henderson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Lepinakov seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lepinakov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Henderson.

Henderson drops Lepinakov with a big left hand and mounts him. Lepinakov is in big trouble!

Henderson stands up from mount. Strange move.
A big right from Henderson misses.
Lepinakov with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Henderson to counter with a crisp jab.
Lepinakov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lepinakov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Henderson counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Luke Lepinakov's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Henderson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Henderson tests Lepinakov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Lepinakov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Lepinakov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lepinakov seems to be looking for submissions.
Lepinakov prevents Henderson from standing back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lepinakov misses with a takedown attempt
and Henderson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Luke Lepinakov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lepinakov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Henderson counters with a nice uppercut.
Henderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Henderson wants to land a leg kick but Lepinakov is out of range.
Lepinakov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Henderson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lepinakov's head.
Lepinakov with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Henderson counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Lepinakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lepinakov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Henderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson works the jab nicely.
Lepinakov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Henderson.
Lepinakov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Henderson counters with a good low kick that Lepinakov was not able to check.
Lepinakov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The fighters circling - Lepinakov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lepinakov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Henderson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lepinakov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Henderson to counter with a crisp jab.
Lepinakov takes one to the chin there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
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.
Lepinakov throws a sloppy head kick and Henderson moves out of range easily.
Henderson cracks Lepinakov with a hook to the temple - Lepinakov is on wobbly legs here! Henderson swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Lepinakov falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Henderson wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Dan Henderson!