PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Foster
vs
Hendricks

178 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Foster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Hendricks!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendricks fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Foster checks it well.
Foster shoots in for a takedown but Hendricks shows good takedown defense.
Hendricks throws a wild body kick that Foster sees coming a mile off.
Foster fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hendricks scores with a jab to the head.
Foster dodges the punch combination from Hendricks.
Hendricks misses with a few strikes there.
Hendricks scores with a hook.
Foster tries to move into range but Hendricks moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hendricks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Foster moves into the clinch.
Foster tries to pull guard but Hendricks won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Foster. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hendricks is trying to break free.
Foster prevents Hendricks from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks has had enough of the clinch but Foster keeps him there for the moment.
Hendricks is trying to break the clinch but Foster has him pressed against the cage.
Hendricks is trying to break the clinch but Foster has him pressed against the cage.
Hendricks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Foster has him pressed against the cage.
Hendricks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hendricks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hendricks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Foster closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Foster lands in his opponent's guard.
Foster has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hendricks wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster slips a jab and a cross from Hendricks.
Foster steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hendricks.
Hendricks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hendricks scores with a body shot.
Johny Hendricks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hendricks throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hendricks throws a right hand that Foster ducks under and follows up with a left that Foster also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Hendricks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hendricks misses with a straight right.
A telegraphed right hand from Foster misses the target.
Hendricks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Foster sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hendricks looks for the body kick but Foster saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Foster shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Foster throwing strikes but Hendricks uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Foster missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Foster looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Foster not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Hendricks makes his way to full guard, as Foster worked for a kimura.

Foster drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hendricks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hendricks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hendricks!
Foster tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Hendricks stands up.
Some wild striking there from Hendricks.
Hendricks misses with a two punch combination.
Hendricks tries to bum rush Foster with a series of wild strikes but Foster uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Foster slips a jab and a cross from Hendricks.
Hendricks misses with a straight right.
Foster has a takedown stuffed.
A slow jab from Hendricks misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Hendricks dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Foster shoots in looking for a takedown. Hendricks tries to sprawl out of it but Foster keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hendricks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hendricks throws a push kick but Foster slaps the foot to one side.
Hendricks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Foster.
Foster shoots in but no luck this time.
Foster misses with a series of wild punches.
Hendricks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foster ducks under a wild hook from Hendricks.
Hendricks lands a nice shot to the body.
Foster uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hendricks.
Hendricks misses with a combination

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster throws a strike aimed at the side of Hendricks's head but Hendricks avoids it well.
Hendricks is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Foster asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Hendricks is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Foster working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Foster tries for a kimura but Hendricks is defending well.

Foster goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hendricks rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Foster's guard! Nice work there by Hendricks!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two 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.
Hendricks tries to stand but Foster is controlling from the bottom.

Foster looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hendricks has picked Foster up and slammed him! Foster can't keep hold of the triangle and Hendricks manages to pass to side control!

Hendricks stands up and beckons Foster to his feet.
Foster fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Foster. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks works over Foster's head and body with a nice combination.
Hendricks lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Good shot there by Hendricks.
Hendricks connects with the punch.
Hendricks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Foster counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hendricks!

Hendricks bucks Foster off and manages to get back to his feet!
Foster uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hendricks.
Hendricks misses with the combination.
A combination from Hendricks does no damage.
Foster doesn't manage to clinch there - Hendricks circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hendricks connects with a good right hand that stumbles Foster. Foster circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hendricks falls off balance throwing a combination
and Foster counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hendricks misses with a hook.
Hendricks scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Foster uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hendricks.
Hendricks misses with a hook to the body

and Foster counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hendricks won't be happy with that.
Foster tries to score with some ground and pound. Hendricks controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hendricks avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Foster.
Hendricks wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
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 Jake Foster will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Some wild striking there from Hendricks.
Foster looks for a takedown but Hendricks sprawls well.
Foster shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hendricks as he avoids it easily.
Hendricks fails to land with a series of punches.
Hendricks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Foster.
Foster takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendricks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Foster counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hendricks wants to get back to his feet.
Foster lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Foster thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster working Hendricks over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Foster is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hendricks still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hendricks has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Hendricks avoids the strikes from the bottom by Foster.

Hendricks decides to stand up, so the ref orders Foster to his feet.
Hendricks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A combination from Hendricks does no damage.
Hendricks uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jake Foster is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hendricks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Foster's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Hendricks misses.
Foster looks for a takedown but Hendricks sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Foster. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foster blocks a jab.
Hendricks scores with a three punch combo!
Hendricks misses with a combination

and Foster counters with a single leg into guard. Hendricks didn't expect that.
Jake Foster overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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 is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Foster postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster stops Hendricks from standing up.
Foster postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hendricks wants to stand and escape but Foster is having none of it.
Foster passes into half guard.

Foster is looking for a kimura here.
Hendricks tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Foster manages to move to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
You get the feeling that Hendricks really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Foster postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hendricks looks a forlorn figure.

Foster goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hendricks turns into him and now he's in Foster's guard.

Foster working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hendricks has passed into half guard!
Foster throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

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 Jake Foster.
I think Foster 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Foster!