PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Hendrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Groback (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maximus Groback will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hendrix
vs
Groback

198 cm
23
178 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

225 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Hendrix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maximus Groback!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Groback fails with an attempt to clinch.
Groback shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hendrix counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hendrix postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Groback pulls Hendrix in to control the position.

Groback working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hendrix has passed into half guard!
Groback trying to hold on to Hendrix's head to control him but Hendrix postures up.
Hendrix really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hendrix tries to pass the half guard into mount. Groback knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hendrix throwing shots but Groback is blocking nicely.
Hendrix seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groback wants to improve his position but Hendrix is controlling well.
It looks like Hendrix is going to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hendrix is looking for a kimura here.
Groback is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hendrix in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groback wants to control but Hendrix passes into side.
Groback tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hendrix wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hendrix wants to stand but Groback has his arm trapped.
Hendrix controlling the position from side mount.
Groback tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Groback tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Hendrix easily slips into full mount!
Groback is working to get back to half guard.
Hendrix lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Groback really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hendrix. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hendrix working the ground and pound effectively.
Groback is trying desperately to improve position.
Hendrix tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groback is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Groback really wants to buck Hendrix off and get back to his feet.
Hendrix content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Hendrix dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hendrix misses with a leg kick
and Groback makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Groback is defended easily by Hendrix.
Groback fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hendrix has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Hendrix closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Groback's guard.
Groback is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hendrix won't allow Groback to get back to his feet.
Hendrix has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Groback is proving hard to escape from.
Hendrix controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hendrix stands and throws Groback's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groback tries to improve position but can't.
Groback wants to control but Hendrix postures up.
Groback tries to buck Hendrix off but Hendrix is having none of it.
Hendrix tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hendrix working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groback tries to bench press Hendrix off him but Hendrix keeps the position.
Groback is breathing heavily.
Hendrix controlling the position from side mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Groback tries to clinch but Hendrix is having none of it.

Hendrix drives through and clinches with Groback against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groback is trying to maintain a safe position but Hendrix gets an underhook and turns Groback into the cage.

Hendrix manages to pull guard.
Groback looking to sit in guard and control but Hendrix gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hendrix might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hendrix passes into half guard.
Hendrix works his way into side control.
Groback is trying to work for a sweep but Hendrix has mounted him!
Hendrix raining down shots from the mount!
Hendrix avoids the attempt from Groback to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groback is looking to get to half guard.
Antonio Hendrix overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hendrix controlling from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hendrix seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Groback for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Hendrix dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Groback tries a head kick but it misses.

Hendrix scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hendrix remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Groback is trying to get back to his feet.
Hendrix moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Groback struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groback is trying to work for a sweep but Hendrix has mounted him!
Groback tries to lock up and control but Hendrix gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hendrix controlling the position easily from mount.
Hendrix scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Groback?
Hendrix tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Groback is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Groback looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Groback can't escape the position.
Groback wants to control his opponent's hands but Hendrix gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Groback's body.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Groback is really stuck here.
Groback takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Groback wants to control his opponent's hands but Hendrix gets his hands free.
Hendrix trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Groback doesn't escape.

Hendrix looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Groback taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Antonio Hendrix!