PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Toby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Hendrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Toby
vs
Hendrick

179 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Toby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Hendrick!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendrick tries to clinch up.
Toby throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hendrick lands a nice hook to Toby's body. Toby takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Toby has a takedown stuffed.
Hendrick misses with a two punch combination.
Toby dives in and grabs Hendrick's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hendrick pushes down on Toby's head and hops out.
Hendrick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Toby as he jumps to the side.
Hendrick tries to clinch up.
Hendrick shoots in looking for a takedown but Toby manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hendrick's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Toby misses with a few strikes there.
Toby throws a series of punches but Hendrick moves out of range.
Toby throws a leg kick that misses.
Hendrick tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Toby manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Toby shoots in and drives through. Hendrick sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Toby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toby misses with a two punch combination.
Toby misses with a combination
and Hendrick counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Toby thinking.
Toby is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendrick has a takedown stuffed.
Toby will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Toby tries for a takedown but Hendrick sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hendrick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Toby is fending him off so far but Hendrick persists. Nope, Toby circles away and we're back to standing.
Toby tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hendrick fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Toby looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Hendrick moves into the clinch successfully.
Hendrick looking for a takedown.

Hendrick breaks from the clinch.

Hendrick has taken the fight to the clinch.

Toby breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendrick shoots for a double leg takedown but Toby sprawls well. He's pushed Hendrick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Toby looks to land a combination but Hendrick avoids it well.
Toby throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hendrick sizes up Toby with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hendrick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Toby is fending him off so far but Hendrick persists. Nope, Toby circles away and we're back to standing.
Hendrick moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hendrick swinging wildly here.
No luck for Hendrick with that takedown attempt.
Hendrick tries to clinch there but Toby circles away.
Toby misses with a jab to the body
and Hendrick counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Toby looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toby misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Toby misses with a combination
and Hendrick counters with a one-two to the body.
Mark Toby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hendrick tries to clinch up but Toby circles away and keeps his distance.
Hendrick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Toby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hendrick tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Toby manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Toby looks to land a combination but Hendrick avoids it well.
Toby misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hendrick scores with a jab to the body.

Hendrick gets a clinch.
Hendrick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Toby to keep the fight standing.
Hendrick is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendrick stalling in the clinch but Toby improves position.
Hendrick is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Toby breaks from the clinch.
Toby stuffs the takedown.
Toby sizes up Hendrick with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hendrick has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hendrick there as he acknowledges the shot.
Toby misses with a series of wild punches.
Toby feints a jab promting Hendrick to slip. Toby then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hendrick slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hendrick clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hendrick jumps guard but Toby turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Hendrick dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Toby misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Toby misses with a few strikes there.
Hendrick shoots in for a takedown but Toby shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Toby misses.
Toby throws a series of punches but Hendrick avoids them all with ease.
Toby misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Hendrick, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Toby shoots for a double leg takedown but Hendrick sprawls well. He's pushed Toby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hendrick shoots in for a takedown but Toby shows good takedown defense.
Hendrick will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mark Toby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Hendrick.
Hendrick shoots in for a double leg but Toby sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hendrick shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Toby as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Toby misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toby falls off balance throwing a combination
and Toby takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Toby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hendrick counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Hendrick clinches with his opponent.
Hendrick misses with a body punch.
Toby wants to stall.
Hendrick has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Toby after a bit of a struggle.
Hendrick is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Toby is defending well for now.
Hendrick is trying to force a seperation but Toby has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toby wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Toby manages to break the clinch.
Toby tries for a takedown but Hendrick sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Hendrick closes the distance and pushes Toby back into the cage.
Hendrick goes for a takedown in the clinch but Toby prevents it.
Hendrick wants a takedown.
Hendrick wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toby pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Toby changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hendrick tries to avoid it but Toby manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hendrick to the ground. Hendrick escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Toby lands a jab-cross combination.
Toby throws a combination that misses
and Hendrick counters with a left to the body.

Hendrick clinches up against the cage.
Hendrick tries for a takedown but Toby manages to get underhooks.
Hendrick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hendrick tries to stall but Toby uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Toby breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Toby misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hendrick clinches with his opponent.
Hendrick throws an elbow but it misses.

Toby manages to break the clinch.
Hendrick shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Toby but Toby pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Toby throws a head kick that misses.
Hendrick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Toby.
Hendrick ducks under a wild hook from Toby.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Toby misses with a double jab

and Hendrick counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hendrick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sam Hendrick will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Toby keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Toby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hendrick counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Toby throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hendrick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hendrick fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hendrick is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Toby rather than just go for the knockout.
Toby slaps away a takedown attempt from Hendrick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mark Toby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Hendrick.
Toby misses with a body kick.
A nice combination there by Toby.
Toby throws a nice looking combination but Hendrick bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Toby falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hendrick counters with a nice body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Toby. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hendrick shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Toby moves out of range of the leg kick from Hendrick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toby shoots for a double leg takedown but Hendrick sprawls well. He's pushed Toby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Toby looks to land a combination but Hendrick avoids it well.
Hendrick fails with the takedown.
No luck for Toby with that takedown attempt.
Hendrick scores with a nice head shot.
Toby stuffs the takedown attempt from Hendrick. Hendrick gets slowly back to his feet.
Toby throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hendrick counters with a series of strikes. Toby will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sam Hendrick seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hendrick fails with a takedown attempt.
Mark Toby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Toby fails to land with a series of punches.
Hendrick throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Toby catches Hendrick right on the button with a cross.
Hendrick lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Toby circles away quickly and effectively.
Toby looks to land a combination but Hendrick avoids it well.
Hendrick closes the distance and clinches up with Toby, looking for a takedown. Hendrick pushes Toby against the cage but Toby circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Toby swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Toby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hendrick.
Toby looks to land a right hand but Hendrick moved out of range.
Toby shoots for a takedown but Hendrick saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mark Toby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hendrick shoots for a takedown but Toby saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hendrick stuffs the takedown.
A shot to the body from Toby misses

and Hendrick counters by clinching up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hendrick wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrick is trying to push Toby away but Toby has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Toby pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Toby misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Toby does no damage.
Toby circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hendrick avoids a punch combination nicely.
Toby misses with a double jab.
Hendrick is looking to clinch but Toby is avoiding it.
Hendrick cracks Toby with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hendrick tries to clinch but Toby moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendrick works Toby's body with a nice hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hendrick is defended easily by Toby.
No luck for Toby with that takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Toby.
Nice takedown defense from Toby. No joy for Hendrick on that attempt.
Toby cracks Hendrick with a good jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Toby fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Hendrick fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Toby, pushing him back against the cage.
Sam Hendrick is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Come on Hendrick - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

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 Mark Toby.
I think Hendrick has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!