PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alvaro Hendrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stroke Play (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hendrix
vs
Play

215 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

200 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alvaro Hendrix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stroke Play!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Play misses with a jab, cross combination.

Hendrix drives through and clinches with Play against the cage.
Hendrix is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Play to keep the fight standing.
Play is trying to break free.
Hendrix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Play smiles and moves away.

Play rushes Hendrix and presses him up against the cage.
Hendrix fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alvaro Hendrix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Play lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hendrix backwards.

It looks like Alvaro Hendrix has been cut.
Hendrix fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendrix fails to pull guard.
Hendrix jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Play walks away with a smile on his face. Hendrix gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hendrix pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendrix looking for a guillotine here but Play defends easily.
Play throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hendrix has his hands on Play's head, controlling the position.

Play gets to his feet. Hendrix looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Alvaro Hendrix is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hendrix wants to clinch up but Play keeps it at a distance.

Play forces Hendrix back against the cage and clinches.
Hendrix wants a takedown but no success here.
Play is trying to break the clinch but Hendrix is controlling him.

Hendrix successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Play trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendrix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hendrix is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Play stands and steps away. Hendrix gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Some wild striking there from Play.

Play changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hendrix looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hendrix tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hendrix defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Hendrix is in a bad position with Play working for a choke. Hendrix manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Play is trying to hold Hendrix in close to prevent damage but Hendrix has managed to pass into half guard.

Play manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Play misses with the combination.
Hendrix dodges the punch combination from Play.
Hendrix seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Play scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Play looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Play looks winded!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hendrix actively working from the bottom here.
Play seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hendrix does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Hendrix is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Play pulls his head out easily.
Hendrix is refusing to be controlled, as Play sits in half guard.
Play sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hendrix defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Play thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hendrix's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Play stops Hendrix from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stroke Play dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alvaro Hendrix's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Play looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Play closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hendrix's guard.
Play trying to control but Hendrix is working from the bottom.
Play wanted to stand there but Hendrix had control of the position.
Hendrix will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hendrix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hendrix working for a triangle but Play defends it easily.
Stroke Play has got the better of the ground game so far.
Play postures up in Hendrix's guard and throws a big left but Hendrix blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendrix working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Play doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Play manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Play wants to control from the top but Hendrix keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hendrix working a defensive guard here.

Play gets to his feet - Hendrix follows without any prompting.

Play darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Play is working for a kimura but Hendrix is defending it quite comfortably.
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.
Play is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendrix looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Play wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hendrix keeps working.
Play throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Play tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Play wants to take a breather but Hendrix is having none of it.
Play thows a huge punch but Hendrix dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Play postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hendrix to stand up.
Hendrix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Hendrix gets caught flat footed, as Play shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Hendrix manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Hendrix tries to pull guard but Play won't allow it.
Hendrix tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hendrix is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Play wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hendrix is trying to pull guard but Play has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alvaro Hendrix. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Play breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Play instigates a clinch.

Play has clasped his hands together around Hendrix's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Hendrix bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Play looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Play goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Play looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Play stalling away here and it's allowed Hendrix to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Hendrix is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Play has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hendrix working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Play has passed into half guard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stroke Play will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alvaro Hendrix's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Play pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hendrix is out of range and Play settles back down.
Hendrix throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Play clinches with his opponent.
Hendrix is trying to pull guard but Play turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Play wants to break free but Hendrix has control.

Play breaks from the clinch.

Play scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Play throws an elbow but Hendrix slips to the side and avoids it well.
Play working the ground and pound but Hendrix is defending the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Play wants to control but Hendrix is keeping him busy.

Play decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hendrix to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hendrix moves out of range as Play throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Play misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hendrix tries a head kick but it misses.
Play tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hendrix paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hendrix swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Play bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hendrix is not content to let Play control the position.
Play wants to stand but Hendrix is controlling his arm.
Hendrix manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Play trying to control from half guard but Hendrix is working away.

Hendrix is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Play pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendrix looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Play stands up from half guard.
Nice uppercut there from Play.
Hendrix misses with a jab, cross combination.

Play shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hendrix is trying to defend but Play finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hendrix wants to control but Play is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hendrix looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Play is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hendrix is just riding it out for now. Play eventually gives up the hold.
Play thows a huge punch but Hendrix dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Play is trying to control. Hendrix wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Play keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Play sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hendrix defending well though.

Play stands up from half guard.
Play tries to clinch up.
A combination from Hendrix does no damage.
Hendrix showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Play.
Hendrix tries to clinch up but Play circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Play shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hendrix is trying to defend but Play finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Hendrix pushes Play off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alvaro Hendrix showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Play has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stroke Play!