PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Baby Firefly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy has chosen Shipping Up To Boston as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Firefly
vs
Hardy

186 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
173 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Baby Firefly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Forrest Hardy!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Firefly.
Firefly closes the distance and clinches up with Hardy, looking for a takedown. Firefly pushes Hardy against the cage but Hardy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jab, jab by Firefly - just one landing.

It looks like Forrest Hardy has been cut.
Hardy takes a jab right on the kisser.
Firefly changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Firefly decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Hardy is defending against the submission attempts here by Firefly.
Hardy manages to get to full guard.
Firefly slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hardy throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Firefly swings around for an armbar but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Firefly's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firefly is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hardy trying to control but Firefly is working from the bottom.
Hardy wants to get up but he can't break Firefly's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Firefly looking for a sweep. Not yet Firefly, not yet.

Hardy gets to his feet - Firefly follows without any prompting.
Hardy fails with the takedown

and Firefly counters with a shoot takedown. Hardy fights it but they end up in guard.
Firefly controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Firefly pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardy is keeping the position for now.
Firefly is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control the position.

Firefly drops back looking for a leg! Hardy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hardy manages to kick Firefly off! Firefly jumps back into Hardy's guard.
Firefly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardy has a closed guard, preventing Firefly from standing up.

Firefly is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hardy is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hardy has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy won't allow Firefly to sweep him here.
Hardy trying to control but Firefly is working from the bottom.
Hardy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Firefly looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hardy is one step ahead there.
Firefly is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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.
Firefly is thwarting Hardy's attempts to control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Firefly in particular looking to stall.

Firefly is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Firefly wants to work for an arm triangle but Hardy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Firefly is thwarting Hardy's attempts to control the position.
Firefly trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baby Firefly dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Forrest Hardy's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No joy there for Firefly, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hardy avoids the body shot from Firefly.
Hardy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Firefly connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Firefly dips to his left and cracks Hardy with an uppercut!

Hardy gets the takedown into side control.
Firefly tries to buck Hardy off but Hardy is having none of it.
Firefly looks to move to half guard but instead Hardy has passed into mount! Damn!
Firefly tries to hold on but Hardy postures up.
Hardy manages to capitalize on a mistake by Firefly to take his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Firefly.
Hardy is striking well from the back but Firefly escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Firefly is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Firefly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hardy performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two 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.
Hardy wants to pass to mount but Firefly is defending the position.
Firefly manages to get to full guard.
Firefly is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Firefly is keeping the position.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Firefly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Firefly looking for a guillotine here but Hardy defends easily.

Hardy stands up and waves to Firefly to follow him.
Hardy takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firefly shoots in but Hardy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hardy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Firefly counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Firefly scores with a jab. Hardy acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Hardy scores with a takedown into Firefly's guard.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Firefly swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Firefly bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hardy's guard.
Firefly wants to pass the guard but Hardy is keeping the position.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hardy has his feet on Firefly's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Forrest Hardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Forrest Hardy's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Firefly throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Hardy scores a takedown into full mount!
Firefly is working to get back to half guard.
Hardy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Firefly is looking to get to half guard.
Firefly is working hard here to advance position.

Hardy looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Baby Firefly overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Firefly really wants to buck Hardy off and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firefly wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Firefly looking very determined here, making life difficult for Hardy.

Hardy is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Firefly is defending well though. Hardy let's go of the attempt for now.
Hardy trying to control momentarily.

Hardy is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Firefly has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Firefly manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hardy's guard. Nice work there by Firefly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Firefly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Firefly wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.

Firefly stands and steps away. Hardy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Firefly throws the left hand but Hardy avoids the punch easily.
Firefly stuns Hardy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Firefly lands with an uppercut that bounces Hardy off the cage and back into rage.
Firefly throws a looping overhand right but Hardy ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot by Firefly.
Firefly is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Firefly tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Firefly throws an overhand right that lands on Hardy's shoulder, as Hardy tries to avoid the shot.
Hardy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Firefly is fending him off so far but Hardy persists. Nope, Firefly circles away and we're back to standing.
Hardy gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Firefly feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Hardy sprawling to the canvas! Hardy rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Firefly finish him?!

Hardy is rocked!
Hardy fails with the takedown
and Firefly scores with a counter punch that sends Hardy to the canvas! Firefly smells blood - he's punishing Hardy with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Hardy has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Baby Firefly!