PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ditka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Hardwick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardwick has chosen ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man as his entrance music. Jason Hardwick is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ditka
vs
Hardwick

191 cm
19
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

[MMABR]:Klinch

Nemesis Cage Clothing
Syndicate Drugs

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 Rio de Janeiro, Mike Ditka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jason Hardwick!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardwick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ditka sprawls well initially but Hardwick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ditka is trying to control but can't.
Hardwick is trying to control the action in half guard but Ditka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hardwick is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hardwick is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hardwick throwing shots but Ditka is blocking nicely.
Hardwick misses with a head shot. Ditka uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hardwick trying to control the position from guard on top but Ditka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ditka is trying to control the position but Hardwick postures up.
Hardwick has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ditka keeping moving, preventing Hardwick from controlling successfully.
Hardwick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ditka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hardwick in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ditka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardwick slips a straight right by Ditka.
Ditka dips to his left and cracks Hardwick with an uppercut!
A clash of legs there as Hardwick blocks the low kick.
Hardwick looks to land a combination but Ditka avoids it well.
Hardwick checks a leg kick.
Hardwick swings for the body but Ditka moves out of range.
Ditka misses with a body shot.

Hardwick decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hardwick trying to mount his opponent but Ditka defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hardwick with the ground and pound but Ditka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hardwick trying to control but Ditka is working from the bottom.

Ditka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardwick can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ditka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ditka keeping moving, preventing Hardwick from controlling successfully.

Ditka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hardwick doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hardwick manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hardwick accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Hardwick dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A punch combination from Ditka misses.
Ditka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ditka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardwick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ditka throws a series of punches but Hardwick moves out of range.
Ditka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hardwick keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ditka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ditka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hardwick.
Hardwick fails with the takedown.
Ditka throws a hook but Hardwick blocks it.
Ditka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Ditka sends Hardwick crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Ditka is motioning to the referee to let Hardwick up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Hardwick is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ditka thuds his shin into the meat of Hardwick's side.
Hardwick is still on wobbly legs! Can Ditka finish him?
Ditka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ditka pushes Hardwick away with a front kick.
Hardwick seems to have recovered his senses.
Ditka misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ditka throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ditka swinging wilding here.
Hardwick misses with an uppercut. Ditka saw that one coming.
Horrible takedown by Hardwick or perhaps it was just good defense by Ditka which made him look bad.
Hardwick is looking to clinch.
Ditka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ditka looks to land a combination. Hardwick sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ditka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hardwick is out of range and Ditka settles back down.
Ditka uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hardwick has time to react.
The fighters circling - Hardwick throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mike Ditka is winning the standup battle so far.
Hardwick is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ditka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mike Ditka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Hardwick.
Hardwick shoots in and drives through. Ditka sprawls well.
Ditka connects with a right hand. Hardwick shakes it off.
Hardwick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ditka avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hardwick moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ditka chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ditka lands a right hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ditka throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hardwick swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hardwick is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ditka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mike Ditka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardwick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ditka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hardwick stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ditka scores with a nice body kick.
Hardwick is looking to clinch but Ditka is avoiding it.
Ditka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ditka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ditka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hardwick fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice body kick from Ditka.
Nice body punch from Ditka.
Nice takedown defense from Ditka. No joy for Hardwick on that attempt.
Ditka throws a push kick but Hardwick slaps the foot to one side.
Hardwick closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ditka circles away.
Ditka cracks Hardwick with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ditka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hardwick gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ditka falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hardwick decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ditka's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ditka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ditka keeping moving, preventing Hardwick from controlling successfully.
Hardwick is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ditka has momentary wrist control but Hardwick slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ditka dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ditka scores with a push kick.
Ditka cracks Hardwick with an open hand slap.
Ditka ducks under a wild hook from Hardwick.
No joy there for Ditka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ditka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hardwick.
A big right from Ditka misses.
Ditka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardwick can do to turn this around?
Ditka jabs at Hardwick's body.
Hardwick is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ditka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ditka throws a one two combo.
Ditka's corner calls for a 1-2. Ditka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ditka lands a jab-cross combination.
Ditka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ditka!
Hardwick takes a swing at Ditka's ribcage but misses.
Hardwick tries to clinch but Ditka moves out of range.
Ditka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mike Ditka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ditka throws a jab but it's blocked by Hardwick.

Hardwick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ditka tries to hold on but Hardwick pushes him away.
Ditka is squirming around, avoiding Hardwick's attempts to control the action.
Ditka is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hardwick wants to control the pace but Ditka is squirming around nicely.
Hardwick avoids the attempt from Ditka to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hardwick can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ditka is looking to escape.
Hardwick with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hardwick misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hardwick breaks from Ditka's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ditka tries to lock up and control but Hardwick gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Hardwick there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jason Hardwick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hardwick is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ditka can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hardwick throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hardwick sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hardwick scoring with strikes but Ditka is staying in there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardwick misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mike Ditka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hardwick goes for an armbar but Ditka turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ditka.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Ditka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ditka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight for Mike Ditka!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Mike Ditka!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Mike Ditka!

Mike Ditka wins by unanimous decision!