PBP Commentary

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

Hendricks
vs
Craven

190 cm
42
171 lbs
21 - 21 - 2

173 cm
34
184 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 21 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Destin Craven!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendricks throws a jab when Craven was well out of range.
Craven shoots in but no luck this time.
Craven lands a head kick!
Craven gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hendricks.
Hendricks ducks under a wild hook from Craven.

Hendricks tries to keep at a distance but Craven has taken the fight into the clinch.
Craven throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hendricks blocks it with crossed arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Craven obliges.
We've been hearing reports that Hendricks has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Hendricks lands a nice elbow.
Hendricks throws an elbow but it misses.

Craven escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hendricks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Craven manages to avoid it.
Craven blocks the body kick.
Craven throws a head kick but Hendricks moves out of range.
Craven tries to clinch up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Craven is looking to clinch.
Hendricks wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Hendricks drives through with a takedown into Craven's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Craven pushes Hendricks off and scrambles back to his feet.
Craven is looking to clinch but Hendricks is avoiding it.

Hendricks looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Craven is pulling down on Hendricks's head. It's preventing any offense from Hendricks, at least for the moment.
Hendricks trying to control the position from guard on top but Craven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craven wants to stand up but Hendricks is controlling him.
Craven is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Craven wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks postures up.
Hendricks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hendricks slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hendricks trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hendricks swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Craven lands a high kick!
Hendricks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Craven can pounce on him.
Craven throws a head kick that Hendricks semi-blocks.
Craven tries to close the distance and clinch but Hendricks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Hendricks as Craven shoots in.

Craven rushes Hendricks and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks lands a nice shot to the body.
Craven misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hendricks.
A right hook to the body lands for Hendricks.
Hendricks lands a right hand that snaps the head of Craven backwards.
Craven lands a shot to the body.

Hendricks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hendricks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Craven on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Craven gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hendricks throws a big elbow that misses.
Hendricks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hendricks throws a big elbow that misses.
Hendricks trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
Hendricks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.
Craven keeping full guard, as Hendricks tries to pass.
Hendricks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Craven is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hendricks is controlling him.
Hendricks trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
Hendricks tries to free his leg and advance position but Craven is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Craven uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hendricks's corner calls for a 1-2. Hendricks obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hendricks keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hendricks keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tony Hendricks will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight stays on the outside here - Craven looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Destin Craven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hendricks is defended easily by Craven.
Craven darts in trying to clinch

and Hendricks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hendricks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Craven tries to roll over but Hendricks keeps him under control.
Craven looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craven keeping control of the position.
Tony Hendricks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hendricks lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendricks seems to be working for a kimura but Craven defends the submission attempt.
Craven is trying to stand.
Craven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hendricks.
Hendricks is nestled in close to Craven, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Craven is trying to maintain the position but Hendricks is very close to passing his half guard.
Hendricks working Craven over with strikes.
Craven avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hendricks.
Hendricks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Craven keeping hold of Hendricks's head, controlling as best he can.
Hendricks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks thows a huge punch but Craven dodges it nicely.
Craven avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hendricks.
Hendricks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hendricks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Craven wants to get back to his feet.

Hendricks looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hendricks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Craven defending well though.
Craven moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks prevents Craven from getting back to his feet.
Craven keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.
Craven avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hendricks postures up.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Craven keeps moving.
Hendricks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Craven can do to turn this around?
Hendricks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Craven bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hendricks's guard.

Hendricks keeping full guard, as Craven tries to pass.

Craven avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hendricks is looking for a triangle but Craven pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hendricks is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Craven is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Hendricks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hendricks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Craven is one step ahead there.
Craven must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hendricks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Craven can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Craven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hendricks is keeping the position for now.
Hendricks working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craven engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Hendricks is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Craven is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Hendricks dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Hendricks will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Craven tries to clinch up
and Hendricks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hendricks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Craven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hendricks.
Hendricks is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hendricks throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hendricks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Craven.
Craven tries to clinch up but Hendricks circles away and keeps his distance.

Hendricks closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Craven quickly recovers to half guard.
Hendricks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hendricks takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Craven is trying to stand up here but Hendricks is controlling him well.
Craven is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendricks seems to be working for a kimura but Craven defends the submission attempt.
Craven tries to get to full guard but Hendricks has control of the leg.
Hendricks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Craven manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Craven fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hendricks checks it well.
Hendricks lands a body shot.

Craven drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.

Hendricks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Craven looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hendricks is pressing down on Craven's thigh, looking to free his foot. Craven is holding on for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Craven wants to get back to his feet.
Craven is looking to get back to is feet but Hendricks passes into side control.
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.
Craven struggling a bit here.
Hendricks working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks working away.

Hendricks tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hendricks throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Craven is not content to let Hendricks control the position.
Tony Hendricks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hendricks looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Craven is avoiding damage well.
Craven is trying to buck Hendricks off.
Hendricks trying to control the position but Craven is working away.
Craven wants to control but Hendricks postures up.
Destin Craven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hendricks 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hendricks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Craven keeps working.
Hendricks looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Craven is avoiding damage well.
Craven on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Craven is trying to get back to his feet.
Hendricks wants to control but Craven is keeping him busy.
Hendricks throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hendricks trying to control the position but Craven is working away.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Hendricks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hendricks, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Hendricks!
Tony Hendricks took some time post fight to say the following; 'A title shot would be great at 170..But I'll try 185 or even make 155 if the fans want to see it!'.