PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henri Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antoni Hardonk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardonk comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Requiem for a dream kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marshall
vs
Hardonk

187 cm
25
255 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

193 cm
25
249 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henri Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antoni Hardonk!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardonk throws a right hand that Marshall ducks under and follows up with a left that Marshall also avoids with ease.

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hardonk wants to get back to his feet.
Marshall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardonk pushes Marshall off looking to stand but Marshall dives back in and keeps control.
Hardonk trying to hold on to Marshall's head to control him but Marshall postures up.
Marshall throwing shots but Hardonk is blocking nicely.
Hardonk makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hardonk.
Marshall working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hardonk's head.
Marshall is in close to Hardonk's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marshall is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Marshall is working Hardonk over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardonk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marshall won't allow Hardonk to get back to his feet.
Hardonk is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Marshall is stalling in the full guard.
Marshall seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hardonk for as long as he can get away with.
Hardonk keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Marshall scoring with some ground and pound.
Marshall throwing strikes from guard but Hardonk blocks nicely.
Hardonk looking for a sweep. Not yet Hardonk, not yet.
Marshall content to stall in guard here.
Hardonk is looking to stand up but Marshall isn't so interested in that idea.
Hardonk wants to sweep here but Marshall controlling him for the moment.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardonk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hardonk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Marshall is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall tries to hold on but Hardonk pushes him away.
Marshall is desperately trying to improve his position but Hardonk has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hardonk lands a big shot there that rocks Marshall but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hardonk tries to control but Marshall wriggling away.
Hardonk fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Marshall is looking to improve his position but Hardonk isn't that keen on the idea.
Hardonk lands a big elbow.
Hardonk landing strikes, looking to finish!
Marshall tries to lock up and control but Hardonk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Hardonk is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Marshall is surviving well by controlling Hardonk's body position as best he can.
Marshall wants to hold on but Hardonk pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall is squirming around, avoiding Hardonk's attempts to control the action.
Marshall knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hardonk on the ground.
Hardonk landing shots from mount.
Hardonk with a couple of short strikes.
Hardonk scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hardonk working the ground and pound effectively.
Marshall throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hardonk. What's that going to do exactly?
Hardonk avoids the attempt from Marshall to control.
Hardonk lands a big shot there that rocks Marshall but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antoni Hardonk dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hardonk takes the fight into the clinch.
Marshall goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hardonk prevents it.
Hardonk working Marshall over with knees to the body.

Hardonk has clasped his hands together around Marshall's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hardonk connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Marshall some visible discomfort.

Hardonk stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Hardonk pushes Marshall up against the cage in a clinch.
Hardonk has Marshall pushed against the cage.
Hardonk utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hardonk is trying to drag Marshall to the mat but Marshall just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardonk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marshall prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardonk lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Marshall backwards.
A knee to the head by Hardonk.
Hardonk connects with a nasty looking knee right to Marshall's face.
Hardonk creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hardonk throws a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hardonk just leaning against Marshall, taking a breather.
Marshall is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hardonk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Hardonk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Marshall tries to keep at a distance but Hardonk has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hardonk obliges.
Hardonk fails to pull guard.
Henri Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antoni Hardonk.
Hardonk tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardonk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marshall avoids it.
Hardonk tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.
Hardonk is trying to break free.
Hardonk trying to land knees to the body.
Marshall wants a takedown.
Marshall tries to score a body lock takedown but Hardonk shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hardonk drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Marshall gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Marshall stops a takedown attempt from Hardonk.
Hardonk misses with a knee to the head.
Marshall is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hardonk pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hardonk taking a breather.
Marshall tries to stall but Hardonk uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hardonk has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marshall avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardonk looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall is blocking nicely.
Marshall is working for takedown but Hardonk is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hardonk lands a good knee to the midsection. Marshall won't want to take too many of those.

Hardonk manages to break the clinch.

Hardonk drives through and clinches with Marshall against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Hardonk gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Marshall looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hardonk puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Antoni Hardonk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardonk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marshall keeps working.
It looks like Hardonk is going to stand back up.
Marshall wants to control but Hardonk is keeping busy.

Hardonk stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall tries for a takedown but Hardonk circles away easily

and Hardonk counters with a shoot takedown. Marshall fights it but they end up in guard.
Hardonk throwing strikes but missing.
Marshall throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Marshall controls Hardonk momentarily but Hardonk frees himself.
Hardonk trying to control but Marshall is working from the bottom.
Hardonk working some strikes from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardonk is looking to stand up but Marshall won't let him.
Hardonk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marshall works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antoni Hardonk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardonk drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hardonk looks up at the clock and then as Marshall takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hardonk smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Marshall is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Marshall taking a bit of punishment here - Hardonk scoring with strikes.
Hardonk works to advance to full mount. Marshall defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Marshall tries to hold on but Hardonk postures up.
Marshall is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hardonk breaks from Marshall's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardonk scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Marshall?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardonk in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hardonk landing strikes from the mount.
Hardonk has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Marshall's face.
Marshall is working to get back to half guard.
Marshall tries to hold on but Hardonk postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marshall is desperately trying to improve his position but Hardonk has a good base and remains in mount.

Hardonk is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Marshall can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Marshall is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marshall tries to lock up and control but Hardonk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardonk looking to secure an arm triangle but Marshall defends it well.
Marshall tries to reverse the position but Hardonk maintains control.
Marshall regains half guard.
Hardonk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hardonk lands with a punch from half guard.

Hardonk decides to return to a standing position.
Marshall has his takedown stuffed

and Hardonk counters by clinching up.
Marshall tries to break the clinch but Hardonk is controlling the position.

Hardonk pulls Marshall into guard.
Marshall looking to sit in guard and control but Hardonk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall wants to sweep here but Hardonk controlling him for the moment.
Hardonk slips nicely into half guard.
Hardonk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marshall's head.
Marshall wants to get back to full guard.
Marshall trying to hold on to Hardonk's head to control him but Hardonk postures up.

Hardonk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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.
Hardonk tries to stand and escape but Marshall actually recovers to full guard.
Antoni Hardonk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall has a closed guard, preventing Hardonk from standing up.
Marshall is pulling down on Hardonk's head. It's preventing any offense from Hardonk, at least for the moment.
Marshall trying to control the position.
Henri Marshall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hardonk wants to control from the top but Marshall keeps moving.
Marshall striking off his back but it's not causing Hardonk any problems.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antoni Hardonk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardonk 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antoni Hardonk!