PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chance Taken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and big hardon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). hardon is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ameno. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Taken
vs
hardon

191 cm
22
270 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
275 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chance Taken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, big hardon!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Steve Montenegro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taken turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from hardon.
hardon misses with a two punch combination.
A slow jab from Taken misses its intended target.
hardon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taken.
big hardon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taken fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches hardon on the side of the head.

It looks like big hardon has been cut.
Taken throws a jab but it's blocked by hardon.
hardon checks a low kick from Taken.
hardon throws out a loose jab but Taken uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taken takes a swing at hardon's ribcage but misses.
hardon throws out a powerful jab.
hardon tries a low kick but Taken avoids it.

Taken gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Taken looking to hit a scissor sweep but hardon is one step ahead there.
hardon lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hardon throwing strikes from guard but Taken blocks nicely.
Taken is trying to control the position from the bottom.
hardon stands and throws Taken's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Taken is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

hardon tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no hardon has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
I wouldn't like to be where Taken is right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Taken tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taken regains half guard.
Taken holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
hardon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taken is looking to improve his position.
hardon is thwarting Taken's attempts to control the position.
hardon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taken wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
hardon loads up on a big right hand but Taken slips the punch.

hardon moves into range and clinches up with Taken.
Still in the clinch, hardon scores with a nice short uppercut.
Taken lands with a light punch inside.
hardon blocks a body shot from Taken.

Taken manages to break the clinch.
Taken thows a leg kick but hardon checks it
and hardon counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
hardon misses with a body kick.
Chance Taken is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Taken crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from hardon - the referee stops the clock and Taken gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says hardon. Taken manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
hardon throws a sloppy body shot
and Taken counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
hardon throws a quick inside leg kick.
Taken is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taken swings for the body but hardon moves out of range.
Taken needs to keep his hands up - hardon had a free shot at his head there.
hardon misses with a double jab
and Taken counters with a big head kick but hardon shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by hardon.
hardon connects with a crisp jab.
hardon missing with a left hand there. Taken was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
hardon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
hardon throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Taken counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A cross from hardon lands.
hardon thows a body kick. Taken tries to catch it but that hurt him.
hardon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taken takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A jab lands there for hardon.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
hardon misses with a two punch combination.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from hardon, right into the meat.
An inside leg kick lands from hardon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

big hardon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on big hardon's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

hardon cracks Taken with a good jab.
hardon shoots in but Taken avoids the takedown attempt easily.
big hardon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taken looks to clinch

and hardon counters with a single leg into guard. Taken didn't expect that.
hardon landing some decent shots from guard.
hardon is pushing down on Taken's leg trying to pass to half guard. Taken is fighting to maintain full guard but hardon has managed to sneak the leg through.
Taken wants to get back to his feet.
hardon is trying to control the action in half guard but Taken is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taken is looking for a sweep. hardon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taken blocking the ground and pound attempt from hardon.
hardon is looking to advance position but Taken won't allow it.
Taken wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
hardon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
hardon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hardon wants to free his trapped foot but Taken is holding on for dear life with his legs.
hardon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
hardon tries to pass to full mount but Taken defends it.
Taken is looking to improve his position.
hardon lands strikes from half guard.
hardon is keen to just control but Taken is a slippery customer.
Taken keeping hold of hardon's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
hardon thows a huge punch but Taken dodges it nicely.
Taken has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. hardon is working away from the top position though.
hardon is looking to take a break and control but Taken is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taken has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. hardon is working away from the top position though.
Taken gets full guard.
hardon is in close to Taken's body, working some short punches and elbows.
hardon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Taken's head.
hardon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
hardon stopping the sweep attempt from Taken.
hardon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hardon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
hardon chips away with some ground and pound.
Taken wants to stand up but hardon is controlling him.
Taken being controlled here, momentarily.
Taken controlling the position.
hardon is looking to work some ground and pound but Taken has wrist control.
hardon stopping the sweep attempt from Taken.
hardon connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taken is trying to keep hardon in close.
Taken is really struggling to control hardon but he's trying to hold on to the position.
hardon trying to control but Taken is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as hardon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taken looking to control.
hardon throwing strikes from guard but Taken blocks nicely.
hardon trying to control but Taken is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

big hardon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on big hardon's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Horrible takedown by hardon or perhaps it was just good defense by Taken which made him look bad.
hardon is looking to land body kicks.
Taken lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Taken throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
hardon tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taken throws out a loose jab but hardon uses good head movement to avoid it.
hardon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good work by Taken as he checks the leg kick.
Taken uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from hardon.
hardon avoids a punch combination nicely.
hardon with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taken ducks down and throws a hook to the body but hardon moves away.
hardon on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
big hardon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taken misses with a telegraphed body shot
and hardon counters with a straight right hand.
Taken missing with a left hand there. hardon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taken throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
hardon swats away the attempt to clinch by Taken.
A low kick from Taken is predictable there

and hardon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by hardon.
hardon tries to score a body lock takedown but Taken shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
hardon swings wildly with an uppercut but Taken uses good head movement to avoid it.
hardon blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, hardon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by hardon.
hardon lands with a short shot to the head.
Taken digs a right hand into hardon's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on hardon's gas tank.
Taken tries a body shot but hardon blocks it.
hardon cracks Taken with a nice body shot.
Taken swings wildly with an uppercut but hardon uses good head movement to avoid it.
hardon stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taken scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taken misses with a punch to the body.

hardon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

hardon drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
hardon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
hardon wants to control from the top but Taken keeps moving.
hardon controls from within his opponent's guard.

