PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cody Hendrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slaikka Gustafsson (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.

Hendrix
vs
Gustafsson

220 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 Helsinki, Cody Hendrix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Slaikka Gustafsson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gustafsson shoots in looking for a takedown but Hendrix manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gustafsson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hendrix is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Slaikka Gustafsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gustafsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hendrix misses with a kick to the body.
Gustafsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hendrix.

Gustafsson darts in and clinches Hendrix up against the cage.

Hendrix pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gustafsson misses with a body kick.

Hendrix gets caught napping as Gustafsson dives in and scores a takedown. Hendrix manages to retain guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Hendrix had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gustafsson defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendrix tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hendrix wants to stand up but Gustafsson is controlling him.
Gustafsson controlling from the top position.
Gustafsson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hendrix. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Slaikka Gustafsson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gustafsson swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Gustafsson drives through and clinches with Hendrix against the cage.
Gustafsson can't break the clinch.
Gustafsson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hendrix has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gustafsson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hendrix really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gustafsson tries a knee to the head but Hendrix blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Hendrix's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gustafsson smiles and moves away.
Gustafsson gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Hendrix moves into the clinch.

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

Gustafsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gustafsson fails to pull guard.
Hendrix managing to block the knees to the body from Gustafsson.

Gustafsson manages to pull guard.
Hendrix controlling from the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hendrix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cody Hendrix.

Hendrix tries to keep at a distance but Gustafsson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hendrix tries to circle away but Gustafsson has him pinned against the cage.
Gustafsson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hendrix's efforts to push away.
Hendrix looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gustafsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gustafsson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gustafsson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hendrix, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slaikka Gustafsson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gustafsson moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Gustafsson.
Hendrix is trying to drag Gustafsson to the mat but Gustafsson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gustafsson is trying to pull guard but Hendrix turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hendrix wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gustafsson throws an elbow but it misses.

Gustafsson manages to break the clinch.
Hendrix fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gustafsson misses with a head kick.

Hendrix closes the distance and pushes Gustafsson back into the cage.
Hendrix prevents Gustafsson from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendrix jumps guard but Gustafsson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hendrix fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cody Hendrix. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Gustafsson closes the distance and clinches.
Hendrix tries to land knees in the clinch but Gustafsson avoids the damage to the body.
Gustafsson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Gustafsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gustafsson clinches.
Gustafsson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hendrix is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gustafsson to keep the fight standing.

Gustafsson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gustafsson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gustafsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hendrix is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson is wriggling around but Hendrix manages to pass to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gustafsson pushes Hendrix off but Hendrix dives into side control.
Gustafsson is breathing heavily.
Hendrix looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gustafsson is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Hendrix crashes against the mat.
Hendrix controlling the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hendrix fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hendrix is staying tight to Gustafsson's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Cody Hendrix wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gustafsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gustafsson lands a lovely overhand right.

Gustafsson moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gustafsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gustafsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slaikka Gustafsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gustafsson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Hendrix gets tackled into the cage by Gustafsson. Gustafsson maintains the clinch.
Gustafsson tries to pull guard but Hendrix holds him up against the cage and eventually Gustafsson drops back down to his feet.
Hendrix jumps guard but Gustafsson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gustafsson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gustafsson scores a nice knee to the body.

Gustafsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gustafsson clinches.
Hendrix jumps guard but Gustafsson stands there with Hendrix around his waist. Hendrix gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gustafsson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gustafsson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gustafsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gustafsson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hendrix moves into the clinch.
Gustafsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gustafsson stalling in the clinch.
Gustafsson is looking to control Hendrix's arms but Hendrix gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gustafsson has his back to the cage.
Slaikka Gustafsson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right from Hendrix on the inside.
Gustafsson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hendrix has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson tries to pull guard but Hendrix forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cody Hendrix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slaikka Gustafsson.

Gustafsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gustafsson closes the distance and pushes Hendrix back into the cage.
Gustafsson prevents the takedown attempt.
Hendrix is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A head punch on the inside from Gustafsson fails to land.
Gustafsson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hendrix's efforts to push away.
Hendrix is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gustafsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gustafsson with a poor takedown

and Hendrix counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hendrix.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustafsson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hendrix dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gustafsson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hendrix tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hendrix throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Gustafsson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hendrix.
Cody Hendrix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slaikka Gustafsson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hendrix misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Slaikka Gustafsson.
I've got Gustafsson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slaikka Gustafsson!