Karim Henniene Lands Literal Last-Minute Jumping Knee Comeback KO To Reach Bantamweight Championship Fight

Boule Godogo went 5-1 as an amateur before turning pro in 2021. He is now 4-0 as a pro after winning his first-round matchup with Shannon Van Tonder this summer. That fight marked Godogo’s first MMA bout in three years.

Karim Henniene is a Tristar Gym product and a former amateur featherweight champion who still seeks his first finish, in addition to PFL gold. After a 5-0 amateur run, Henniene is now also 5-0 as a pro. He scored a victory over Asiashu Tshitamba to advance to the semifinals tonight.

Who will be the first man to clinch a spot in the Bantamweight Final of PFL Africa’s first tournament?

Round 1

We get a clinch battle almost right away. Henniene misses a right hand on the separation. Godogo shoots in and we’re back to the clinch, with Henniene’s back to the fence. Henniene reverses the position. Short punches to the body by Godogo. Spinning back elbow by Henniene misses. Godogo shoots in again with another level change, pressing Henniene to the fence. Henniene, however, is able to reverse again. Henniene landing kicks to the legs. Godogo with a right hand. Henniene with a jab. Low kick by Henniene, but Godogo blocks it. Godogo fakes a level change. Low kick by Godogo.

Right hand by Henniene as Godogo comes in. Henniene showboating here. The two trading taunts. Godogo coming forward. Henniene with a spinning attack, but Godogo catches him and brings him down. Henniene uses the fence to get up and is warned by the referee. Henniene works his way out of the grip of Godogo. Godogo with another takedown attempt, and he gets it. Godogo landing right hands. Henniene works his way out of Godogo’s clinch against the fence. Henniene with an overhand left.

Round 2

Round kick by Henniene. Godogo with more forward pressure, looking for the right hand. Low kicks from both men. Right jab by Henniene. Godogo shoots in, gets double underhooks in. Henniene throws some solid, wild shots to counter, a couple of which land. Left jab by Godogo. Low kick by Henniene. Godogo shoots in, but Henniene avoids a hip throw.

Right hand by Godogo. Left hand by Henniene. Right hand by Godogo. Henniene with a calf kick. Low kick from Henniene again. Godogo misses an overhand, and the two taunt again, with Henniene taunting Godogo like a ballerina. Right hand by Godogo. Godogo taunts back. Godogo briefly cliches up, but Henniene gets away from it. Godogo with a combination as the forward pressure continues. Right hand by Godogo. Henniene with a sloppy kick attempt, and he nearly gets touched by a Godogo right hand.

Round 3

Godogo comes forward again. A brief striking exchange. Godogo goes for a takedown, and he gets it. Henniene gets himself up, but he’s pressed to the fence by Godogo. Big left hand by Henniene on the break. Godogo with more pressure. Right hand by Godogo. Left hand by Godogo. Low kick by Henniene. Right hand by Henniene. Both miss left hands.

Henniene tries another spinning attack, and he again gives up his back for Godogo to take. At the fence, Godogo looks for a trip, but Henniene is able to get away. Henniene misses a right hand. Low kick by Henniene. Another clinch battle against the fence, with Godogo’s back to the fence this time. Henniene misses the spinning back fist. Low kicks from Godogo. Jumping knee by Henniene, and it DROPS GODOGO OUT! WOW!!!!

A literal last-minute, come-from-behind knockout! Godogo IS NOT MOVING! Henniene is on his way to the bantamweight championship just like THAT!

OFFICIAL RESULT

Karim Henniene def. Boule Godogo via KO (R3, 4:21) in a Bantamweight Semifinal Bout.