PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ray Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Pineda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy comes to the cage accompanied by I shot the Sheriff. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hardy
vs
Pineda

193 cm
29
145 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

176 cm
29
143 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark Pineda!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pineda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hardy lands a really nice looking cross but Pineda seems unphased.
Hardy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pineda in his tracks.
Pineda throws a hook but Hardy blocks it.
Pineda scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Pineda manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hardy on his heels. He'll look to pass Hardy's guard now, I'm sure.
Pineda with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pineda is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Pineda stopping the sweep attempt from Hardy.
Hardy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pineda tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.
Pineda advances position into side control!
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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pineda working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pineda creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hardy sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Pineda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.
Hardy trying to remain calm as Pineda controls from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy parries the strikes from Pineda easily there. Pineda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hardy to escape.
Pineda throws an elbow but Hardy slips to the side and avoids it well.
Pineda is chipping away with strikes.
Hardy is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Hardy is not content to let Pineda control the position.
Hardy is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Pineda asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pineda cracks Hardy with a big elbow.
Pineda in side control, throwing shots but Hardy defends.
Pineda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.

Pineda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hardy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hardy is trying to control Pineda's posture but Pineda avoids it.
Pineda working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to buck Pineda off.
Sloppy strikes there by Pineda.
Pineda misses with the ground and pound.
Pineda lands some shots froms side control.

Hardy bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Pineda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardy moves away.
Pineda throws out a loose jab but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hardy gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pineda trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Pineda working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Pineda tries to pass.
Pineda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pineda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pineda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pineda throws an elbow that misses. Hardy uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pineda's guard. Nice move by Hardy!

Pineda looking for a guillotine here but Hardy defends easily.
Pineda manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Pineda dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pineda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardy throws a body punch but Pineda moves out of range.
Hardy walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pineda throws a body punch but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pineda's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hardy under the eye.
Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pineda.
Hardy slips under a jab.
Pineda cracks Hardy with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Pineda throws a series of punches but Hardy avoids them all with ease.
Hardy connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pineda circles away quickly and effectively.
Hardy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pineda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pineda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hardy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pineda misses with a body shot
and Hardy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big right from Pineda misses.
Pineda moves out of range of the strikes.
Ray Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardy scores with a hook to the body. Pineda takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Pineda tries for a takedown but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hardy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pineda throws out the jab.
Donk. Pineda catches Hardy right on the button with a cross.
Pineda defending well as Hardy loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pineda walks into a left hand.
Pineda misses the shot to the body.
Pineda slips under a jab.
Hardy with a jab.
Pineda with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hardy lands with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy misses with a wild combination.
Hardy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hardy is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Pineda swings for the body but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hardy avoids the body shot from Pineda.
Mark Pineda seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pineda feints a jab promting Hardy to slip. Pineda then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hardy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hardy jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pineda with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A big left from Pineda misses.
Pineda looks to score with a jab to the body but Hardy is just out of range.
Pineda will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pineda avoids the body shot from Hardy.
Pineda scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hardy in his tracks.

Pineda manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hardy on his heels. He'll look to pass Hardy's guard now, I'm sure.
Pineda sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hardy's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Pineda stalling away here and it's allowed Hardy to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
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!
Pineda trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Pineda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pineda drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hardy manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pineda has Hardy in his guard.
Hardy's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Pineda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hardy slips under a jab.
Mark Pineda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy throws a low kick but Pineda avoids it.
Hardy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pineda.
Hardy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pineda.
Pineda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hardy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hardy slips a jab from Pineda.
Pineda looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pineda misses with a straight left.
Pineda fails with the takedown.
Pineda ducks under a wild hook from Hardy.
Hardy throws a hook but Pineda avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hardy moves out of range as Pineda strikes.
Pineda lands a body shot.
Hardy connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pineda. Pineda circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hardy. Pineda does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hardy avoids the body shot from Pineda.
Pineda slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hardy lands a really nice looking cross but Pineda seems unphased.
A jab from Pineda misses.
Jab, jab by Pineda - just one landing.
Hardy connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pineda momentarily.
Hardy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy misses with an uppercut.
Pineda checks the leg kick nicely there.
Pineda throws the left hand but Hardy avoids the punch easily.
Pineda staying out of range there.
Pineda stuns Hardy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pineda takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hardy lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hardy misses with a hook.
Hardy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pineda.
Pineda thows a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Hardy misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy fails to land with a series of punches.
Pineda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pineda defending well as Hardy loads up on a big left hand.
Pineda swings for the body but Hardy moves out of range.
Pineda looks to throw the jab but Hardy is out of range.

Pineda gets the takedown into side control.
Mark Pineda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Pineda working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pineda trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ray Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pineda taking a breather here.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pineda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pineda landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Pineda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pineda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Pineda!
Mark Pineda bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.