PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Henry has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Henry
vs
Hendricks

198 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodrigo Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Hendricks!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry blocks a head kick by Hendricks.

Hendricks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henry, pushing him back against the cage.

Hendricks breaks from the clinch.

Hendricks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hendricks seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Hendricks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hendricks is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Henry has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hendricks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henry keeps working.
Hendricks not doing much here.
Henry is trying to maintain the position but Hendricks is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks wants to control but Henry is keeping him busy.
Henry desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Henry really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hendricks wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Henry uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Henry pulls Hendricks in close to his closed guard and prevents Hendricks from doing any damage or advancing position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hendricks gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hendricks lands with a light punch inside.
A bit of stalling here from Henry.
Henry managing to block the knees to the body from Hendricks.
Henry tries to stall but Hendricks uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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

Hendricks pushes Henry up against the cage in a clinch.
Henry gets underhooks to prevent Hendricks's takedown attempt.

Hendricks gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Henry regains guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hendricks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henry swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Henry keeps moving.

Henry looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Henry pulls Hendricks in close to prevent any damage.
Hendricks wants to pass the guard but Henry is keeping the position.
Henry is trying to control the position but Hendricks postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Henry 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.

Hendricks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Henry has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hendricks has managed to get both his arms back between Henry's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hendricks with a flurry of punches that miss.

Henry has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hendricks is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hendricks drives through and clinches with Henry against the cage.
Henry misses with a body punch.
Henry taking a breather.
Hendricks scores with an uppercut up the middle.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Henry creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Henry is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Hendricks pulls guard effortlessly.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hendricks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Henry won't allow Hendricks to sweep him here.
Henry makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Henry throws a big elbow that misses.
Henry in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henry stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Henry tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Henry tries to clinch up but Hendricks circles away and keeps his distance.

Hendricks closes the distance and clinches.
Henry taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Henry wants to get back to striking at distance but Hendricks won't allow it.

Hendricks has Henry pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hendricks pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Henry tumbling to the mat - Hendricks dives into Henry's guard.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.
Henry will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Henry is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hendricks defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henry 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.
Hendricks trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hendricks wants to stand but Henry is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henry is trying to control the position but Hendricks postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Henry, up you get!
Hendricks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hendricks throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Hendricks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Henry.
Hendricks fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry tries a head kick but it misses.
Hendricks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henry defends it nicely.
Rodrigo Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny Hendricks.
Hendricks is breathing heavily.

Hendricks scores with a takedown into Henry's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hendricks engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johny Hendricks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hendricks dives in and grabs Henry's left leg, looking for a takedown. Henry pushes down on Hendricks's head and hops out.
Henry stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henry wants it to stay on the feet.
Hendricks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodrigo Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny Hendricks.

Hendricks forces Henry back against the cage and clinches.
Hendricks can't get the takedown.
Hendricks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Henry tries to land knees in the clinch but Hendricks avoids the damage to the body.
Hendricks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henry walks away with a smile on his face. Hendricks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendricks fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Henry sprawls well initially but Hendricks persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Henry has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hendricks is working away from the top position though.
Henry keeping hold of Hendricks's head, controlling as best he can.
Henry is trying to control but can't.

Henry looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Henry controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hendricks is looking to advance position but Henry won't allow it.
Henry keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Henry is refusing to be controlled, as Hendricks sits in half guard.
Hendricks is looking to stall here but Henry recovers full guard.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henry is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hendricks is aware though and is defending well.
Hendricks wants to pass the guard but Henry is keeping the position.
Hendricks wants to get up but he can't break Henry's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Henry working for a triangle but Hendricks defends it easily.
Henry controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henry working for a triangle but Hendricks defends it easily.

Henry is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hendricks is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hendricks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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 Rodrigo Henry.
Well Hendricks 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Hendricks!
Johny Hendricks decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.