PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Laon Aontro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Hardcore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan Hardcore is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Aontro
vs
Hardcore

200 cm
25
246 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
225 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Laon Aontro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Hardcore!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aontro tries to close the distance and clinch but Hardcore swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Aontro closes the distance and pushes Hardcore back into the cage.
Hardcore goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aontro prevents it.
Aontro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Aontro fails to pull guard.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Aontro's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Aontro pulls guard successfully.
Hardcore wants to control from the top but Aontro keeps moving.
Aontro is trying to keep Hardcore in close.
Aontro is looking to stand up but Hardcore isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aontro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aontro is pulling down on Hardcore's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aontro is trying to keep Hardcore in close.
Aontro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hardcore wants to control from the top but Aontro keeps moving.
Hardcore won't allow Aontro to sweep him here.
Aontro keeping moving, preventing Hardcore from controlling successfully.
Aontro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardcore preventing the sweep.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Aontro fails to land the takedown.
Hardcore takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Aontro moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hardcore looks gassed!
Aontro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardcore moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aontro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardcore tries to avoid it but Aontro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardcore to the ground. Hardcore escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Laon Aontro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardcore swats away the attempt to clinch by Aontro.
Hardcore tries to clinch up but Aontro circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardcore fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hardcore throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aontro shoots and misses

and Hardcore counters with a takedown into side control.
Aontro is pushing Hardcore's head away, looking to escape. Hardcore manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aontro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hardcore looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aontro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aontro.
Aontro working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardcore trying to control but Aontro is working from the bottom.
Hardcore postures up.

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.
Aontro is pulling down on Hardcore's head to control his posture.
Aontro controls Hardcore momentarily but Hardcore frees himself.
Aontro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hardcore lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Aontro looking for a sweep. Not yet Aontro, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aontro looks for a takedown but Hardcore sprawls well.

Hardcore shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Hardcore swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Aontro is now in Hardcore's guard. A big mistake from Hardcore there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bryan Hardcore will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aontro fails to land the takedown.
Aontro slaps away a takedown attempt from Hardcore, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hardcore tries to clinch

and Aontro counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Aontro.

Aontro jumps guard.
Aontro trying to keep a closed guard but Hardcore is proving a slippery customer.
Hardcore thows a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aontro wriggles free and stands up.
Aontro doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hardcore counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardcore.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aontro working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcore stops Aontro from standing up.
Aontro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aontro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hardcore trying to control but Aontro is working from the bottom.
Aontro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aontro wants to stand up but Hardcore is controlling him.
Aontro trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hardcore comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hardcore misses with a wild body shot.
Laon Aontro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aontro moves in looking to clinch but Hardcore pushes him off.
Aontro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hardcore looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aontro shoots and misses

and Hardcore counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Laon Aontro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aontro has his foot on Hardcore's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hardcore works his way back into a safe position though.

Aontro is working an open guard so Hardcore takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Aontro scores with a jab. Hardcore acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bryan Hardcore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aontro scores with a jab to the body.
Aontro looks for the body kick but Hardcore saw that one coming.
Hardcore swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Aontro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Aontro clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aontro has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hardcore avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Aontro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardcore has him pressed against the cage.

Aontro jumps guard.
Aontro wants to get back to his feet but Hardcore is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hardcore seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Aontro looking to control.
Bryan Hardcore has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardcore controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hardcore throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aontro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.
Aontro keeping moving, preventing Hardcore from controlling successfully.
Aontro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hardcore is one step ahead there.
Hardcore tries to stand but Aontro is controlling from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hardcore stuffs the takedown.
Hardcore avoids the head kick by Aontro.
Hardcore leaves Aontro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Hardcore showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Aontro misses with a takedown

and Hardcore counters with a takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here as Hardcore stalls from top position.

Hardcore wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Aontro, who protects the arm well.
Aontro is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hardcore's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hardcore seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aontro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aontro gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aontro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Poor strikes thrown by Aontro there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Aontro thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Aontro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Aontro working for a submission but Hardcore is keeping him at bay.

That's two 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.
Aontro trying to control but Hardcore is having none of it.
Aontro is really struggling to control Hardcore but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hardcore is trying to escape the mount.
Aontro looking to control but Hardcore is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aontro gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Bryan Hardcore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardcore looks for a takedown but Aontro sprawls well.
Aontro with a poor takedown

and Hardcore counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Aontro working a defensive guard here.
Aontro tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore trying to control the position from guard on top but Aontro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aontro looking for a guillotine here but Hardcore defends easily.
Aontro is wriggling around but Hardcore manages to pass to half guard.
Laon Aontro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aontro pushes Hardcore off looking to stand but Hardcore dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Hardcore comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardcore winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

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