PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gilmar Fonseca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy has chosen I shot the Sheriff as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fonseca
vs
Hardy

174 cm
26
140 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

193 cm
24
145 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Gilmar Fonseca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Hardy!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fonseca tries to bum rush Hardy with a series of wild strikes but Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardy throws a leg kick that misses.
Fonseca avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Fonseca takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hardy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fonseca.
Hardy misses with a wild body shot.
Hardy will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fonseca shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hardy.
Hardy jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fonseca takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hardy thumps Fonseca with a low kick.
Ray Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fonseca.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmar Fonseca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good shot there by Hardy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.
Fonseca fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Fonseca, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fonseca shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Fonseca shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Hardy.

Fonseca feints and as Hardy raises his hands in defense, Fonseca changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hardy controls Fonseca momentarily but Fonseca frees himself.
Fonseca trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fonseca stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fonseca is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fonseca is controlling him.
Fonseca wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gilmar Fonseca just wasn't active enough.
Hardy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fonseca moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fonseca shoots in but no luck this time.
Hardy is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hardy jabs Fonseca right on the nose. Fonseca blinks but takes it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hardy dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Fonseca circles away.
Fonseca defending well as Hardy loads up on a big left hand.
Hardy misses with a straight left.
Hardy throws a leg kick but Fonseca moved away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.
Hardy has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hardy, right into the meat.
Hardy wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy is looking to chop away at Fonseca's legs.
Hardy wants to clinch.
Hardy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hardy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hardy misses with a wild body shot.
Hardy lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Fonseca swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardy misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fonseca avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hardy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hardy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fonseca looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hardy is fending him off so far but Fonseca persists. Nope, Hardy circles away and we're back to standing.
Fonseca keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy sizes up Fonseca with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fonseca ducks under a wild hook from Hardy.
Fonseca shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardy as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmar Fonseca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy connects with a jab.
Hardy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hardy tests Fonseca's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hardy 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. This is the final round!

Hardy throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Fonseca.
Hardy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Fonseca counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fonseca seems to be working for a kimura but Hardy defends the submission attempt.
Fonseca is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hardy!
Hardy wants to hold on but Fonseca pushes him away.
Fonseca wants to control but Hardy has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Fonseca is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Fonseca wants to pass the guard but Hardy is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy manages to get to full guard.
Fonseca looking to sit in guard and control but Hardy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ray Hardy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control but Fonseca is working from the bottom.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fonseca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Fonseca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hardy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fonseca has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hardy has managed to get both his arms back between Fonseca's legs - danger averted.
Fonseca trying to keep a closed guard but Hardy is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fonseca being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Fonseca keeps moving.
Hardy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Ray Hardy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hardy scores with a punch to the head.

Fonseca gets tackled into the cage by Hardy. Hardy maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fonseca is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hardy.
Hardy lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fonseca.
Hardy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fonseca looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmar Fonseca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Hardy.
Fonseca is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Come on Hardy - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Fonseca fails to pull guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fonseca drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardy scores with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ray Hardy.
I've got Hardy 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Hardy!