PBP Commentary

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

French
vs
Hendricks

191 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

North

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rolland French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jimmy Hendricks!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Darius Henderson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hendricks shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. French manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
French wants to stand but Hendricks is controlling the position.
Hendricks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
French wants to stand and escape but Hendricks is having none of it.
Hendricks works over French with some ground and pound from guard.
Hendricks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
French is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hendricks is controlling him.

Hendricks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
French avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hendricks looks winded!
French is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hendricks scoring with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now French is on top in guard.
Hendricks trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks is striking from the bottom but French uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
French trying to control from half guard but Hendricks is working away.
Hendricks missing with punches from the bottom.
French sitting and controlling from the half guard.
French tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hendricks controls his leg.
Hendricks punching from the bottom.
French takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French blocks the strikes from Hendricks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hendricks punching from the bottom.
Hendricks missing with punches from the bottom.
French winds up and cracks Hendricks with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hendricks missing with punches from the bottom.
Hendricks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
French landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
French is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hendricks wants to improve his position but French is controlling well.
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.
French 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.
French lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hendricks throws a strike from the bottom but French passes into side control!
French working the head and body with strikes.

French decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by French.
The fight stays on the outside here - French looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from French.
French tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French tries to clinch

and Hendricks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in French's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hendricks is looking to work some ground and pound but French has wrist control.
Hendricks throwing strikes from guard but French blocks nicely.

Hendricks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hendricks prevents French from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hendricks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hendricks lands a couple of elbows.
Hendricks connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jimmy Hendricks will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hendricks fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging French to the ground. Hendricks is now in French's guard.
Hendricks stops French from standing up.
Hendricks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
French not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
French utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hendricks throws a big right hand that misses.
French bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hendricks's guard.
French has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hendricks throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
French lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
French would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hendricks can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as French controls the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hendricks's guard.
French stopping the sweep attempt from Hendricks.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing French from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rolland French.
Hendricks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hendricks takes a kick to the side of the head.
French dives in and grabs Hendricks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hendricks pushes down on French's head and hops out.
Jimmy Hendricks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
French fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. French did well to prevent Hendricks getting side control.
French flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hendricks moves into full mount! French won't be happy about that!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hendricks cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hendricks in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hendricks throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
French regains half guard.

French looking for submissions off his back.
Hendricks seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hendricks prevents French from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hendricks seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
French is trying to stand back up but Hendricks is controlling him
We've been informed that Hendricks has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hendricks lands a nice short elbow.
Hendricks scoring with strikes to the body and head.
French blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hendricks.
Hendricks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hendricks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jimmy Hendricks has got the better of the ground game so far.
French is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hendricks scores with a couple of nice shots.

French pushes Hendricks off and gets back to his feet.

Hendricks shoots in and gets a takedown into French's guard.
Hendricks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of French's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
French has momentary wrist control but Hendricks slips an elbow through the middle.
Hendricks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hendricks throws a strike but French rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hendricks throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hendricks throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
French preventing the sweep.
Hendricks tries to strike from the bottom.
Hendricks throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hendricks trying to strike off his back.
Hendricks throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hendricks trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Hendricks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

French with a poor takedown

and Hendricks counters with a single leg into guard. French didn't expect that.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hendricks.
French is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ground and pound from French.
French is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hendricks misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Hendricks punching from the bottom.
French tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hendricks missing with punches from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hendricks has a hand on French's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. French takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
French will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks throwing hammer fists to the chest of French. What's that going to do exactly?
French blocks Hendricks's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
French controlling from the full mount.
Hendricks throwing hammer fists to the chest of French. What's that going to do exactly?
Hendricks is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Hendricks tries to reverse the position but French maintains control.
Hendricks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hendricks is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hendricks throwing hammer fists to the chest of French. What's that going to do exactly?
French breaks from Hendricks's wrist control and lands an elbow.
French blocks Hendricks's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hendricks is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hendricks keeps trying to improve his position.
Hendricks throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French controlling his opponent.
French breaks from Hendricks's wrist control and lands an elbow.
French controlling the position easily from mount.
French blocks Hendricks's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hendricks swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hendricks throwing hammer fists to the chest of French. What's that going to do exactly?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, French cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hendricks swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
French dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hendricks looks a forlorn figure.
Hendricks is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
French tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hendricks is trying desperately to improve position.
French lands a couple of good shots and Hendricks has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Hendricks grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
French lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
French looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
French is hanging on to Hendricks's back as he tries to escape.
Rolland French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jimmy Hendricks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

French is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jimmy Hendricks.
I've got Hendricks 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Hendricks!