PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Hardcore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dale Bleach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Dale Bleach enters the cage!

Hardcore
vs
Bleach

177 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

(CoB)Crushing Blow Clothing + Givebacks ($5)

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joseph Hardcore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dale Bleach!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardcore closes the distance and pushes Bleach back into the cage.
Bleach wants a takedown.
Hardcore has Bleach pressed against the cage, preventing Bleach from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Bleach is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hardcore can't fight it off and eventually Bleach manages to take the fight to the floor. Hardcore looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hardcore wants to stand but Bleach is controlling the position.
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 controls Bleach momentarily but Bleach frees himself.
Bleach throwing strikes but missing.
Bleach trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dale Bleach has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bleach looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bleach shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hardcore defends it nicely.
Joseph Hardcore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dale Bleach.
Bleach tries to clinch but Hardcore moves out of range.
Bleach shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bleach shoots in looking for a takedown but Hardcore manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bleach's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bleach wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bleach gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hardcore wants to control from the top but Bleach keeps moving.
Bleach looking for a sweep. Not yet Bleach, not yet.
Hardcore looking to pass the guard.
Bleach preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hardcore knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bleach on the ground.
Hardcore wants to stand but Bleach is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hardcore pushing down on Bleach's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore stalling.
Bleach wants to control but Hardcore is keeping busy.
Hardcore wants to take a breather but Bleach is having none of it.
Hardcore perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joseph Hardcore wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bleach circles away from the clinch attempt

and Bleach moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardcore gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hardcore trying to control from half guard but Bleach is working away.

Hardcore is trying to work for a kimura but Bleach is defending well.
Hardcore sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bleach is staying active underneath Hardcore, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Hardcore dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hardcore throws a combination that misses

and Bleach decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hardcore's guard.
Bleach trying to control but Hardcore is working from the bottom.
Bleach might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hardcore kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Bleach stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bleach fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Bleach as Hardcore shoots in.
Bleach shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardcore as he jumps to the side.

Hardcore closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bleach did well to prevent Hardcore getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardcore seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcore sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bleach defending well though.
Bleach is breathing heavily.
Hardcore content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bleach regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bleach wants to sweep but no luck.
Bleach is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardcore landing some decent shots from guard.
Hardcore trying to control but Bleach is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bleach is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hardcore lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bleach circles away quickly and effectively.

Hardcore clinches with his opponent.

Bleach pulls guard successfully.

Bleach is working an open guard so Hardcore takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bleach tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hardcore decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bleach's guard.
Bleach looking to control.
Hardcore wants to stand but Bleach has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hardcore has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bleach trying to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hardcoreis looking to pass into half guard but Bleach pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bleach is in guard.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dale Bleach was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Bleach shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardcore wants to stand but Bleach is controlling the position.
Bleach is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joseph Hardcore will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bleach feints and as Hardcore raises his hands in defense, Bleach changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Bleach drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bleach jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bleach pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardcore is keeping the position for now.
Bleach showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bleach trying to control but Hardcore is working from the bottom.
Bleach takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bleach being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcore controls Bleach momentarily but Bleach frees himself.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hardcore slaps away a takedown attempt from Bleach, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bleach throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hardcore stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Hardcore shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hardcore was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bleach tries to reverse the position but Hardcore maintains control.
Joseph Hardcore overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bleach wants to try and get back to his feet.
Hardcore controlling from the full mount.
Hardcore in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hardcore avoids the attempt from Bleach to control.
Hardcore scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bleach?
Bleach tries to lock up and control but Hardcore gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore controlling the position easily from mount.
Hardcore seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bleach for as long as he can get away with.
Hardcore looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore controlling the position easily from mount.
Hardcore fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bleach is trying to escape the mount.
Hardcore fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dale Bleach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joseph Hardcore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardcore looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Hardcore showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hardcore, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28

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