PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Acardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Hirons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Hirons will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Acardi
vs
Hirons

177 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ White 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jesse Acardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sam Hirons!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Acardi dodges the punch combination from Hirons.
Acardi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hirons fails to land with a series of punches.
Acardi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hirons.

Hirons tries to keep at a distance but Acardi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hirons wants to get back to striking at distance but Acardi won't allow it.
Hirons can't break the clinch.
Acardi keeps control of Hirons as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hirons wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Hirons breaks the clinch.
Hirons fails to land with a series of punches.
Hirons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Acardi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirons tries to bum rush Acardi with a series of wild strikes but Acardi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Hirons, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hirons throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hirons looks gassed!
Hirons throws a right and a left that Acardi avoids nicely.
Acardi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hirons but Hirons pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sam Hirons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Acardi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acardi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Acardi working the head with strikes.
Acardi lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hirons down.
Hirons manages to work his way to half guard, despite Acardi's best efforts.
Acardi trying to control the action but Hirons is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acardi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Acardi wants to free his trapped foot but Hirons is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Acardi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Acardi 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.

Acardi wants to work for an arm triangle but Hirons is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hirons is looking for a sweep. Acardi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hirons is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Acardi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Acardi's back!
Acardi manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hirons's guard. Nice work there by Acardi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acardi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hirons is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hirons trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Acardi lands a couple of elbows.
Hirons looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Acardi is working Hirons over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Acardi preventing the sweep.
Acardi wants to control from the top but Hirons keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hirons fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Acardi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hirons circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Acardi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hirons throws a nice looking combination but Acardi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Acardi rushes Hirons and presses him up against the cage.
Hirons wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hirons is looking to break free of the clinch but Acardi has double underhooks.
Hirons wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Acardi has him pressed against the cage.
Hirons is pressed up against the cage. Acardi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hirons down to the mat. Hirons avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Hirons as Acardi shoots in.
Hirons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Acardi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Acardi fails with a takedown attempt.
Hirons wants to clinch but Acardi slips to the side

and Acardi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Acardi.
Acardi preventing the sweep.
Hirons wants to stand up but Acardi is controlling him.
Acardi is pushing down on Hirons's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hirons is fighting to maintain full guard but Acardi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hirons tries to kick Acardi off but Acardi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hirons moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hirons is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hirons throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hirons is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Acardi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Acardi landing some decent shots from guard.
Acardi slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acardi prevents Hirons from improving his position.

Acardi seems to be working for a kimura but Hirons defends the submission attempt.
Hirons is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hirons tries to kick Acardi off but Acardi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Acardi moves nicely into side control.
Hirons takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hirons is looking for a sweep.
Acardi scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hirons is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hirons wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hirons throws a left and a right that both miss

and Acardi moves into the clinch.
Hirons wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Acardi fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hirons breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hirons throws a series of punches but Acardi avoids them all with ease.
Acardi tries to clinch but Hirons moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Hirons.
Hirons fails to land with a series of punches.
Hirons throws a left and a right that both miss

and Acardi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Acardi.
Hirons wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hirons pushes Acardi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hirons has had enough of the clinch but Acardi keeps him there for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirons wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Acardi wants a takedown.
Hirons tries to break the clinch but Acardi is controlling the position.
Hirons gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Acardi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Acardi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hirons wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acardi prevents Hirons from breaking the clinch.
Hirons wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Acardi has him pressed against the cage.
Acardi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hirons manages to break the clinch.
Hirons misses with a two punch combination.
Hirons throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Acardi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hirons's guard now.
Hirons wants to stand and escape but Acardi is having none of it.
Hirons looking to hit a scissor sweep but Acardi is one step ahead there.
Hirons scores with a nice shot.
Hirons wants to sweep here but Acardi controlling him for the moment.
Hirons is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hirons keeping moving, preventing Acardi from controlling successfully.
Acardi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hirons's guard.
Hirons missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirons flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hirons lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Hirons wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Acardi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hirons circles away.
Hirons misses with a wild combination.
Acardi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hirons swivels and escapes.
A combination from Hirons does no damage.
Hirons misses with a double jab

and Acardi counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hirons tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Hirons is looking for a sweep.

Acardi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hirons is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hirons tries to buck Acardi off but Acardi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirons manages to get back to half guard.
Hirons is looking to escape.
Hirons wants to improve his position but Acardi is controlling well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hirons throws a combination that misses

and Acardi counters by moving into the clinch.

Acardi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hirons scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Acardi with a nice head shot there.

Hirons wriggles free and stands up.
Hirons throws a combination that misses

and Acardi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Acardi prevents Hirons from breaking the clinch.
Hirons wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Acardi has him pressed against the cage.
Acardi prevents Hirons from breaking the clinch.
Acardi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hirons gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Acardi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hirons gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hirons is trying to break the clinch but Acardi has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirons is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hirons scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hirons is looking to break free of the clinch but Acardi has double underhooks.
Acardi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hirons wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hirons wants to break free but Acardi has control.
Hirons tries to break the clinch but Acardi is controlling the position.
Hirons is trying to break free.
Acardi wants a takedown.
Hirons scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hirons wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hirons is trying to break free.
Hirons can't break the clinch.
Hirons lands a left hand.
Hirons wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hirons has had enough of the clinch but Acardi keeps him there for the moment.
Hirons has had enough of the clinch but Acardi keeps him there for the moment.
Hirons prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hirons has had enough of the clinch but Acardi keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Acardi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Acardi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hirons pinned against the cage. Hirons gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hirons misses with a combination

and Acardi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Acardi can't get the takedown.
Hirons wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hirons tries to break the clinch but Acardi is controlling the position.
Hirons wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Acardi has him pressed against the cage.
Hirons gets underhooks to prevent Acardi's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Acardi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Acardi jumps guard and drags Hirons to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Acardi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hirons manages to get himself to full guard.
Acardi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hirons looking for a sweep. Not yet Hirons, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Acardi prevents Hirons from getting back to his feet.
Hirons thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hirons striking from his own guard.
Hirons looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirons is looking to stand up but Acardi isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hirons misses with a double jab

and Acardi counters with a takedown into side control.

Acardi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hirons knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Acardi prevents Hirons from escaping the position.

Acardi tries for a kimura but Hirons is defending well.
Hirons tries to bench press Acardi off him but Acardi keeps the position.
Jesse Acardi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Acardi lands a nice forearm strike.
Hirons is working to avoid the ground and pound but Acardi connects with a decent elbow.

Acardi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hirons is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hirons is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acardi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Acardi tries for a kimura but Hirons is defending well.
Hirons is trying to get back to half guard.
Hirons takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hirons is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Acardi off and has taken his back!
Acardi is trapped and Hirons is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Hirons landing with strikes.

Acardi is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hirons lands a series of strikes from the back and Acardi goes limp! The ref jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Hirons!