PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Christoper Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hendricks
vs
Swanson

181 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Christoper Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benjamin Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson tries to clinch
and Hendricks counters with a three punch combo that has Swanson backing up. Swanson nods at Hendricks to acknowledge the strikes.

Hendricks clinches with his opponent.
Hendricks managing to block the knees to the body from Swanson.

Swanson successfully pulls guard.

Swanson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Swanson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hendricks defends well.

Swanson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hendricks defends well.
Hendricks tries to stand but Swanson is controlling from the bottom.

Swanson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hendricks really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Swanson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hendricks defends it easily.
Hendricks is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Swanson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hendricks defends it easily.
Hendricks sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hendricks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hendricks won't allow Swanson to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hendricks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Swanson has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA Helsinki. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Swanson looks winded!

Swanson has an active guard here but Hendricks has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hendricks controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.
Hendricks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Swanson on the ground.

Hendricks is working for a submission of some sort.
Swanson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hendricks's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hendricks's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks wants to escape the position.

Swanson looking for the RNC.
Hendricks can't escape the position.

Hendricks is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Swanson gets his way!

Swanson looking for the choke but no joy.

Hendricks preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Swanson.

Swanson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hendricks has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Hendricks is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks trying to get back to his feet but Swanson is in full control for now.
Hendricks breaks Swanson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hendricks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hendricks cracks Swanson with a solid left hand.
Swanson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hendricks lands a couple of digs.
Hendricks landing some decent shots from guard.
Hendricks sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hendricks trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Swanson dominated that round.
That's time! Hendricks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hendricks.

Hendricks working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Swanson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hendricks wants to control but Swanson is keeping him busy.
Swanson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Swanson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Swanson is looking for a triangle here but Hendricks uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Swanson is looking to reverse the position.
Swanson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson taking a bit of punishment here - Hendricks scoring with strikes.
Swanson is looking to reverse the position.
Swanson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hendricks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hendricks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Swanson is trying to get back to full guard.
Swanson gets back to full guard.

Swanson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hendricks defends well.

Swanson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hendricks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Swanson's head.
Swanson wants to improve his position but instead Hendricks has moved into half guard.
Swanson moves into full guard.
Hendricks chips away with some ground and pound.
Swanson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hendricks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Swanson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hendricks has managed to get both his arms back between Swanson's legs - danger averted.
Hendricks scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hendricks lands a couple of digs.

Swanson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks lands a couple of elbows.
Swanson wants to sweep but no luck.
Hendricks with a nice head shot there.

Hendricks stands up and waves to Swanson to follow him.
Hendricks throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hendricks lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hendricks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hendricks stalks Swanson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Swanson's face. Swanson staggers backwards, shaken.
Benjamin Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swanson tries to clinch but Hendricks is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hendricks gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Swanson regains guard.
Hendricks is working Swanson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Swanson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hendricks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Benjamin Swanson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Swanson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hendricks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hendricks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hendricks working some strikes from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hendricks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Swanson looking for a sweep. Not yet Swanson, not yet.
Hendricks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christoper Hendricks dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hendricks moves into range and clinches up with Swanson.

Swanson pulls guard effortlessly.

Swanson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hendricks throwing strikes from guard but Swanson blocks nicely.

Swanson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hendricks defends it easily.
Swanson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Swanson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Swanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hendricks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hendricks with a nice head shot there.

Swanson working for a triangle but Hendricks defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson trying to keep a closed guard but Hendricks is proving a slippery customer.
Hendricks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Hendricks is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hendricks landing some decent shots from guard.

Hendricks thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hendricks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hendricks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hendricks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hendricks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Swanson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Swanson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hendricks has passed into half guard!
Hendricks lands strikes from half guard.
Swanson is trying to get back to full guard.
Well, if Hendricks is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hendricks looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Swanson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hendricks.
Hendricks working the head and body with strikes.

Hendricks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Swanson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hendricks.
Hendricks thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Swanson's head.
Swanson tries to get to full guard but Hendricks has control of the leg.

Swanson looking for submissions off his back.

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.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.

Swanson actively working from the bottom here.

Hendricks is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Hendricks escapes and gets back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hendricks moves into range and clinches up with Swanson.

Hendricks jumps guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christoper Hendricks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hendricks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

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