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 kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is I shot the Sheriff. The key to victory for Ray Hardy has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hardy
vs
James

193 cm
26
145 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

175 cm
24
147 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Brett James!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy scores with the left hand. James knows he should have avoided that one.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardy moves out of range as James strikes.
James misses with a wild body shot.

Hardy takes the fight into the clinch.
Hardy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
James is trying to pull guard but Hardy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hardy.
Hardy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
James misses with a knee strike.
Hardy holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hardy throws a punch but it's blocked by James.
Hardy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
Hardy stalling in the clinch but James improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Hardy.
Hardy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hardy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hardy lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.
Hardy lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hardy digs a right hand underneath James's ribcage. James let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hardy scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hardy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
A nice left hand lands by James.
James wants to take the fight to the mat but Hardy manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
James throws an elbow that misses.
Hardy tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hardy.
Hardy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hardy has James pushed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardy looks to throw an elbow but misses.
James takes a shot to the head.
James tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hardy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hardy throws an elbow but misses.
Hardy lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
James working hard to break the clinch.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Hardy struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
Hardy will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning James up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Hardy pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by James as Hardy tries to tie him up.
James wants to break free but Hardy has control.
James jumps guard but Hardy stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ray Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett James.
Hardy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hardy gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hardy tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Hardy lands a left hand.

James drags the fight down to the ground.
Hardy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy postures up.
Hardy wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Hardy postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
Hardy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James looking to pass the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hardy dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

James darts in and clinches Hardy up against the cage.
Hardy lands an elbow inside.
James is trying to pull guard but Hardy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
James blocking some punches.
Hardy lands a nice shot to the body.
Hardy scores with a shoulder strike.
James is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Hardy blocks with his arms.
Hardy lands a right hand.
James is trying to push Hardy away but Hardy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
James working hard to break the clinch.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hardy pulls his leg out and moves away.
James fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy stuffs the takedown.
Ray Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett James.
James misses with an uppercut.

Hardy takes the fight into the clinch.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
James takes a shot to the head.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
Hardy scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Hardy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hardy lands an elbow inside.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hardy lands a nice elbow.
James taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from James fails to land.
Hardy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hardy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hardy using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hardy trying to control the position but instead, James has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hardy into the cage.
Hardy just leaning against James, taking a breather.
Hardy lands a nice shot to the body.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy prevents James from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hardy crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short right from Hardy.
Hardy pushes James back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.
James can't get the takedown.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Hardy scores with a shot to the side of James's head.
Hardy lands with a short punch from the clinch.

James is rocked!
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
James is still on wobbly legs! Can Hardy finish him?
Hardy lands an elbow just above James 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Hardy has James pressed against the cage.
James seems to have recovered his senses.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
Hardy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
James is trying to stall.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardy scores with a nice head shot.
Donk. Hardy catches James right on the button with a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hardy dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

James shoots for a double leg takedown but Hardy sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hardy finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Hardy closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
Hardy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hardy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Hardy lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
Ray Hardy has scored more points in the clinch so far.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ray Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett James.
Hardy lands a nice elbow.

James jumps guard and drags Hardy to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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 trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

James gets in close and instigates a clinch.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hardy prevents it.
Hardy lands an elbow that stopped James in his tracks for a moment.
Hardy lands a damaging elbow.
James tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hardy just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.
Hardy gets through James's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Hardy displaying some good clinch control by pressing James up against the cage.
James is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hardy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hardy lands a damaging elbow.
Hardy lands a knee to the body.
Hardy lands an elbow just above James 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James looking for a takedown.
James fails to pull guard.
Hardy looking to stall.
James is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Hardy misses with a punch to the body.
Hardy has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A shot in the inside from Hardy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy trying to land knees to the body.
Hardy using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hardy, 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

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