PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Candle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Hirsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Candle has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Candle
vs
Hirsh

178 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Candle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Scott Hirsh!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirsh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Candle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hirsh throws a sloppy head kick and Candle moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hirsh is defended easily by Candle.
Horrible takedown by Hirsh or perhaps it was just good defense by Candle which made him look bad.
Candle shoots in for a double leg but Hirsh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hirsh tries a head kick but it misses.
Candle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hirsh as he avoids it easily.
Hirsh fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Candle wants it to stay on the feet.
Mark Candle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Hirsh.
Hirsh tries to clinch up

and Candle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hirsh's guard now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Candle controlling from the top position.
Hirsh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Candle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candle seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hirsh for as long as he can get away with.

We're going to have a standup here because Mark Candle wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hirsh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hirsh lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hirsh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Candle paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hirsh tries for a takedown but Candle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Candle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Candle closes the distance and clinches up with Hirsh, looking for a takedown. Candle pushes Hirsh against the cage but Hirsh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hirsh fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Candle as Hirsh shoots in.
Candle shoots in for a takedown but Hirsh shows good takedown defense.
Candle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hirsh circles away.
Scott Hirsh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirsh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Candle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hirsh somewhat.
Hirsh looks winded!

Candle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Candle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Candle dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hirsh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Candle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hirsh somewhat.
Candle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hirsh as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirsh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hirsh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Candle but Candle pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirsh tries to clinch there but Candle circles away.

Candle closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hirsh to the mat! Hirsh manages to get full guard.
Candle seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Candle pushes down on Hirsh's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candle controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Candle just wasn't active enough.
Hirsh shoots in for a double leg but Candle sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mark Candle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Hirsh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirsh lands a head kick!
Hirsh tries to clinch there but Candle circles away.
Hirsh with a lazy takedown attempt

so Candle counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hirsh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Candle controls the pace.
Candle passes Hirsh's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hirsh is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Candle wants to free his trapped foot but Hirsh is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mark Candle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Well, if Candle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hirsh wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Candle dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Candle closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Candle controlling the pace.
Hirsh wants to get back to full guard but Candle has passed into side control.
Candle controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirsh is trying to work for a sweep but Candle has mounted him!
Candle tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candle has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

We're going to have a standup here because Mark Candle wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hirsh tries to clinch there but Candle circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirsh stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hirsh wants it to stay on the feet.
Candle takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Candle has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hirsh.

Hirsh moves into range and clinches up with Candle.

Hirsh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Candle takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Hirsh tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Candle counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hirsh!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Candle takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hirsh is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Candle sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hirsh is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Candle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Candle, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Candle!