PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johny Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hendricks
vs
Gracie

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gustavo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hendricks closes the distance and clinches.
Hendricks content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Gracie is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hendricks is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gracie to the mat. Gracie regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Gracie is trying to keep Hendricks in close.
Hendricks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Hendricks is proving a slippery customer.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hendricks wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gracie should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hendricks controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie is trying to keep Hendricks in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gustavo Gracie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hendricks counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Hendricks is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hendricks is one step ahead there.
Hendricks tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Hendricks tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hendricks postures up.
Hendricks won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gustavo Gracie has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gracie darts in looking for a takedown but Hendricks gets double underhooks and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Johny Hendricks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Gracie.

Hendricks wants the takedown. Gracie is fighting it off but Hendricks persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gracie's guard against the cage.
Hendricks stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hendricks pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks slows the pace down in half guard.
Hendricks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Hendricks is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Hendricks content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johny Hendricks has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hendricks looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.

Hendricks gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gracie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hendricks is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is stalling in the full guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Hendricks keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hendricks lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hendricks shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hendricks was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gracie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hendricks trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Hendricks is really struggling to control Gracie but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hendricks's best efforts.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hendricks wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hendricks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Hendricks is proving a slippery customer.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hendricks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Hendricks postures up.
Hendricks stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hendricks throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hendricks passes into half guard.
Gracie trying to get back to full guard but Hendricks takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gracie is just holding on here. Hendricks manages to take his back.
Hendricks keeps control of the position easily here as Gracie tries to buck him off.

Hendricks has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gracie has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hendricks working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Gracie just looking to survive in the bad position.
Hendricks is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Hendricks. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hendricks's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
Gracie won't allow Hendricks to sweep him here.
Hendricks trying to strike off his back.
Hendricks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendricks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Hendricks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hendricks looking to control.
Hendricks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Hendricks on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hendricks tries to get out of the position.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendricks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hendricks wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johny Hendricks will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie tries for a takedown but Hendricks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Hendricks counters with a left and a right that stings Gracie.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hendricks counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johny Hendricks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Gracie.
Hendricks slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks controlling from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hendricks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie lands a big shot there that rocks Hendricks but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hendricks is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Hendricks is controlling an arm, preventing Gracie from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hendricks turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie looking to control but Hendricks passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks passes to side control.
Hendricks slows the pace down.
Hendricks scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johny Hendricks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie tries to bench press Hendricks off him but Hendricks keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Hendricks tries to stand and escape but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie wants to sweep but Hendricks has passed to side control!
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Hendricks wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
Gracie tries to bench press Hendricks off him but Hendricks keeps the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is trying to escape the position but Hendricks is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johny Hendricks.
Well Hendricks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Hendricks!
Johny Hendricks seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.