PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cody Hendrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leo Jones has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hendrix
vs
Jones

220 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 2 - 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, Leo Jones!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones throws a right hand that Hendrix ducks under and follows up with a left that Hendrix also avoids with ease.

Jones darts in and clinches Hendrix up against the cage.
Hendrix tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hendrix tries to throw a body punch but Jones avoids it by throwing Hendrix back against the cage.
Hendrix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hendrix is looking to break free of the clinch but Jones has double underhooks.
Hendrix misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jones.
Hendrix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones smiles and moves away.
Leo Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Jones.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones pushes Hendrix up against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Jones - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hendrix is trying to force a seperation but Jones has the dominant position.
Hendrix is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cody Hendrix. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jones breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jones.
Jones stuns Hendrix with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Hendrix slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Hendrix in a clinch.
Jones pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Jones breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones lands with a thumping leg kick.

Jones gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Jones manages to break the clinch.

Hendrix tries to keep at a distance but Jones has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hendrix avoiding damage.
Hendrix tries to throw a body punch but Jones avoids it by throwing Hendrix back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hendrix is fending him off so far but Jones persists. Nope, Hendrix circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones misses with a double jab.
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.
Jones throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Hendrix saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.
Hendrix ducks under a wild hook from Jones.

Hendrix has Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to stall but Hendrix improves his position.

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

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Hendrix in a clinch.

Hendrix pulls guard successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hendrix pulls Jones in close to prevent any damage.
Jones wants to get up but he can't break Hendrix's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hendrix is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Jones drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hendrix manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jones has Hendrix in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Jones dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jones shoots in but no luck this time.
Hendrix avoids the body shot from Jones.
Hendrix moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.
Hendrix avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hendrix defends it nicely.
Hendrix avoids the head kick by Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Hendrix in a clinch.
Hendrix tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hendrix looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hendrix has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

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

Jones rushes Hendrix and presses him up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Jones pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Jones gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.

Hendrix breaks from the clinch.
Jones throws a head kick but Hendrix moves out of range.
Jones pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leo Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jones stuns Hendrix with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hendrix counters by clinching up.
Cody Hendrix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Jones.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Hendrix tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hendrix jumps guard but Jones stands there with Hendrix around his waist. Hendrix gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hendrix is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Hendrix has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jones down to the mat. Jones avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jones misses with a series of wild punches.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick and Hendrix moves out of range easily.
Jones throws a push kick but Hendrix slaps the foot to one side.
Jones throws a sloppy head kick and Hendrix moves out of range easily.
Jones misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones clinches.
Hendrix goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hendrix is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hendrix.
Leo Jones seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hendrix tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.

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

Jones closes the distance and pushes Hendrix back into the cage.
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.
Hendrix fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Hendrix tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hendrix manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A big right from Jones misses.
Jones pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hendrix back to the cage. Jones follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Jones with a poor takedown

so Hendrix counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hendrix prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hendrix is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cody Hendrix wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hendrix darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Jones taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hendrix tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Hendrix tries to pull guard but Jones forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Jones manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hendrix looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice takedown defense from Hendrix. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Cody Hendrix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Jones.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jones scores with a hook to the body. Hendrix takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Leo Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Jones moves into the clinch.
Jones on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hendrix wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hendrix working hard to break the clinch.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hendrix is looking to clinch but Jones is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hendrix pinned against the cage. Hendrix gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hendrix blocks a head kick by Jones.
Jones looks to land a combination but Hendrix avoids it well.
Jones connects with a looping right hand.
Jones misses with a jab, cross combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendrix avoids the elbow strike from Jones, against the cage.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Hendrix is controlling him.
Hendrix has Jones pushed against the cage.

Hendrix pulls guard effortlessly.
Hendrix tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones wants to stand but Hendrix is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hendrix tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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 Cody Hendrix.
I think Jones 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Jones!