PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Waldo Irby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Hardgrave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zach Hardgrave has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Irby
vs
Hardgrave

198 cm
22
287 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
304 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Waldo Irby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zach Hardgrave!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardgrave doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Irby tries to clinch but Hardgrave moves out of range.

Hardgrave looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Irby utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hardgrave sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Irby's guard.
Irby blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hardgrave.
Irby wants to get back to his feet.
Irby wants to get back to full guard.
Hardgrave slips a nice elbow through Irby's hands, connecting with Irby's forehead.
Hardgrave has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hardgrave lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hardgrave not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Irby tries to get to full guard but Hardgrave has control of the leg.
Irby could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Irby keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hardgrave sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Irby defending well though.
Hardgrave throwing shots but Irby is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hardgrave lands a nice short elbow.
Hardgrave lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hardgrave scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hardgrave thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Irby's head.
Irby is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Irby manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Irby sizes up Hardgrave with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Irby moves in looking to clinch but Hardgrave pushes him off.
Waldo Irby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardgrave looks for a takedown but Irby sprawls well.

Irby clinches.

Irby pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Irby looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Irby misses with the combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Irby!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardgrave ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Irby moves away.
Irby moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Irby lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Irby.
Hardgrave jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A decent looking cross lands there for Irby.

Hardgrave closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hardgrave is thwarting Irby's attempts to control the position.
Hardgrave throwing shots but Irby is blocking nicely.
Hardgrave throws a strike but Irby avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hardgrave postures up in Irby's guard and throws a big left but Irby blocks it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Irby keeping moving, preventing Hardgrave from controlling successfully.
Irby striking off his back but it's not causing Hardgrave any problems.

Irby escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hardgrave gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Irby throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hardgrave fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hardgrave closes the distance and clinches up with Irby, looking for a takedown. Hardgrave pushes Irby against the cage but Irby circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Waldo Irby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Hardgrave.
Hardgrave looks for a takedown but Irby sprawls well.
Hardgrave misses with a wild body shot.

Hardgrave drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hardgrave in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Irby is trying to control Hardgrave's posture but Hardgrave avoids it.
Irby throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irby is not content to let Hardgrave control the position.
Hardgrave working the ground and pound.
Hardgrave working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Irby is trying to get back to half guard.
Hardgrave grinds an elbow into Irby's temple.
Hardgrave working the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardgrave working the head with strikes.

Irby is rocked!
Hardgrave crunches a massive hammerfist down on Irby - he's out! Hardgrave Holds back on further strikes and jumps to his feet to celebrate with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Zach Hardgrave!