PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dillon Hardman (ranked 3055 p4p, 1672 weight class) and Cormac McCarthy (ranked 397 p4p, 229 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Hardman
vs
McCarthy

186 cm
25
185
5 - 6 - 0

183 cm
23
169
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dillon Hardman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cormac McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardman throws a right hand that misses

and McCarthy counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hardman!
A lull in the action here as McCarthy stalls from top position.
McCarthy looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hardman is avoiding damage well.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw McCarthy working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
McCarthy working the ground and pound from side control.
Hardman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy in side control, throwing shots but Hardman defends.
McCarthy fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hardman parries the strikes from McCarthy easily there. McCarthy is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hardman to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hardman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hardman's coaches at have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Hardman looking for a sweep but McCarthy has passed into full mount! Oh no!
McCarthy thowing shots but they're missing.
McCarthy throws some wild stikes that Hardman manages to avoid easily.
Hardman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McCarthy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
McCarthy wants to pass the guard but Hardman is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but McCarthy scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hardman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McCarthy.
McCarthy trying to pass the guard but Hardman defending well.
McCarthy missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McCarthy tries to pass to full mount but Hardman defends it.
McCarthy sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hardman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McCarthy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hardman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McCarthy.
McCarthy tries to pass to full mount but Hardman defends it.
Hardman is trying to maintain the position but McCarthy is very close to passing his half guard.
Hardman regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from McCarthy.
McCarthy pushing down on Hardman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McCarthy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McCarthy throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hardman to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McCarthy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hardman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarthy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCarthy postures up and lands a big shot to Hardman's brow.
McCarthy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hardman trying to control the position.
McCarthy looking to sit in guard and control but Hardman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCarthy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McCarthy has his hands on Hardman's head, controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cormac McCarthy dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hardman throws out a loose jab but McCarthy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hardman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCarthy was well out of range. Poor timing from Hardman.
McCarthy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardman as he jumps to the side.
Hardman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hardman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCarthy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hardman misses the shot to the body.
McCarthy changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

McCarthy rushes Hardman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McCarthy leaning his opponent against the cage.
McCarthy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hardman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardman lands a right hand that snaps the head of McCarthy backwards.
McCarthy has Hardman pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardman throws a punch but it's blocked by McCarthy.
Hardman swings away with an uppercut that misses.

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

McCarthy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hardman on his heels. He'll look to pass Hardman's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCarthy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hardman's head.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cormac McCarthy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardman looking to hit a scissor sweep but McCarthy is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardman is pulling down on McCarthy's head. It's preventing any offense from McCarthy, at least for the moment.
McCarthy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardman is on top in guard.

McCarthy working a defensive guard here.
Hardman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hardman's guard.

McCarthy controlling from the top position.
McCarthy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hardman holds on and takes a little breather.
McCarthy distracts Hardman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McCarthy throwing strikes from guard but Hardman blocks nicely.
McCarthy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McCarthy wants to sweep here but Hardman controlling him for the moment.
McCarthy trying to keep a closed guard but Hardman is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hardman trying to control but McCarthy is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cormac McCarthy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice cross by McCarthy.
Hardman tries to move into range but McCarthy moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hardman is looking to score with low kicks.
Hardman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McCarthy manages to avoid it.
Hardman avoids a punch combination nicely.
McCarthy just misses with a punch to the body.
McCarthy slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Hardman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Hardman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hardman scores with a shoulder strike.
Hardman throws a knee to the head but misses.
McCarthy misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardman throws a head punch that misses.
Hardman tries a body shot but McCarthy blocks it.

Hardman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hardman just misses with a punch to the body.
Hardman throws a body shot but no joy.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McCarthy, as that shot connected.
McCarthy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCarthy blocks a leg kick.
Dillon Hardman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardman shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
McCarthy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardman throws a body punch but McCarthy moves out of range.
McCarthy changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hardman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McCarthy manages to avoid it.
McCarthy tries to move into range but Hardman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Dillon Hardman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy avoids the body shot from Hardman.
Hardman swings for the body but McCarthy moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Hardman. That snapped McCarthy's head back.
Hardman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCarthy was well out of range. Poor timing from Hardman.
McCarthy lands the left hand.
Hardman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCarthy moves away.
A little jabbing left from McCarthy on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
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!
Hardman throws a hook but McCarthy blocks it.
McCarthy lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
McCarthy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Good standup being displayed there by McCarthy as he connects with a hook.

McCarthy clinches up with Hardman and pushes him back against the cage.
McCarthy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

McCarthy manages to break the clinch.
Hardman lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy connects with a jab.
McCarthy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McCarthy scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Good exchange - Hardman coming out on top.
Hardman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hardman scores with a hook to the body. McCarthy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cormac McCarthy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hardman misses with a hook.
Hardman misses with a double jab

and McCarthy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
McCarthy performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hardman keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy wants to pass to mount but Hardman is defending the position.
McCarthy content to control rather than advance.
McCarthy's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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 Dillon Hardman.
I think McCarthy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cormac McCarthy!
Cormac McCarthy decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.