PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ray Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I shot the Sheriff. Ray Hardy has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hardy
vs
James

193 cm
25
145 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

175 cm
23
147 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Brett James!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
James throws a lazy uppercut
and Hardy counters with a stiff right hand.

James scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
James stalling away here and it's allowed Hardy to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
James won't allow Hardy to sweep him here.

James stands up from Hardy's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.
James throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hardy counters with a low kick, right behind James 's knee.
Hardy is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hardy counters with a one-two to the body.
James throws a right and a left that Hardy avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James throws a right and a left that Hardy avoids nicely.
James misses the shot to the body.
Brett James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James looks to throw the jab but Hardy is out of range.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hardy counters by moving into the clinch.
Hardy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hardy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from James.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
James is trying to pull guard but Hardy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hardy lands a nice uppercut.

James pulls guard successfully.
James keeping full guard, as Hardy tries to pass.
Hardy trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hardy stands and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for James!
James is squirming around, avoiding Hardy's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
James tries to hold on but Hardy postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hardy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as James is looking to escape.
Hardy looking to finish with strikes here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hardy looking to secure an arm triangle but James defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ray Hardy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Some wild striking there from James.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hardy.
Hardy throws a quick inside leg kick.
James misses with a straight left.
James shoots in and drives through. Hardy sprawls well.
Hardy connects with a body shot that sends James's belly button to the back.

James has managed to clinch.
James blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hardy lands with a short shot to the head.
Hardy throws a knee to the head but misses.

James drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Hardy trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Hardy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ray Hardy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James wants to control but Hardy passes easily into half guard.
James tries to roll over but Hardy keeps him under control.
James is in trouble now - Hardy has advanced to mount!
James is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
James wants to hold on but Hardy pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardy jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… James is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by James and Hardy has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
Hardy scores with a couple of short elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hardy is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
James is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy controls the position.
Hardy is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hardy is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
Hardy controlling the position from side mount.
Hardy wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
James can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is not content to let Hardy control the position.
James is pushing Hardy's head away, looking to escape. Hardy manages to hold on to the position though.
Hardy is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hardy tries to advance to mount but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy advances nicely into full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hardy dominated that second round.
That's time! Hardy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

James misses with an uppercut.

James moves into range and clinches up with Hardy.
Hardy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hardy connects with a right hand. James shakes it off.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.

James moves into the clinch.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
Hardy tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hardy is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to drag Hardy to the mat but Hardy just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

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

James takes the fight into the clinch.
Hardy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
James lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hardy backwards.
Hardy lands an elbow inside.
Hardy scores with a knee to the head.
Hardy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hardy tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Hardy back against the cage.
A short left from Hardy.
James working hard to break the clinch.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Hardy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ray Hardy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James gets a clinch.
James tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hardy avoids it.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Hardy controls the action.
James tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually James drops back down to his feet.
Ray Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett James.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hardy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.
Hardy utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hardy prevents James from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hardy gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hardy displaying some good clinch control by pressing James up against the cage.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hardy lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
James tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
James slowing the pace effectively.
Hardy lands a nice elbow.
Hardy is leaning against James and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Hardy keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
James has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hardy after a bit of a struggle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Brett James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hardy blocking some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hardy 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

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