PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hendricks
vs
Belfort

180 cm
21
185 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Prestige Clothing
Prestige Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hendricks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Belfort looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hendricks throwing shots but Belfort is blocking nicely.
Hendricks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Belfort is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hendricks pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Belfort pushes Hendricks off looking to stand but Hendricks dives back in and keeps control.
Belfort avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hendricks.
Belfort blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hendricks.
Hendricks prevents Belfort from standing back up.
Hendricks is taking a breather. Belfort says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hendricks working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.
Belfort taking some punishment here, with Hendricks in his half guard.
Hendricks takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hendricks drops an elbow to the side of Belfort's head.
Hendricks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Belfort blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hendricks.
Belfort is trying to stand back up but Hendricks is controlling him
Hendricks working Belfort over with strikes.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.
Belfort looks gassed!
Hendricks is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Belfort actively working from the bottom here.
Hendricks looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Belfort with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hendricks is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hendricks passes to side control.
Hendricks cracks Belfort with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belfort taking a bit of punishment here - Hendricks scoring with strikes.
Hendricks works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hendricks working the head with strikes.
Hendricks scoring with punches and elbows.
Hendricks trying to control the action but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Belfort is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hendricks's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks trying to control from half guard but Belfort is working away.
Belfort is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hendricks scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hendricks lands with a punch from half guard.
Nice strikes from Hendricks there.
Hendricks working Belfort over with strikes.
Hendricks looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hendricks slows the pace down in half guard.
Hendricks winds up and cracks Belfort with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hendricks looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Belfort with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Belfort manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hendricks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Belfort's head.
Hendricks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hendricks is pushing down on Belfort's leg trying to pass to half guard. Belfort is fighting to maintain full guard but Hendricks has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hendricks is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hendricks is trying to control. Belfort wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Belfort on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hendricks prevents Belfort from standing back up.
Hendricks working over Belfort with some ground and pound. Belfort looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hendricks looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Belfort looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belfort has hold of Hendricks's hands but Hendricks slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hendricks lands with a punch from half guard.
Hendricks seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hendricks looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hendricks dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Belfort has a takedown stuffed.

Hendricks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hendricks trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hendricks cracks Belfort with a solid left hand.
Hendricks trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Hendricks landing with the ground and pound.
Belfort has momentary wrist control but Hendricks slips an elbow through the middle.

Belfort has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hendricks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Josh Hendricks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hendricks prevents Belfort from getting back to his feet.
Hendricks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Belfort's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hendricks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Belfort manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hendricks is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hendricks tries to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Hendricks really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Belfort jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hendricks is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hendricks and Belfort has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Hendricks manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks wants to control but Belfort is keeping busy.
Hendricks regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hendricks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Belfort can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Belfort drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hendricks dives on top into guard.
Hendricks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hendricks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hendricks thows a big elbow that misses.
Hendricks trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Hendricks sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hendricks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks landing some decent shots from guard.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Hendricks isn't so interested in that idea.

Hendricks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hendricks trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hendricks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.
Hendricks is in close to Belfort's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Belfort is looking for a triangle here but Hendricks uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Hendricks working the ground and pound from side control.
Hendricks wants to control but Belfort is keeping him busy.
Hendricks landing a few strikes.
Hendricks creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hendricks working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hendricks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Belfort can do to turn this around?
Hendricks creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hendricks grinds an elbow into Belfort's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hendricks dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hendricks looking to score a takedown here. Belfort is defending well but Hendricks drives through and ends up in Belfort's guard.

Belfort is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hendricks defends well.
Hendricks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hendricks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hendricks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Belfort looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hendricks landing some decent shots from guard.
Hendricks is pushing down on Belfort's leg trying to pass to half guard. Belfort is fighting to maintain full guard but Hendricks has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hendricks is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Belfort on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
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. Hendricks connects with a nice short shot to Belfort's temple.
Belfort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hendricks scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort is refusing to be controlled, as Hendricks sits in half guard.
Hendricks takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hendricks has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hendricks putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hendricks looking to finish Belfort with some ground and pound. This is bad for Belfort!
Hendricks lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Belfort is rocked!
Hendricks lands a big shot there that rocks Belfort but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Belfort is still in real trouble! Can Hendricks finish him?
Hendricks unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Belfort wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Hendricks celebrates on the ropes and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Josh Hendricks!