PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Koscheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Hendricks
vs
Koscheck

188 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Josh Koscheck!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hendricks rushes Koscheck and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Koscheck ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Koscheck no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hendricks is looking to work some ground and pound but Koscheck has wrist control.
Koscheck wants to sweep but no luck.
Koscheck bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hendricks's guard.

Hendricks has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Koscheck is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Hendricks tries to pull guard but Koscheck won't allow it.
Hendricks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hendricks.

Koscheck successfully pulls guard.
Hendricks wants to control from the top but Koscheck keeps moving.
Koscheck wants to stand up but Hendricks is controlling him.
Hendricks throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck keeping moving, preventing Hendricks from controlling successfully.
Koscheck wants to stand up but Hendricks is controlling him.
Hendricks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Koscheck utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Koscheck wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hendricks is now in half guard.

Koscheck looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hendricks thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Koscheck's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hendricks not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Koscheck trying to hold on to Hendricks's head to control him but Hendricks postures up.
Koscheck tries to get to full guard but Hendricks has control of the leg.
Koscheck is looking to control Hendricks's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Koscheck avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Hendricks with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Hendricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koscheck throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Koscheck closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hendricks circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hendricks tries for a takedown but Koscheck sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hendricks tries to close the distance and clinch but Koscheck swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hendricks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Koscheck wants to counter the offense by Hendricks and move into the clinch position.
Hendricks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koscheck sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hendricks misses with a kick to the body

and Koscheck decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hendricks's guard.
Hendricks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Koscheck is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Hendricks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Koscheck doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Koscheck manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hendricks is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Koscheck has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hendricks is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hendricks wants to hit a switch here but Koscheck passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hendricks there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Koscheck will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hendricks wants to clinch up but Koscheck keeps it at a distance.

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

Hendricks manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Koscheck keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Koscheck jumps guard but Hendricks stands there with Koscheck around his waist. Koscheck gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hendricks tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hendricks working hard to break the clinch.
Hendricks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koscheck walks away with a smile on his face. Hendricks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendricks darts in looking for a takedown but Koscheck gets double underhooks and turns Hendricks into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Hendricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koscheck is looking to clinch but Hendricks is avoiding it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Koscheck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck fails with the takedown
and Hendricks counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Koscheck shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hendricks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Koscheck is working away from the top position though.
Hendricks is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Koscheck drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Koscheck jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hendricks is trying to keep Koscheck in close.
Hendricks wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Koscheck is now in half guard.
Koscheck is thwarting Hendricks's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hendricks is refusing to be controlled, as Koscheck sits in half guard.
Koscheck lands with a punch from half guard.
Hendricks tries to get to full guard but Koscheck has control of the leg.
Koscheck perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Koscheck wants to pass to mount but Hendricks is defending the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Koscheck trying to control the action but Hendricks is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.

Koscheck clinches with his opponent.

Koscheck breaks the clinch.

Koscheck fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hendricks, pushing him back against the cage.
Hendricks avoids the elbow strike from Koscheck, against the cage.

Koscheck wants the takedown. Hendricks is fighting it off but Koscheck persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hendricks's guard against the cage.
Josh Koscheck has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hendricks striking off his back but it's not causing Koscheck any problems.

Koscheck drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hendricks manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Koscheck has Hendricks in his guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hendricks passes Koscheck's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Josh Koscheck will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Hendricks.

Hendricks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hendricks prevents the takedown attempt.
Koscheck slowing the pace effectively.
Koscheck dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Koscheck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koscheck fails with a takedown attempt.
Hendricks is looking for a counter combo.
Koscheck fails to land the takedown.
John Hendricks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Koscheck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koscheck circles away.

Koscheck moves into the clinch.
Koscheck jumps guard but Hendricks stands there with Koscheck around his waist. Koscheck gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hendricks is trying to pull guard but Koscheck has him pressed against the cage.
Hendricks is trying to pull guard but Koscheck turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Koscheck tries to pull guard but Hendricks forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hendricks is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Koscheck is defending well for now.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hendricks has had enough of the clinch but Koscheck keeps him there for the moment.

Hendricks pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks has Koscheck pulled in close to control his posture.
Koscheck is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing Koscheck from controlling successfully.
Hendricks wants to improve his position but instead Koscheck has moved into half guard.
Hendricks is trying to control but can't.
Koscheck with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck prevents Hendricks from improving his position.
Hendricks is trying to control but Koscheck manages to pass to mount!
Koscheck lands a couple of good shots and Hendricks has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Koscheck lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Koscheck.
Hendricks is trying to remain composed but Koscheck is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

Koscheck patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Koscheck looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck has Hendricks flattened out and is raining down punches.

Koscheck looking for the choke but no joy.

Koscheck looking for the choke from the back.
Hendricks trying to control the position but Koscheck manages to sink in the hooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Koscheck tightening his grip on Hendricks, looking for the choke.
John Hendricks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Koscheck is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hendricks tries to escape but Koscheck has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Koscheck comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Koscheck winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Koscheck!