PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Devin Hardin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Bomberman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hardin
vs
Bomberman

184 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Devin Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leo Bomberman!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bomberman swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardin.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice sprawl there from Hardin as Bomberman shoots in.
Bomberman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardin as he jumps to the side.
Bomberman darts in trying to clinch

and Hardin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hardin.
Bomberman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardin walks away with a smile on his face. Bomberman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Devin Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Bomberman.

Hardin drives through and clinches with Bomberman against the cage.

Bomberman pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bomberman wants to control but Hardin passes easily into half guard.
Hardin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hardin is taking a breather. Bomberman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin passes into side control, despite Bomberman's attempt to control the position.
Hardin 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.
Bomberman is being controlled here.
Bomberman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hardin is staying tight to Bomberman's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hardin tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bomberman's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Bomberman struggling a bit here.
Bomberman tries to bench press Hardin off him but Hardin keeps the position.
Bomberman stops Hardin from passing to mount.
Bomberman wants to control but Hardin postures up.
Hardin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hardin closes the distance and clinches.
Hardin is trying to force a seperation but Bomberman has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bomberman smiles and moves away.
Bomberman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bomberman somewhat.
Hardin tries to clinch up but Bomberman circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardin shoots in for a double leg but Bomberman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bomberman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A nice combination there by Hardin.
Bomberman tries to clinch but Hardin is having none of it.
Hardin fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardin dives in and grabs Bomberman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bomberman pushes down on Hardin's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bomberman is defended easily by Hardin.
Bomberman misses with a head kick.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bomberman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardin as he avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardin tries to clinch there but Bomberman circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardin connects with a jab.
Bomberman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devin Hardin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bomberman looks for a takedown but Hardin sprawls well.
Bomberman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hardin is looking to score with low kicks.
Hardin shoots in but Bomberman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bomberman is defended easily by Hardin.
Devin Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Bomberman.

Hardin clinches up with Bomberman and pushes him back against the cage.
Hardin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bomberman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hardin fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin keeps the fight on the outside.
Bomberman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hardin.
Hardin looks for a takedown but Bomberman sprawls well.
Hardin is looking to chop away at Bomberman's legs.
Bomberman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hardin doesn't seem bothered though.
Bomberman 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.

Bomberman clinches.
Hardin working hard to break the clinch.
Hardin stops a takedown attempt from Bomberman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bomberman tries to stall but Hardin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hardin is pressed up against the cage. Bomberman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hardin down to the mat. Hardin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bomberman fails with a takedown attempt.
Bomberman is breathing heavily.
Bomberman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bomberman somewhat.
Hardin fails with a takedown attempt.
Bomberman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hardin but Hardin pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bomberman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardin swivels and escapes.
Hardin checks a low kick from Bomberman.
Bomberman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hardin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bomberman defends it nicely.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bomberman but Bomberman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bomberman avoids the head kick by Hardin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bomberman clinches with his opponent.
Bomberman wants a takedown.
Hardin leaning against his opponent.
Hardin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Hardin.

Hardin pulls guard effortlessly.
Hardin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bomberman!
Bomberman can't escape the position.
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 Devin Hardin will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bomberman darts in trying to clinch

and Hardin moves into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Bomberman digs a right hand into Hardin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hardin's gas tank.
Hardin is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hardin tries to pull guard but Bomberman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hardin is pushing Bomberman up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bomberman wants to break free but Hardin has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin prevents the takedown attempt.
Bomberman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bomberman tries to pull guard but Hardin holds him up against the cage and eventually Bomberman drops back down to his feet.
Hardin controlling the action here for a moment.
Bomberman is looking to control Hardin's arms but Hardin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bomberman has his back to the cage.
Hardin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bomberman smiles and moves away.
Devin Hardin is winning the standup battle so far.
Hardin dives in and grabs Bomberman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bomberman pushes down on Hardin's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devin Hardin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bomberman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bomberman somewhat.

Hardin closes the distance and clinches.
Bomberman taking a breather.
Bomberman tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bomberman can't break the clinch.
The referee calls for Bomberman to work.
Hardin stops a takedown attempt from Bomberman.
Bomberman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hardin is looking to break free of the clinch but Bomberman has double underhooks.
Hardin can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bomberman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hardin just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hardin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bomberman uses from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hardin holds on and takes a little breather.
Hardin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bomberman!
Hardin unloading with bombs!
Hardin controlling from the full mount.
Hardin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bomberman for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bomberman is desperately trying to improve his position but Hardin has a good base and remains in mount.
Hardin wants to control the pace but Bomberman is squirming around nicely.
Bomberman tries to hold on but Hardin postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardin controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devin Hardin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hardin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devin Hardin!