PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Hardstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Blackley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hardstone might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to tempel of india. The crowd seem to be enjoying Blackley's choice of entrance music: Shock To The System by Billy Idol. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hardstone
vs
Blackley

190 cm
22
162 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

172 cm
19
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Crippler's Corner
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocco Hardstone!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Derek Blackley!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardstone misses with a two punch combination.

Blackley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hardstone is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hardstone is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hardstone swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hardstone can't escape the position.
Blackley working the ground and pound effectively.

Blackley has hold of Hardstone's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hardstone manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hardstone tries to reverse the position but Blackley maintains control.
Hardstone bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blackley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardstone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Blackley had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hardstone is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Blackley Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hardstone's back instead.
Blackley has the hooks in. Hardstone is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Hardstone is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Blackley gets his way!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hardstone tries to roll but Blackley sticks to his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardstone turns into Blackley and is now in his guard.
Hardstone content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hardstone with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hardstone is breathing heavily.
Hardstone thows a big elbow that misses.
Hardstone throws a big right hand that misses.
Blackley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardstone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hardstone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blackley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardstone.
Hardstone is looking to clinch but Blackley is avoiding it.

Blackley fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hardstone sprawls well initially but Blackley persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Blackley is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hardstone is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardstone missing with punches from the bottom.
Hardstone is looking to get back to full guard here but Blackley has managed to pass to side control instead.

Hardstone defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Blackley.
Hardstone really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Blackley tries to control but Hardstone wriggling away.
Hardstone wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hardstone tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Blackley working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hardstone is desperately trying to improve his position but Blackley has a good base and remains in mount.
Blackley lands a big elbow.
Hardstone taking shots to the head.
Blackley lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hardstone hang on?
Blackley scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hardstone is squirming around, avoiding Blackley's attempts to control the action.
Blackley landing strikes from the mount.

Hardstone is rocked!
Blackley lands a heavy elbow.
Oh Hardstone is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Blackley gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Blackley pushes Hardstone up against the ropes in a clinch.

Blackley has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hardstone uses from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Blackley 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.

Blackley looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hardstone throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hardstone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hardstone seems to have got his legs back now.

Blackley drops back looking for a leg! Hardstone is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hardstone manages to kick Blackley off! Blackley jumps back into Hardstone's guard.
Hardstone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blackley is one step ahead there.
Hardstone is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hardstone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hardstone sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blackley defending well though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blackley trying to control from the bottom.
Blackley is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardstone missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardstone will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hardstone missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hardstone missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardstone is looking to pass Blackley's guard but actually Blackley recovers to full guard.
Derek Blackley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardstone passes Blackley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Blackley works his way to full guard. Good work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blackley holds on and takes a little breather.

Blackley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hardstone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardstone stopping the sweep attempt from Blackley.

Blackley is looking to sinch up a triangle. Hardstone throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Blackley's body to avoid the submission. Blackley has instead reached around Hardstone's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Blackley arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Derek Blackley!
Derek Blackley is the new lightweight champion!