PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Colt Hardin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Labayen Luceno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardin comes into the arena with Thunder Kiss '65 by White Zombie blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hardin
vs
Luceno

190 cm
29
213 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

191 cm
28
205 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Black Market Pharmacy and Laundromat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Colt Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Labayen Luceno!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luceno shoots in for a takedown but Hardin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Luceno has his takedown stuffed
and Hardin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hardin stuffs the takedown attempt from Luceno. Luceno gets slowly back to his feet.
Colt Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Labayen Luceno.
Luceno throws out a loose jab but Hardin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luceno tries to clinch
and Hardin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hardin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Luceno bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Luceno tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hardin manages to get back to half guard.
Hardin is refusing to be controlled, as Luceno sits in half guard.
Luceno stalling.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hardin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luceno won't allow Hardin to sweep him here.
Hardin working a defensive guard here.
Luceno works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hardin is refusing to be controlled, as Luceno sits in half guard.
Luceno controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Labayen Luceno.
Hardin throws a lazy uppercut

and Luceno counters with a single leg into guard. Hardin didn't expect that.
Hardin keeping moving, preventing Luceno from controlling successfully.
Hardin is trying to keep Luceno in close.
Luceno throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luceno stopping the sweep attempt from Hardin.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Luceno with a poor takedown
and Hardin counters with a stiff right hand.
Luceno ducks under a wild hook from Hardin.
Luceno shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardin sprawls well. Hardin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Luceno gets slowly back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardin throws a shot from downtown. Luceno moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Labayen Luceno dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Luceno moves into the clinch.
Luceno blocking some punches.
Hardin misses with a punch on the inside.
Luceno pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hardin throws a punch but it's blocked by Luceno.
Hardin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Luceno is trying to trip Hardin. He has hold of a leg but Hardin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Luceno persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Luceno not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Luceno trying to control but Hardin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Labayen Luceno hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Luceno tries to land a body kick
and Hardin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hardin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Luceno.
Luceno shoots in for a takedown but Hardin shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luceno with a poor takedown
and Hardin counters with a stiff right hand.
Colt Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Labayen Luceno.
Hardin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Luceno backs up against the cage.
Luceno misses the shot to the body.
Luceno tries to clinch but Hardin is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardin lands a nice looking body shot.
Luceno shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardin pinned against the cage. Hardin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Luceno is breathing heavily.
A jab lands there for Hardin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luceno with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Luceno scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Luceno fails with the takedown.
Colt Hardin is winning the standup battle so far.

Hardin dives in and scores a takedown into Luceno's guard.
Hardin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Luceno working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Luceno wants to sweep but no luck.
Hardin distracts Luceno with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hardin is looking to work some ground and pound but Luceno has wrist control.
Labayen Luceno has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Luceno wants to get back to his feet but Hardin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hardin postures up in Luceno's guard and throws a big left but Luceno blocks it.
Hardin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hardin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hardin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hardin throws a strike but Luceno rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hardin trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colt Hardin dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Luceno shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hardin counters with a straight right hand.
Luceno doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Hardin to counter with a crisp jab.
Luceno misses the shot to the body.
Luceno tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hardin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A punch lands to the side of Luceno 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Luceno moves out of range as Hardin strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luceno with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardin counters with a straight right hand.
Colt Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Labayen Luceno.
Luceno changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardin tries to avoid it but Luceno manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardin to the ground. Hardin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Luceno with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Luceno takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donk. Hardin catches Luceno right on the button with a cross.
Luceno fails with a takedown attempt.
Luceno is looking to clinch but Hardin is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardin jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Labayen Luceno is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luceno has his takedown stuffed
letting Hardin counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A punch combination from Luceno misses.
Luceno misses with a takedown
and Hardin counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luceno shoots in but Hardin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Luceno tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Luceno tries to throw a body punch but Hardin avoids it by throwing Luceno back against the cage.
Hardin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Luceno up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin blocks an uppercut.
Hardin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Luceno jumps guard but Hardin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hardin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Luceno tries to break free but Hardin pushes him back against the cage.
Hardin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch on the inside from Hardin fails to land.
Hardin working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Colt Hardin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hardin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Colt Hardin!
A relieved looking Colt Hardin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.