PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Baisais Lacplesis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Baisais Lacplesis has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Lacplesis
vs
Hendricks

175 cm
25
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Baisais Lacplesis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johny Hendricks!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lacplesis misses with a leg kick.
Hendricks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lacplesis wants to clinch but Hendricks slips to the side
and Hendricks makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lacplesis tries to clinch up.
Hendricks swats away the attempt to clinch by Lacplesis.
Lacplesis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hendricks is fending him off so far but Lacplesis persists. Nope, Hendricks circles away and we're back to standing.
Baisais Lacplesis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lacplesis with a poor takedown
and Hendricks counters with a nice body shot.

Hendricks dives in and scores a takedown into Lacplesis's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Hendricks gets to his feet - Lacplesis follows without any prompting.
Hendricks misses with a body kick.
Lacplesis checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Hendricks scores with a takedown into Lacplesis's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lacplesis is trying to control the position but Hendricks postures up.
Hendricks sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hendricks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Baisais Lacplesis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hendricks manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lacplesis on his heels. He'll look to pass Lacplesis's guard now, I'm sure.
Hendricks controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hendricks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lacplesis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hendricks content to stall in guard here.
Hendricks is looking to pass into half guard but Lacplesis pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Lacplesis is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks pulls Lacplesis in close to prevent any damage.
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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lacplesis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hendricks wants to stand up but Lacplesis is controlling him.

Hendricks working for a triangle but Lacplesis defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lacplesis works over Hendricks with some ground and pound from guard.
Lacplesis trying to control but Hendricks is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hendricks's head.
Lacplesis with a nice head shot there.
Lacplesis connects with a couple of short punches.
Hendricks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lacplesis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lacplesis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ground and pound from Lacplesis seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Lacplesis 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.

Lacplesis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hendricks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hendricks is looking to regain half guard here but Lacplesis keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis lands a nice forearm strike.
Lacplesis working away.
Hendricks sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lacplesis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've been hearing that Lacplesis has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Lacplesis is keen to just control but Hendricks is a slippery customer.
Hendricks tries to roll over but Lacplesis keeps him under control.
Hendricks looks winded!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lacplesis connects with a nice short shot to Hendricks's temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hendricks slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing Lacplesis from controlling successfully.
Hendricks with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Lacplesis can't handle though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Hendricks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lacplesis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hendricks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lacplesis goes for a double leg but Hendricks avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hendricks continues to drive forward.

Hendricks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hendricks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lacplesis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lacplesis closes the distance and clinches up with Hendricks, looking for a takedown. Lacplesis pushes Hendricks against the cage but Hendricks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hendricks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lacplesis defends it nicely.
Johny Hendricks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lacplesis doesn't manage to clinch there - Hendricks circles away.
Hendricks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Hendricks closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hendricks lands in his opponent's guard.
Hendricks works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacplesis wants to control but Hendricks is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hendricks performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hendricks drops an elbow to the side of Lacplesis's head.
Hendricks is pressing down on Lacplesis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lacplesis is holding on for now.
Lacplesis is trying to stand.
Lacplesis wants to improve his position but Hendricks is controlling well.
Hendricks is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks is trying to control the action in half guard but Lacplesis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johny Hendricks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lacplesis is looking for a sweep. Hendricks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Johny Hendricks.
Hendricks just misses with a punch to the body.
Lacplesis wants to clinch.
Lacplesis tries to clinch there but Hendricks circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lacplesis.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Baisais Lacplesis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lacplesis wants to clinch.
Lacplesis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis moves out of range of the leg kick from Hendricks.

Hendricks takes the fight into the clinch.
Lacplesis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hendricks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lacplesis to keep the fight standing.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lacplesis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hendricks backwards.
Hendricks is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hendricks jumps guard but Lacplesis stands there with Hendricks around his waist. Hendricks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hendricks fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks tries to pull guard but Lacplesis won't allow it.
Lacplesis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hendricks's elbow.
Lacplesis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hendricks's elbow.
Lacplesis tries to work over Hendricks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lacplesis misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Hendricks breaks from the clinch.
Lacplesis lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Hendricks clinches up with Lacplesis and pushes him back against the cage.
Hendricks blocks a body shot from Lacplesis.
Lacplesis misses with a body punch.
Lacplesis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hendricks tries to pull guard but Lacplesis holds him up against the cage and eventually Hendricks drops back down to his feet.
Hendricks prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johny Hendricks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lacplesis lands a slapping body shot.

Lacplesis gets tackled into the cage by Hendricks. Hendricks maintains the clinch.
Lacplesis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hendricks's elbow.
Hendricks blocks a body shot from Lacplesis.
A shot in the inside from Hendricks.

Hendricks breaks from the clinch.
Lacplesis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hendricks as he avoids it easily.
Lacplesis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hendricks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lacplesis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hendricks circles away.

Hendricks scores with a takedown into Lacplesis's guard.
Hendricks looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hendricks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lacplesis throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Hendricks gets to his feet - Lacplesis follows without any prompting.
Hendricks swats away the attempt to clinch by Lacplesis.
Lacplesis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Baisais Lacplesis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lacplesis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hendricks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lacplesis moves to clinch but Hendricks breaks away

and Hendricks counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lacplesis won't be happy with that.

Hendricks thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks trying to control the action but Lacplesis is working from the bottom.
Hendricks working away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lacplesis being controlled for a moment.
Lacplesis on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacplesis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hendricks prevents Lacplesis from improving his 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.
Hendricks wants to take a breather but Lacplesis is having none of it.
Lacplesis wants to get back to his feet.
Lacplesis trying to hold on to Hendricks's head to control him but Hendricks postures up.
Hendricks controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Johny Hendricks hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Lacplesis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hendricks to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Hendricks gets to his feet - Lacplesis follows without any prompting.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lacplesis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hendricks gets a takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Hendricks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

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