PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tony Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simen Mathisen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simen Mathisen told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hendricks
vs
Mathisen

190 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tony Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simen Mathisen!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendricks has a takedown stuffed.
Hendricks misses with a straight left.
Mathisen darts in trying to clinch
and Hendricks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Hendricks closes the distance and pushes Mathisen back into the cage.
Mathisen lands an elbow that stopped Hendricks in his tracks for a moment.
Hendricks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mathisen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hendricks avoids a wild elbow strike from Mathisen.
Mathisen lands a damaging elbow.
Hendricks tries to land a knee to the head but Mathisen blocks with his arms.
Hendricks using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mathisen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hendricks just leaning against Mathisen, taking a breather.
Hendricks fails to pull guard.
Mathisen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mathisen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mathisen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hendricks fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hendricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mathisen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mathisen.
Mathisen misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mathisen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hendricks's brow.
Mathisen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hendricks goes for a takedown attempt but Mathisen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mathisen wants to clinch up but Hendricks keeps it at a distance.
Mathisen moves in looking to clinch but Hendricks pushes him off.

Mathisen clinches up with Hendricks and pushes him back against the cage.
Hendricks is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mathisen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Mathisen.
Mathisen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mathisen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hendricks can't get the takedown.
Mathisen stalling in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mathisen.
Hendricks avoids a wild elbow strike from Mathisen.
Hendricks is trying to drag Mathisen to the mat but Mathisen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hendricks is breathing heavily.
Mathisen lands an elbow just above Hendricks 's eye.
Mathisen lands an elbow just above Hendricks 's eye.
Mathisen lands an elbow that stopped Hendricks in his tracks for a moment.
Mathisen pushes off an throws an elbow but Hendricks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hendricks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mathisen avoiding damage as Hendricks throws knees to the body.
Mathisen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mathisen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hendricks avoids a wild elbow strike from Mathisen.
Hendricks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mathisen.
Hendricks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mathisen prevents it.
Mathisen lands an elbow just above Hendricks 's eye.
Hendricks being controlled against the cage.
Mathisen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mathisen lands an elbow that stopped Hendricks in his tracks for a moment.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside.
Mathisen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mathisen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hendricks blocks an elbow strike from Mathisen.
Hendricks jumps guard but Mathisen stands there with Hendricks around his waist. Hendricks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mathisen.
Hendricks blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mathisen.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Mathisen.
Mathisen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mathisen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hendricks up against the cage.
Mathisen receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Hendricks wants a takedown.
Mathisen leaning against his opponent.
Mathisen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hendricks's defenses.
Mathisen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hendricks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hendricks takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mathisen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mathisen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mathisen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hendricks holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hendricks is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mathisen is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hendricks's defenses.
Mathisen blocking some punches.
Mathisen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hendricks's defenses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathisen lands an elbow inside that Hendricks shrugs off.
Mathisen misses with an elbow over the top.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mathisen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mathisen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A bit of stalling here from Mathisen.
Hendricks fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mathisen.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mathisen.
Hendricks blocks an elbow strike.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside that Hendricks shrugs off.
Mathisen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hendricks blocks an elbow strike from Mathisen.
Mathisen lands an elbow that stopped Hendricks in his tracks for a moment.
Mathisen lands an elbow that stopped Hendricks in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mathisen leaning against his opponent.
Hendricks tries a body shot but Mathisen blocks it.
Hendricks tries for a takedown but Mathisen manages to get underhooks.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside.
Mathisen controlling the action here for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simen Mathisen dominated that round.
That's time! Hendricks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hendricks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hendricks fails with a takedown attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mathisen.
Hendricks swats away the attempt to clinch by Mathisen.
Simen Mathisen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mathisen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hendricks pushes Mathisen up against the cage in a clinch.
Mathisen effectively controlling the action here.
Hendricks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mathisen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hendricks blocks the elbow strike.
Mathisen misses with an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Mathisen.
Mathisen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
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 Mathisen walks away with a smile on his face. Hendricks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hendricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks keeps the fight on the outside.
Mathisen tries to clinch up but Hendricks circles away and keeps his distance.
Mathisen tries to clinch up but Hendricks circles away and keeps his distance.
Mathisen tries to close the distance and clinch but Hendricks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mathisen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hendricks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mathisen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hendricks takes an elbow to the temple.
Mathisen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hendricks dodges an elbow strike from Mathisen.
Mathisen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice elbow from Mathisen.
Mathisen throws an elbow that misses.
Mathisen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mathisen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hendricks dodges an elbow strike from Mathisen.
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 Mathisen walks away with a smile on his face. Hendricks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mathisen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mathisen tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen is looking to clinch.
Mathisen tries to close the distance and clinch but Hendricks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mathisen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hendricks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mathisen tries to clinch but Hendricks moves out of range.
Mathisen tries to clinch up.
Simen Mathisen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathisen is looking to clinch.
Mathisen moves to clinch but Hendricks breaks away