Taken has his foot on hardon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. hardon works his way back into a safe position though.
hardon thows a big elbow that misses.
hardon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
hardon stopping the sweep attempt from Taken.
hardon trying to control but Taken is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taken utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by hardon.
Taken defending well as hardon loads up on a big left hand.
hardon falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taken counters with an inside leg kick.
Taken throws a quick inside leg kick.
A clash of legs there as hardon blocks the low kick.
hardon lands a jab.
Taken misses with a combination
and hardon counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
hardon with a nice cross.
Taken lands a nice hook to hardon's body. hardon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
hardon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
hardon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
hardon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
hardon throws a nice inside leg kick.
hardon sizes up Taken with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slapping leg kick lands for hardon.
hardon moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
hardon is looking to land body kicks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taken moves out of range as hardon throws a body kick.
hardon tries for a takedown but Taken circles away easily
enabling Taken to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

big hardon really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on big hardon's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

hardon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taken circles away quickly and effectively.
Taken tries to clinch up but hardon circles away and keeps his distance.
Taken avoids the head kick by hardon.
Taken throws a hook but hardon blocks it.
hardon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
hardon lands with a nice body kick.
Taken keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Excellent takedown into side control there by hardon.
Taken being controlled for a moment.
hardon works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taken explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
hardon scores with a nice right hand.
The fighters circling - Taken throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from hardon.
Taken throws a hook but hardon blocks it.

hardon closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Taken to the mat! Taken manages to get full guard.
hardon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taken looking to control but hardon passes into half guard.
hardon tries to pass the half guard into mount. Taken knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
big hardon has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taken keeps control of the position for the meantime.
hardon lands strikes from half guard.
hardon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taken defending well though.
Taken tries to roll over but hardon keeps him under control.
hardon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taken keeps working.
hardon lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hardon is thwarting Taken's attempts to control the position.

hardon looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
hardon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
hardon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taken.
Taken connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
hardon shoots in for a takedown but Taken shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
hardon lands a high kick!

Taken forces hardon back against the cage and clinches.
Taken gets through hardon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taken misses with a hook to the ribs.
hardon is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taken is keeping busy.
Taken tried to land a shot to the body but connects with hardon's elbow.
Taken struggles to land a body shot inside as hardon controls his hands.
hardon lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taken or not.
Taken misses with a hook to the ribs.

hardon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Taken uses from the top position.
Taken won't allow hardon to sweep him here.
Taken trying to control the position from guard on top but hardon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

hardon is looking for a triangle here but Taken uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taken takes a little break here. hardon wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

big hardon dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on big hardon's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Taken blocks a jab.
Taken slips a jab and a cross from hardon.
hardon throws a right and a left that Taken avoids nicely.
Taken is looking to clinch.

Taken drives through and clinches with hardon against the cage.
Taken goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taken lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt hardon or not.
Taken avoiding damage as hardon throws knees to the body.
Taken tries to work over hardon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taken throws a blind hook that connects with the side of hardons head.
Taken misses with a punch to the body.
hardon is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Taken pushes hardon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Taken struggles to land a body shot inside as hardon controls his hands.
hardon lands an uppercut.
hardon tries to work over Taken's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
hardon lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A shot in the inside from Taken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hardon presses Taken against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Taken tried to land a shot to the body but connects with hardon's elbow.
hardon can't get the takedown.
Taken goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taken tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Taken tries a body shot but hardon blocks it.
A body shot lands from Taken.
hardon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taken's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
hardon lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Taken goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taken wants to break free but hardon has control.
Taken has had enough of the clinch but hardon keeps him there for the moment.
Taken struggles to land a body shot inside as hardon controls his hands.
Taken tries a body shot but hardon blocks it.
Taken tries to work over hardon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taken misses with a shot to the kidneys.
hardon prevents a body shot from Taken.
hardon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taken has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taken misses with a punch to the body.
hardon stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Taken goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taken struggles to land a body shot inside as hardon controls his hands.
hardon looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Taken can't find room to land a body shot as hardon controls the action.
Taken tries to throw a body punch but hardon avoids it by throwing Taken back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, hardon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Taken tries a body shot but hardon blocks it.
hardon digs a right hand into Taken's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taken's gas tank.
hardon lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taken.
Taken tries to throw a body punch but hardon avoids it by throwing Taken back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Taken fails to land.
big hardon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

hardon manages to break the clinch.
hardon has a takedown stuffed.
hardon scores with a jab to the body.
Taken blocks a jab.
hardon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

hardon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than hardon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

hardon working for a submission but Taken is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hardon controlling the position easily from mount.

Taken somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
hardon loads up on a big right hand but Taken slips the punch.
Chance Taken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
hardon sizes up Taken with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Taken throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Taken doesn't manage to clinch there - hardon circles away.
Nice defenses there by hardon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taken connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Taken digs a good hook to hardon's body.
Taken lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A jab from hardon does it's job there.
Taken motions for hardon to come forward. Taken throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taken swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taken is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Taken connects with a good right hand that stumbles hardon. hardon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
hardon throws a leg kick that is checked
and Taken counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taken staying out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

hardon shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Taken is trying to defend but hardon finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
big hardon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
hardon slips a nice elbow through Taken's hands, connecting with Taken's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to big hardon.
Well hardon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 45:50
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 45:50
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... big hardon!