PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cyrus Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jomas Staale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cyrus Hendricks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hendricks
vs
Staale

210 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cyrus Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jomas Staale!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hendricks drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
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.
Staale is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hendricks has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hendricks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Staale on the ground.

Hendricks stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Staale drives through with a takedown into Hendricks's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Staale wants to pass the guard but Hendricks is keeping the position.
Hendricks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Staale won't allow Hendricks to sweep him here.
Hendricks has a closed guard, preventing Staale from standing up.
Hendricks is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hendricks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hendricks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hendricks has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Cyrus Hendricks wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Staale scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks tries to buck Staale off but Staale is having none of it.
Hendricks takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hendricks holds on to Staale's head and controls the position momentarily.
Staale wants to stand but Hendricks is controlling his arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Staale cracks Hendricks with a big right hand but Hendricks just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hendricks is trying to improve his position.

Staale wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hendricks, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks prevents Staale from moving into mount.

Staale tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hendricks tries to buck Staale off but Staale is having none of it.
Staale should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hendricks controls the position for a moment.
Hendricks is trying to work for a sweep but Staale has mounted him!
Hendricks is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks is squirming around, avoiding Staale's attempts to control the action.
Staale pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hendricks regains half guard.
Staale wants to control but Hendricks is keeping him busy.

Hendricks manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Staale keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Staale is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hendricks can't fight it off and eventually Staale manages to take the fight to the floor. Hendricks looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hendricks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hendricks, not yet.
Hendricks is breathing heavily.
Staale wanted to stand there but Hendricks had control of the position.
Staale trying to control but Hendricks is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staale won't allow Hendricks to sweep him here.
Staale wants to control from the top but Hendricks keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jomas Staale wasn't active enough on the ground.

Staale throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hendricks tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Staale is in Hendricks's guard.
Hendricks controlling the position.
Staale trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendricks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hendricks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staale wants to pass the guard but Hendricks is keeping the position.
Staale wants to control from the top but Hendricks keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jomas Staale dominated that round.
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 gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing Staale from controlling successfully.
Staale stopping the sweep attempt from Hendricks.
Hendricks has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hendricks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Staale is controlling him.
Staale has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hendricks is proving hard to escape from.
Staale scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks is adopting a defensive guard.
Staale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hendricks swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No joy there for Staale, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Hendricks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Staale tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hendricks is in Staale's guard.
Jomas Staale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hendricks won't allow Staale to get back to his feet.
Staale working a defensive guard but Hendricks manages to pass into side control anyway.
Staale is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staale can't do much from the bottom here.

Hendricks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hendricks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Staale is trying to control Hendricks's posture but Hendricks avoids it.
Staale bucks up and tries to throw Hendricks off but instead Hendricks has got his back!
Hendricks keeps control of the position as Staale tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staale holding both Hendricks 's hands and preventing any damage.

Hendricks is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Staale rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hendricks stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Staale's guard.
Hendricks tries to stand but Staale is controlling from the bottom.

Hendricks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Staale has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hendricks has managed to get both his arms back between Staale's legs - danger averted.
Staale wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hendricks is now in half guard.
Hendricks wants to stand up but Staale is controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Staale wants to control but Hendricks is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cyrus Hendricks will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Staale swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Staale fails to land with a series of punches.
Staale closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hendricks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Hendricks is working for a submission of some sort.
Hendricks thows a huge punch but Staale dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staale trying to hold on to Hendricks's head to control him but Hendricks postures up.

Hendricks wants to work for an arm triangle but Staale is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hendricks stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Staale to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Staale tries to clinch up

and Hendricks counters by moving into the clinch.
Staale stalling in the clinch but Hendricks improves position.

Staale wants the takedown. Hendricks is fighting it off but Staale persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hendricks's guard against the cage.
Staale scoring with some ground and pound.
Staale stops Hendricks from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Staale wants to clinch

and Hendricks counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hendricks looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Hendricks wants the takedown. Staale is fighting it off but Hendricks persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Staale's guard against the cage.
Staale is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Staale looking for a sweep. Not yet Staale, not yet.
Hendricks wanted to stand there but Staale had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks stops Staale from standing up.
Hendricks postures up.

Jomas Staale has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Staale shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hendricks's guard.
Staale advances position into side control!
Staale wants to control but Hendricks is keeping him busy.

Staale wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hendricks, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staale trying to control the action but Hendricks is working from the bottom.
Staale lands a few punches from side control.
Hendricks manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Staale is looking to improve his position.
Staale wants to control but Hendricks is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staale is trying to control but Hendricks manages to pass to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jomas Staale.
I think Staale 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!