PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helio Margules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lick Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hard's choice of entrance music: Let Your Backbone Slide . Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Margules
vs
Hard

189 cm
30
248 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

191 cm
34
260 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Margules!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lick Hard!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hard has Margules up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Hard.
Hard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Margules wants to take the fight to the mat but Hard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hard wants to stall.
Margules stops a takedown attempt from Hard.
Hard stalling.
Margules is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hard is defending well.
Margules is trying to drag Hard to the mat but Hard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helio Margules. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hard jumps guard but Margules turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hard wants to get back to striking at distance but Margules won't allow it.
Hard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Margules has hold of one of Hard's legs. Hard is fighting the takedown attempt but Margules gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Margules looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard wants to sweep here but Margules controlling him for the moment.

Hard has his foot on Margules's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Margules works his way back into a safe position though.
Hard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hard working Margules over with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Margules wants to get back to full guard.
Margules avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hard.

Hard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Margules has managed to free his arm - good work.
Margules is staying active underneath Hard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hard prevents Margules from improving his position.
Hard throwing shots but Margules is blocking nicely.
Margules gets full guard.
Margules avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hard trying to control but Margules is working from the bottom.
Hard stopping the sweep attempt from Margules.
Hard scoring with punches to the head and body.

Margules working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hard preventing the sweep.
Hard being controlled here momentarily.
Hard pushes down on Margules's leg and manages to get into half 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.
Margules makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Margules.
Hard with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Margules is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hard's half guard.
Margules works his way into full mount!
Hard regains half guard.
Margules is looking to advance position but Hard won't allow it.
Hard is staying active underneath Margules, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hard manages to get to full guard.
Margules passes Hard's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hard makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Hard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Margules is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Margules is defending well for now.

Hard manages to break the clinch.
Hard throws a right and a left that Margules avoids nicely.
Margules fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Margules keeps the fight on the outside.
Hard wants to clinch up but Margules keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard fails to land the takedown.
Hard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Margules is fending him off so far but Hard persists. Nope, Margules circles away and we're back to standing.

Hard moves into range and clinches up with Margules.
Hard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Margules pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Helio Margules has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lick Hard.
Hard wants to stall.
Hard working hard to break the clinch.
Hard missing with knees to the body.
Margules blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hard tries to close the distance and clinch but Margules swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lick Hard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hard shoots in but Margules avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Margules shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hard tries to clinch up.
Hard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Margules scores with a nice strike.
Margules fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hard looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hard instigates a clinch.
Hard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Margules is keeping busy.
Margules prevents Hard from breaking the clinch.
Margules has Hard pressed against the cage, preventing Hard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Margules can't get the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Margules is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hard pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Margules jumps guard and drags Hard to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Margules had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hard defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lick Hard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Hard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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

Margules looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Margules trying to control the position but Hard is working away.
Hard is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Margules is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Margules working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hard struggling a bit here.
A lull in the action here as Margules stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard is not content to let Margules control the position.
Helio Margules overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Margules is really struggling to control Hard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hard wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard struggling a bit here.
Margules wants to control but Hard is keeping him busy.
Margules is staying tight to Hard's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Margules is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hard has escaped the position, nice work there.

Margules thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Margules is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hard has escaped the position, nice work there.

Margules tries for a kimura but Hard is defending well.
Hard is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Margules has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helio Margules showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Lick Hard!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Lick Hard!

Lick Hard wins by majority decision!
A victorious Lick Hard thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.