PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between TJ Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddy Starks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hardy
vs
Starks

188 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, TJ Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddy Starks!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Alyssa Summers and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hardy misses with a head kick.
Starks misses with an uppercut.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Starks, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hardy digs a good body shot into Starks's ribs.
Starks tries to clinch there but Hardy circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Starks.
Hardy is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Starks content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Starks is keen to just control but Hardy is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starks with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hardy trying to hold on to Starks's head to control him but Starks postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy pushes Starks off looking to stand but Starks dives back in and keeps control.

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.
Starks is trying to control. Hardy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hardy regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Starks.
Starks postures up.
Starks wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Starks, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Starks takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Starks is avoiding it.
Nice sprawl there from Hardy as Starks shoots in.
TJ Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eddy Starks.
Hardy misses with a looping right.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses.
Starks tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.
Starks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hardy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Starks.
Starks looks gassed!
Starks takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nice shot by Hardy.
Hardy lands with a slapping head kick.
Starks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Starks takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hardy.
Hardy is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hardy stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Starks looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Starks walks into a left hand.
Hardy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Starks circles away.
Hardy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Starks.
Jab by Hardy.
Good exchange - Hardy coming out on top.
Hardy tries to clinch but Starks moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starks walks into a stiff left hand from Hardy.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hardy scores with a nice head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Hardy dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Starks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardy misses with a head kick.
Starks looks to land a right hand but Hardy moved out of range.
A jab lands there for Hardy.
Hardy looks to score with a jab to the body but Starks is just out of range.
Starks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hardy ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hardy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Starks's head.
Hardy thuds a left hand into Starks's body.
Nice straight punches there by Hardy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hardy.
Starks is breathing heavily.
Starks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Starks gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice leg kick lands there from Hardy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hardy lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Eddy Starks has been cut.
TJ Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy connects with a good right hand that stumbles Starks. Starks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hardy darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hardy feints and then cracks Starks's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Starks down.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice jab there from Hardy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Starks.
TJ Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Starks is avoiding it.
Hardy lands a nice looking body shot.
TJ Hardy is winning the standup battle so far.
Hardy throws a combination. Starks tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hardy throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardy clinches up with Starks and pushes him back against the cage.
Starks has Hardy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hardy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Hardy breaks from the clinch.
Hardy scores with a jab to the body.
Hardy lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hardy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Starks in his tracks.
Hardy cracks Starks with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
TJ Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Starks is avoiding it.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Starks circles away.
Hardy works over Starks's head and body with a nice combination.

Hardy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Starks is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy has Starks pressed against the cage, preventing Starks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Starks working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy looking to slow down the pace here.
Starks can't find room to land a body shot as Hardy controls the action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Starks as Hardy tries to tie him up.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hardy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Starks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
TJ Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eddy Starks.
A nice combination there by Hardy.
Starks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the cage. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hardy thuds a left hand into Starks's body.
A combination from Hardy does no damage.
Starks tries to clinch up
and Hardy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy cracks the inside of Starks's front leg.
Starks has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Hardy rushes Starks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hardy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hardy lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Hardy has Starks up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardy taking a breather.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardy moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Hardy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eddy Starks's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardy throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Starks.
Hardy scores with a jab. Starks acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hardy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Good work by Starks as he checks the leg kick.
Hardy lands with a hook. Starks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hardy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hardy tries to work over Starks's front leg with a kick but Starks checks it.
Starks blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Starks connects with a crisp jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hardy.
Hardy is looking to clinch.
Starks walks into a left hand.
Nice sprawl there from Hardy as Starks shoots in.
Starks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy gets a clinch.

Starks lands a takedown into guard.

Hardy uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hardy looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hardy darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Starks throws a hook to the side of Hardy's head but Hardy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Starks dives in and grabs Hardy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardy pushes down on Starks's head and hops out.
Hardy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Starks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Starks there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hardy uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Starks has time to react.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hardy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Starks can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy connects with a good right hand that stumbles Starks. Starks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A punch lands to the side of Starks 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hardy ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starks gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hardy connects with a body shot.
Hardy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Starks's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hardy lands with a nice combination. Starks backs away looking to recover.
Hardy lands with a shot to the body.
Hardy connects with a jab.
Starks closes the distance and clinches up with Hardy, looking for a takedown. Starks pushes Hardy against the cage but Hardy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
TJ Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eddy Starks.
Hardy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Starks takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hardy connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Starks.
Hardy fails with an attempt to clinch.
A solid body kick from Hardy.
Hardy connects with the punch.
Hardy ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hardy throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hardy lands a nice leg kick that just misses Starks's sensitive parts.
Hardy scores with a sloppy right hand. Starks should have avoided that one.

Hardy has closed the distance and engaged Starks in a clinch.

Hardy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Starks misses with a straight right.
Starks on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hardy throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands with a kick to the temple. Starks shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Starks ducks right into an uppercut from Hardy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Starks takes one to the side of the head.
Hardy lands a jab to Starks's midsection.
Starks closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hardy throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Starks.
Hardy swinging wilding here.
Starks keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy scores with a jab to the head.
Eddy Starks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Starks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
TJ Hardy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Starks.

And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hardy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Hardy!