and Hendricks counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathisen slows down the pace here.
Mathisen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hendricks missing with knees to the body.
Mathisen lands an elbow that stopped Hendricks in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen is trying to stall.
Mathisen avoiding damage as Hendricks throws knees to the body.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside that Hendricks shrugs off.
Hendricks is trying to stall.
Mathisen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hendricks takes an elbow to the temple.
Hendricks avoids a wild elbow strike from Mathisen.

Hendricks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mathisen forces Hendricks back against the cage and clinches.
Mathisen lands a nice elbow.

Hendricks successfully pulls guard.
Mathisen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Hendricks actively working from the bottom here.
Hendricks tries to get to full guard but Mathisen has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathisen misses with a head shot. Hendricks uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hendricks wants to sweep here but Mathisen controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simen Mathisen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mathisen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mathisen is pressed up against the cage. Hendricks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mathisen down to the mat. Mathisen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mathisen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Mathisen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mathisen lands a nice elbow.
Mathisen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside.
Mathisen avoiding damage as Hendricks throws knees to the body.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside that Hendricks shrugs off.
Hendricks being controlled against the cage.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside.
Hendricks tries to pull guard but Mathisen holds him up against the cage and eventually Hendricks drops back down to his feet.
Hendricks looking to throw knees to the head but Mathisen is blocking nicely.
Mathisen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hendricks blocks the elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hendricks goes for a takedown attempt but Mathisen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hendricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hendricks throws a leg kick but Mathisen sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathisen tries to clinch but Hendricks is having none of it.
No luck for Hendricks with that takedown attempt.
Hendricks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mathisen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mathisen tries to close the distance and clinch but Hendricks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mathisen doesn't manage to clinch there - Hendricks circles away.
Mathisen tries to clinch up but Hendricks circles away and keeps his distance.

Mathisen darts in and clinches Hendricks up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mathisen throws an elbow that misses.
Mathisen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mathisen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hendricks's defenses.
Mathisen effectively controlling the action here.
Hendricks blocks an elbow strike from Mathisen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen avoiding damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Simen Mathisen.
Mathisen tries to close the distance and clinch but Hendricks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hendricks misses with a low kick.

Mathisen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hendricks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mathisen smiles and moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathisen tries to clinch but Hendricks moves out of range.
Hendricks is looking to score with low kicks.
Mathisen doesn't manage to clinch there - Hendricks circles away.
Mathisen tries to clinch but Hendricks moves out of range.
Mathisen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hendricks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tony Hendricks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hendricks counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mathisen's guard now.
Mathisen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hendricks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hendricks drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mathisen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mathisen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mathisen!
Mathisen tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Mathisen tries to advance to mount but Hendricks denies him.
Mathisen wants to stand but Hendricks is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mathisen stands up and beckons Hendricks to his feet.

Mathisen moves into the clinch successfully.
Hendricks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mathisen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hendricks jumps guard but Mathisen stands there with Hendricks around his waist. Hendricks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mathisen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Simen Mathisen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mathisen prevents a body shot from Hendricks.
Mathisen lands an elbow just above Hendricks 's eye.
Nice elbow from Mathisen.
Mathisen lands an elbow inside.
Mathisen lands a damaging elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mathisen misses with an elbow over the top.
Mathisen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hendricks's defenses.
Mathisen lands an elbow just above Hendricks 's eye.
Mathisen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice elbow from Mathisen.
Simen Mathisen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mathisen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hendricks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mathisen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simen Mathisen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mathisen 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simen Mathisen!