PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Hardcore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mat Karim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hardcore
vs
Karim

183 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Hardcore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mat Karim!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karim throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hardcore was covering up waiting for the punch and Karim finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Karim trying to control but Hardcore is working from the bottom.
Karim stopping the sweep attempt from Hardcore.
Hardcore keeping moving, preventing Karim from controlling successfully.
Hardcore trying to keep a closed guard but Karim is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcore seems keen to control Karim's posture.
Karim wants to control from the top but Hardcore keeps moving.
Karim is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hardcore tries to clinch up.

Karim gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hardcore preventing the sweep.
Hardcore could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Karim trying to keep a closed guard but Hardcore is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karim wants to sweep here but Hardcore controlling him for the moment.

Hardcore avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Karim looks gassed!
Hardcore missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hardcore passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hardcore controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hardcore working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Hardcore wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Karim, who protects the arm well.
Hardcore looks up at the clock and then as Karim takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hardcore smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Karim is trying to control Hardcore's posture but Hardcore avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karim prevents Hardcore from moving into mount.

Hardcore is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Karim is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Hardcore. No joy for Karim on that attempt.
Hardcore wants to clinch.
Karim takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hardcore misses with a straight left.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardcore is looking to clinch.
Karim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karim gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hardcore counters with a single leg into guard. Karim didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Hardcore dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hardcore connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hardcore is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardcore tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hardcore closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Karim did well to prevent Hardcore getting side control.
Hardcore missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hardcore is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hardcore is thwarting Karim's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hardcore seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Karim has recovered full guard.
Hardcore looking to sit in guard and control but Karim gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcore looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hardcore wants to control but Karim passes easily into half guard.
Hardcore on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hardcore tries to get out of the position.
Hardcore trying to hold on to Karim's head to control him but Karim postures up.
Hardcore is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two 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.
Hardcore has hold of Karim's hands but Karim slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Karim is thwarting Hardcore's attempts to control the position.
Karim is trying to control. Hardcore wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Karim shoots in and bounces Hardcore off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Karim would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karim passes Hardcore's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Karim throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Karim is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hardcore has managed to free his arm - good work.
Karim tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hardcore.

That's four 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.
Hardcore gets full guard.

Karim got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hardcore has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Karim has managed to get both his arms back between Hardcore's legs - danger averted.
Karim wants to control from the top but Hardcore keeps moving.

Karim gets to his feet. Hardcore looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardcore fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karim misses with a takedown attempt - Hardcore sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mat Karim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Hardcore shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hardcore can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karim is looking to escape.
Karim tries to improve his position but instead Hardcore has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardcore lands punches and elbows.
Bryan Hardcore overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hardcore is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Hardcore wants to control the position but Karim frees himself and scrambles - Hardcore manages to regain control in side control.
Karim tries to buck Hardcore off but Hardcore is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karim is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karim is not content to let Hardcore control the position.
Karim is looking for a sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hardcore is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Karim's half guard.
Hardcore sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karim defending well though.
Karim wants to control but Hardcore is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hardcore seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Karim does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hardcore working Karim over with strikes.
Karim is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hardcore closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hardcore is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Karim!
Hardcore landing punches.
Karim can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardcore gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Karim has his takedown stuffed
and Karim takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hardcore throws a body punch but Karim moves out of range.
Karim takes a swing at Hardcore's ribcage but misses.
Karim fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hardcore shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Karim sprawls well. Karim wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hardcore gets slowly back to his feet.

Hardcore shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Karim's guard.
Hardcore chips away with some ground and pound.
Hardcore tries to free his leg and advance position but Karim is retaining full guard.
Karim wants to stand but Hardcore is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karim wants to sweep but no luck.

Hardcore is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Karim is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Karim has escaped and now he's on top!
Hardcore keeping moving, preventing Karim from controlling successfully.

Karim drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hardcore manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Karim has Hardcore in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Hardcore showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hardcore has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Hardcore!