PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Hendrickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Water (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Hendrickson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hendrickson
vs
Water

205 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johnny Hendrickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Water!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendrickson closes the distance and clinches up with Water, looking for a takedown. Hendrickson pushes Water against the cage but Water circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hendrickson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hendrickson fails to land the takedown.
Hendrickson looks for a takedown but Water sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hendrickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Water doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Horrible takedown by Hendrickson or perhaps it was just good defense by Water which made him look bad.
Hendrickson ducks under a wild hook from Water.
Nice sprawl there from Hendrickson as Water shoots in.
Hendrickson has a takedown stuffed.
Hendrickson shoots in and drives through. Water sprawls well.

Water scores a takedown into full mount!
Water controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Water looking to control but Hendrickson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendrickson wants to hold on but Water pushes him away.
Water tries to control but Hendrickson wriggling away.
A nice elbow there by Water.

Water goes for an armbar but Hendrickson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hendrickson.

Hendrickson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hendrickson trying to control the position from guard on top but Water is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Hendrickson throwing strikes from guard but Water blocks nicely.
Hendrickson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Water is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hendrickson advances position into side control!
Water can't do much from the bottom here.
Hendrickson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hendrickson trying to control the position but Water is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hendrickson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hendrickson is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Water is not content to let Hendrickson control the position.
Water really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hendrickson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
You can see the frustration on Water's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Water is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hendrickson off and has taken his back!
Water avoiding Hendrickson 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four 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.
Water lands shots from the back.

Water working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Hendrickson wants to escape the position.
Water tries to get the hooks in deep but Hendrickson pushed the leg off.
Water has the hooks in. Hendrickson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Water avoiding Hendrickson 's attempts to control his hands.
Hendrickson is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Water.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Water dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hendrickson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Water's waist but Water gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hendrickson off to one side.
Hendrickson cracks a nice hook into Water's ribs.
Hendrickson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Water counters with a series of strikes that sends Hendrickson to the canvas! Water follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!
Water is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Hendrickson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Water is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hendrickson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Water's back instead.
Water holding both Hendrickson 's hands and preventing any damage.
Water turns into Hendrickson and is now in his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Water trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hendrickson being controlled here, momentarily.
Water looking to sit in guard and control but Hendrickson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hendrickson throwing strikes from guard but Water blocks nicely.
Water is trying to keep Hendrickson in close.
Hendrickson wants to pass the guard but Water is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Water wants to stand up but Hendrickson is controlling him.
Hendrickson wanted to stand there but Water had control of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Water as Hendrickson shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hendrickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hendrickson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Water counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Water.
Hendrickson tries to pull guard but Water holds him up against the cage and eventually Hendrickson drops back down to his feet.

Water breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Water looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Water in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrickson is trying to maintain the position but Water is very close to passing his half guard.

Water is trying to work for a kimura but Hendrickson is defending well.
Water is thwarting Hendrickson's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hendrickson is trying to get back to full guard.
Water wants to take a breather but Hendrickson is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hendrickson needs to keep his hands up - Water had a free shot at his head there.
Johnny Hendrickson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Water scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Water content to control rather than advance.
Hendrickson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Water pushing down on Hendrickson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Water wants to pass to mount but Hendrickson is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Water showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Water fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Water as Hendrickson shoots in.

Water darts in and clinches Hendrickson up against the cage.
Water has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hendrickson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Water leaning against his opponent.

Water breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chris Water seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Water. No joy for Hendrickson on that attempt.
Hendrickson with a poor takedown

and Water counters with a shoot takedown. Hendrickson fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hendrickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Water pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hendrickson is keeping the position for now.

Water decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Water misses with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Water throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Water looks for a takedown but Hendrickson sprawls well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Water.
Hendrickson tries for a takedown but Water circles away easily

and Water counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Water.
Hendrickson tries for a takedown but Water manages to get underhooks.
Hendrickson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Water jumps into guard, dragging Hendrickson to the mat.

Water is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hendrickson wants to pass the guard but Water is keeping the position.
Water is pulling down on Hendrickson's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendrickson throws a big right hand that misses.

Water pushes Hendrickson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Hendrickson fails with the takedown

and Water counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hendrickson won't be happy with that.
Hendrickson taking a bit of punishment here - Water scoring with strikes.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Hendrickson tries to bench press Water off him but Water keeps the position.
Water tries to advance to mount but can't.
Water wants to take a breather but Hendrickson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Water.
Water controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrickson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Water trying to control but Hendrickson is working from the bottom.

Water gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Water closes the distance and clinches up with Hendrickson, looking for a takedown. Water pushes Hendrickson against the cage but Hendrickson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Water takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hendrickson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hendrickson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Water's head.

Water is rocked!
Hendrickson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hendrickson with a poor takedown

and Water counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Water trying to control but Hendrickson is working from the bottom.
Water looking to pass the guard.
Water 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.
Water's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Johnny Hendrickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Water trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendrickson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hendrickson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Water pushing down on Hendrickson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Water comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Water 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Water!