PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Zoolander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hendricks's entrance music is Lets get sweattttty betty!. A fine choice. Zoolander comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hendricks
vs
Zoolander

172 cm
29
148 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

172 cm
29
168 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Beaver Jooce!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johnny Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Zoolander!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zoolander misses with a takedown
and Hendricks counters with a stiff right hand.
Hendricks looks for the body kick but Zoolander saw that one coming.
Hendricks misses with a hook
and Zoolander counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hendricks thinking.
Zoolander throws a right hand that Hendricks ducks under and follows up with a left that Hendricks also avoids with ease.
Hendricks lands a two punch combo.
Hendricks looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Johnny Hendricks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hendricks scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zoolander swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hendricks connects with a jab.
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 slips a straight right by Zoolander.
No joy there for Zoolander, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hendricks dives in for a single leg takedown but Zoolander sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zoolander throws a hook to the side of Hendricks's head but Hendricks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hendricks misses with a hook
and Zoolander counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zoolander keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoolander pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zoolander is looking to land body kicks.
That kick from Hendricks tenderised Zoolander's leg. Zoolander is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zoolander moves away from the strike by Hendricks.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hendricks.
A jab lands there for Zoolander.
Hendricks lands a slapping body shot.
Zoolander getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zoolander throws a body punch but Hendricks moves out of range.
Zoolander lunges at Hendricks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hendricks's hand.
Zoolander will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zoolander misses with a low kick.
Hendricks is looking to clinch.
Zoolander misses with a double jab

and Hendricks counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hendricks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
A right handed body shot lands from Hendricks.
I was talking to Hendricks's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zoolander blocks a body shot from Hendricks.
A right hand to the body from Hendricks.
Hendricks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hendricks tries to work over Zoolander's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zoolander tries to break free but Hendricks pushes him back against the cage.
Zoolander takes a shot to the head.
Zoolander trying to control the position but instead, Hendricks has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zoolander into the cage.
Zoolander throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hendricks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zoolander wants to break the clinch but can't.

Zoolander breaks from the clinch.
Hendricks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zoolander counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zoolander.
Zoolander is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoolander tries to free his leg and advance position but Hendricks is retaining full guard.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing Zoolander from controlling successfully.
Zoolander stands up over Hendricks, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zoolander throwing strikes but missing.

Hendricks looking for a guillotine here but Zoolander defends easily.

Hendricks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zoolander gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zoolander is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zoolander looking to sit in guard and control but Hendricks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zoolander looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Zoolander has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hendricks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hendricks stopping the sweep attempt from Zoolander.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Derek Zoolander will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zoolander changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hendricks tries to avoid it but Zoolander manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hendricks to the ground. Hendricks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hendricks is looking for a counter combo.
Zoolander fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hendricks avoids it really well and circles away.
Hendricks misses with a double jab.
It seemed like Zoolander was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnny Hendricks is winning the standup battle so far.
Hendricks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zoolander counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hendricks scores with a head kick.
Hendricks tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Zoolander decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hendricks's guard.

Hendricks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zoolander defends it easily.
My spies in Bi-polar Asylum inform me that Zoolander has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hendricks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zoolander wants to pass the guard but Hendricks is keeping the position.
Zoolander trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendricks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendricks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zoolander defends it easily.

Hendricks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zoolander defends it easily.
Hendricks lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zoolander is pulling down on Hendricks's head. It's preventing any offense from Hendricks, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hendricks works over Zoolander with some ground and pound from guard.
Zoolander is trying to keep Hendricks in close.

Zoolander working for a triangle but Hendricks defends it easily.
Zoolander seems keen to control Hendricks's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks preventing the sweep.
Zoolander is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zoolander is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zoolander looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zoolander avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hendricks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zoolander ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hendricks moves away.
Zoolander moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zoolander listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zoolander misses with a few strikes there.
Hendricks gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hendricks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zoolander to score with a decent uppercut.
Hendricks scores with a jab to the body.
Zoolander avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zoolander takes a swing at Hendricks's ribcage but misses.
Zoolander blocks a low kick nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hendricks drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hendricks grinds an elbow into Zoolander's temple.
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 Johnny Hendricks will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zoolander fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hendricks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hendricks fails with the takedown.
Zoolander dodges the punch combination from Hendricks.
Zoolander looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zoolander throws a series of punches but Hendricks avoids them all with ease.

Hendricks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zoolander looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hendricks working away.
Zoolander tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendricks working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Hendricks working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zoolander is looking to regain half guard here but Hendricks keeps moving and retains side control.
Zoolander wants to control but Hendricks postures up.
Zoolander is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hendricks lands a decent elbow from side control.

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.
Zoolander is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hendricks is controlling him well.
Zoolander tries to buck Hendricks off but Hendricks is having none of it.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Zoolander manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zoolander blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hendricks.
Zoolander has hold of Hendricks's hands but Hendricks slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnny Hendricks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoolander is trying to control but Hendricks passes into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hendricks working away.
Check out the look on Hendricks's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Zoolander is trying to control Hendricks's posture but Hendricks avoids it.
Hendricks creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hendricks works to advance to full mount. Zoolander defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zoolander tries to hold on but Hendricks postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoolander might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hendricks haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zoolander is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hendricks avoids the attempt from Zoolander to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Hendricks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hendricks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Hendricks!
An out of breath Johnny Hendricks thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.