PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilir Latifi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Latifi has chosen House of the Rising Sun as his entrance music. James Hendricks has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hendricks
vs
Latifi

185 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Virtually Identical [$25 clothes!]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ilir Latifi!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendricks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Latifi's waist but Latifi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hendricks off to one side.

Hendricks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Latifi slowing the pace effectively.
Latifi prevents Hendricks from breaking the clinch.
Latifi tries for a takedown but Hendricks manages to get underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Latifi.
Latifi slows down the pace here.
Hendricks gets underhooks to prevent Latifi's takedown attempt.
Latifi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James Hendricks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilir Latifi.
Latifi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Latifi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hendricks prevents it.
Latifi can't get the takedown.
Hendricks gets underhooks to prevent Latifi's takedown attempt.
Latifi is looking to take this one to the mat.
Latifi slows down the pace here.

Latifi has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hendricks is trying to keep an underhook but Latifi manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Latifi throwing shots but Hendricks is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Latifi prevents Hendricks from improving his position.
Latifi lands with a punch from half guard.
Latifi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Latifi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hendricks on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Latifi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Latifi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hendricks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Latifi on the ground.
Latifi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Latifi is looking to advance position but Hendricks won't allow it.
Hendricks regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Latifi.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latifi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Latifi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Latifi is stalling in the full guard.
Latifi trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendricks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Latifi works over Hendricks with some ground and pound from guard.
Latifi stands up over Hendricks, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hendricks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Latifi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hendricks looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Latifi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Latifi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hendricks is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Latifi is nestled in close to Hendricks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Latifi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Latifi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Latifi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Latifi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hendricks avoids the body shot from Latifi.
Hendricks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Latifi.
James Hendricks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hendricks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Latifi sprawls well. Latifi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hendricks gets slowly back to his feet.
Hendricks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Latifi.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hendricks.

Latifi clinches up against the cage.
Latifi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hendricks fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hendricks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Latifi pinned against the cage. Latifi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hendricks with a lazy takedown attempt

and Latifi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Hendricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Latifi is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Latifi.

Latifi has Hendricks pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Latifi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hendricks tumbling to the mat - Latifi dives into Hendricks's guard.
Latifi works over Hendricks with some ground and pound from guard.
Latifi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Latifi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Latifi wants to control from the top but Hendricks keeps moving.
Hendricks has momentary wrist control but Latifi slips an elbow through the middle.
Hendricks has momentary wrist control but Latifi slips an elbow through the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Latifi passes Hendricks's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Latifi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Latifi is nestled in close to Hendricks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Latifi.
Latifi working Hendricks over with strikes.
Ilir Latifi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Latifi drops an elbow to the side of Hendricks's head.
Latifi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Latifi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hendricks with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Latifi lands with a punch from half guard.
Hendricks has hold of Latifi's hands but Latifi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Latifi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Latifi moves into full mount! Hendricks won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Hendricks is rocked!
Latifi unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Hendricks wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Latifi celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ilir Latifi!
A relieved looking Ilir Latifi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, James Hendricks stepped up to the mic, saying 'May God Bless'.