PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luke Skywalker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hardy's choice of entrance music: I shot the Sheriff. On his way into the cage it seems that Luke Skywalker has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Luke Skywalker seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Skywalker
vs
Hardy

170 cm
24
142 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

193 cm
26
145 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Skywalker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Hardy!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skywalker connects with a right hand. Hardy shakes it off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Still in the clinch, Skywalker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Skywalker lands a takedown into guard.
Skywalker pushes down on Hardy's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
Skywalker working over Hardy with some ground and pound. Hardy looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Skywalker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardy defending well though.
Skywalker throwing shots but Hardy is blocking nicely.
Skywalker thows a huge punch but Hardy dodges it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skywalker tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hardy knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Skywalker throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hardy to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Skywalker is one step ahead there.
Hardy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Skywalker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Skywalker tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Skywalker.
Hardy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Skywalker is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Skywalker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardy wants to stand and escape but Skywalker is having none of it.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Skywalker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Skywalker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Skywalker.
Skywalker landing with the ground and pound.
Skywalker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Skywalker tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.
Skywalker scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skywalker throws a big right hand that misses.
Skywalker is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Skywalker is working Hardy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Skywalker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skywalker tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker stops Hardy from standing up.
Skywalker throwing strikes from guard but Hardy blocks nicely.
Skywalker advances to half guard.
Hardy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Skywalker throws a big elbow that misses.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Skywalker tries to pass.
Skywalker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Skywalker throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skywalker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Skywalker postures up and lands a big shot to Hardy's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skywalker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Skywalker with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Skywalker landing with the ground and pound.
Skywalker pushes down on Hardy's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Skywalker working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Skywalker dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Skywalker looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Hardy moves into the clinch successfully.
Hardy is looking to control Skywalker's arms but Skywalker gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hardy has his back to the cage.
Skywalker pushes off an throws an elbow but Hardy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Skywalker lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hardy gets back to full guard.
Skywalker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Skywalker won't allow Hardy to get back to his feet.

Hardy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Skywalker defends it easily.
Skywalker throws a strike but Hardy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Skywalker is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skywalker keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Luke Skywalker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hardy looking to sit in guard and control but Skywalker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Skywalker throws a strike but Hardy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hardy stands and throws Skywalker's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Hardy goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Skywalker has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hardy but great work by Skywalker.
The ground and pound from Skywalker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sloppy strikes there by Skywalker.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Skywalker wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy manages to get back to half guard.
Skywalker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Skywalker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Skywalker.
Hardy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Skywalker.
Skywalker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hardy pushes Skywalker off and gets back to his feet.
Hardy throws a good cross that connects.
Skywalker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hardy throws a hook but Skywalker avoids it easily.
Skywalker on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hardy throws out a leg kick but Skywalker moves out of range and Hardy only half commits.
Skywalker lands a leg kick that knocks Hardy off balance momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skywalker tries to land a front kick but Hardy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy moves into the clinch successfully.

Skywalker has Hardy pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Skywalker pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hardy tumbling to the mat - Skywalker dives into Hardy's guard.
Skywalker tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.
Skywalker landing some decent shots from guard.
Skywalkeris looking to pass into half guard but Hardy pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hardy is in guard.
Skywalker keeping full guard, as Hardy tries to pass.
Hardy is looking to work some ground and pound but Skywalker has wrist control.
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 Luke Skywalker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hardy has taken the fight to the clinch.
Skywalker is working for takedown but Hardy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Skywalker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hardy avoiding damage as Skywalker throws knees to the body.
Hardy blocks an elbow strike from Skywalker.
Hardy scores with a shoulder strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hardy obliges.
Hardy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Skywalker backwards.
Skywalker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hardy is defending well for now.
Hardy lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Skywalker backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy lands an elbow inside that Skywalker shrugs off.

It looks like Luke Skywalker has been cut.
Hardy trying to land knees to the body.
Hardy lands with a left to the head.
Skywalker lands a body shot.
Hardy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Skywalker changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hardy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A jab from Hardy finds it's way through Skywalker's defenses.

Hardy closes the distance and pushes Skywalker back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Skywalker.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Skywalker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Skywalker takes an elbow to the forehead.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hardy.
Hardy is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hardy tries to throw a body punch but Skywalker avoids it by throwing Hardy back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Hardy.
A short uppercut from Hardy.
Skywalker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hardy misses with the head strike.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Skywalker blocks it.
Skywalker lands an elbow inside.
Hardy lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Skywalker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Skywalker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skywalker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Ray Hardy has been cut.
Hardy prevents the takedown attempt.
Skywalker lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Skywalker lands an elbow just above Hardy 's eye.

Hardy is rocked!
Hardy pushes Skywalker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Skywalker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hardy is still on wobbly legs! Can Skywalker finish him?
Hardy putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Skywalker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Skywalker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hardy lands with a short shot to the head.
Hardy seems to have recovered his senses.
Hardy blocks an elbow strike from Skywalker.
Hardy misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hardy is stalling here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hardy misses with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Skywalker.
Hardy scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hardy blocks a body shot from Skywalker.
Skywalker takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hardy avoids the elbow strike from Skywalker, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardy just misses with a elbow thrown towards Skywalker's brow.
Ray Hardy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hardy misses with an elbow strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Skywalker has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hardy is trying to keep an underhook but Skywalker manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Hardy is pressing down on Skywalker's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Hardy is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Skywalker has his hands clasped together but Hardy extends an breaks Skywalker's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Hardy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ray Hardy!