PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julio Spataro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mason Hendrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Spataro
vs
Hendrix

180 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
21
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Julio Spataro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mason Hendrix!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendrix tries to clinch up.
Hendrix lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Julio Spataro has been cut.
Hendrix uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spataro.
Hendrix tries to clinch up.
Spataro misses with a double jab
and Hendrix counters with a nice uppercut.
Spataro misses with a straight left.
Spataro connects with a single shot there.

Spataro gets a takedown into half guard.
Spataro not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Spataro is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Spataro throwing strikes from guard but Hendrix blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spataro throwing strikes but missing.
Spataro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Spataro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Spataro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Spataro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spataro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spataro distracts Hendrix with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Spataro is looking to advance position but Hendrix has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Spataro on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Spataro tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spataro bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Spataro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hendrix looks gassed!
Hendrix has momentary wrist control but Spataro slips an elbow through the middle.
Spataro cracks Hendrix with a solid left hand.
Hendrix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spataro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Spataro passes Hendrix's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Spataro working over Hendrix with some ground and pound. Hendrix looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spataro.
Spataro performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hendrix blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spataro.
Spataro landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Spataro seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Spataro drops an elbow to the side of Hendrix's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spataro not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hendrix keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Spataro.
Spataro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Spataro works his way into side control.
Spataro throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hendrix taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hendrix takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Spataro tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Spataro has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Spataro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Julio Spataro's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Spataro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hendrix keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Spataro seems to be working for a kimura but Hendrix defends the submission attempt.
Spataro thows a huge punch but Hendrix dodges it nicely.
Hendrix is breathing heavily.
Spataro not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spataro thows a huge punch but Hendrix dodges it nicely.
Spataro seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Spataro misses with a head shot. Hendrix uses the momentum to regain guard.
Spataro wants to control from the top but Hendrix keeps moving.
Hendrix working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spataro.
Spataro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hendrix is keeping the position for now.
Spataro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two 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.
Spataro content to stall in guard here.
Spataro throwing strikes but missing.
Spataro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hendrix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spataro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spataro landing some decent shots from guard.
Spataro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hendrix works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hendrix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spataro keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hendrix's head.
Spataro is working Hendrix over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Spataro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spataro throwing strikes from guard but Hendrix blocks nicely.
Hendrix keeping moving, preventing Spataro from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spataro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spataro pushing down on Hendrix's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Spataro thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hendrix is not content to let Spataro control the position.
Hendrix won't allow Spataro to pass to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spataro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hendrix defending well though.
Spataro uses his free foot to push down on Hendrix's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hendrix.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Spataro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Julio Spataro's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hendrix gets caught napping as Spataro dives in and scores a takedown. Hendrix manages to retain guard.
Spataro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Spataro throwing strikes but missing.
Spataro pushing down on Hendrix's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hendrix takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spataro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hendrix keeps working.
Spataro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hendrix's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spataro winds up and cracks Hendrix with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Spataro missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Spataro is trying to control. Hendrix wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Spataro works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spataro tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Spataro works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Spataro sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hendrix is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Julio Spataro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spataro misses with the ground and pound.
Spataro scoring with punches and elbows.
Spataro misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Spataro working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Spataro cracks Hendrix with a big elbow.
Spataro cracks Hendrix with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Spataro just content to control the position.

Spataro is trying to get an arm triangle but Hendrix is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix stops Spataro from passing to mount.
Spataro throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Spataro.
Spataro in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Spataro wants to control but Hendrix is keeping him busy.
Mason Hendrix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Spataro controls the position.
Hendrix defending against the ground and pound.

Spataro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hendrix is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Spataro is putting a hurting on Hendrix here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hendrix takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Spataro is trying to ground and pound but Hendrix uses the momentary lack of control by Spataro to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Spataro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spataro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Spataro!