PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Will Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy comes to the cage accompanied by Van damme - streets of Siam. This should be a great matchup!

Hardy
vs
Harris

186 cm
34
221 lbs
23 - 18 - 0

180 cm
22
210 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Will Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Harris!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy tries to land a leg kick but Harris saw it coming and moves away.
Hardy throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Harris's head.
Hardy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Harris is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hardy's half guard.
Hardy tries to kick Harris off but Harris keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardy trying to hold on to Harris's head to control him but Harris postures up.
Harris is controlling the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Harris is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Harris seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy is defending against the submission attempts here by Harris.
Hardy is looking for a sweep. Harris is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Harris is looking to advance position but Hardy won't allow it.

Hardy is defending against the submission attempts here by Harris.
Harris stalling away here and it's allowed Hardy to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Harris drops back looking for a leg! Hardy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hardy manages to kick Harris off! Harris jumps back into Hardy's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hardy controls Harris momentarily but Harris frees himself.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Harris stands and throws Hardy's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Harris wants to stand but Hardy is controlling his arm.
Harris sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hardy is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Harris wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Harris might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hardy haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Harris is trying to get an arm triangle but Hardy is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to work for a sweep but Harris has mounted him!

Harris is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hardy can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Harris jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hardy is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hardy and Harris has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Harris wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Hardy is looking for a sweep.
Harris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.
Harris is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harris working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hardy prevents Harris from improving position.
Harris is looking to take a break and control but Hardy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Harris tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Harris has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harris working the ground and pound but Hardy is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Harris dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hardy scoring well with a low kick there.
Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harris swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hardy.
Will Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harris stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harris wants it to stay on the feet.
Harris shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardy sprawls well. Hardy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Harris gets slowly back to his feet.
Harris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hardy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hardy wants to clinch
and Harris counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Harris lands a lovely overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harris checks a leg kick nicely.
Harris checks a leg kick nicely.
Harris changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hardy looks to land a body kick but Harris moved away.
Harris throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Good standup being displayed there by Harris as he connects with a hook.

Hardy gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Harris sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hardy's guard.
Harris thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hardy's head.
Hardy won't allow Harris to pass to mount.

Harris is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hardy defends it well.
Hardy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Harris is working away from the top position though.
Harris is looking to advance position but Hardy won't allow it.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Harris is trying to work for a kimura but Hardy is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harris is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hardy wants to improve his position but Harris is controlling well.
Harris throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Harris not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hardy is looking to improve his position.
Harris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.
Harris is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Harris is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hardy to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hardy shrugs it off.
Paul Harris has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Harris thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hardy tries to lock up and control but Harris gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hardy is in all sorts of trouble here.

Harris working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Harris throws some wild stikes that Hardy manages to avoid easily.
Harris with a couple of short strikes.
Harris wants to control the pace but Hardy is squirming around nicely.
Hardy wants to hold on but Harris pushes him away.
Harris prevents Hardy from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harris is working for a guillotine from mount but Hardy frees his head quite easily.
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!
Harris tries to control but Hardy wriggling away.

Harris working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Harris lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hardy tries to lock up and control but Harris gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Harris trying to control but Hardy is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Harris thowing shots but they're missing.
Harris has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Harris is working for a guillotine from mount but Hardy frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harris. Hardy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harris takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Harris takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hardy will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Harris clinches.
Hardy misses with some punches.
Hardy is pressed up against the cage. Harris has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hardy down to the mat. Hardy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Harris stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hardy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hardy.
Harris bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hardy's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harris wants to slow Hardy down by chopping away at his legs.
Hardy throws a head kick but Harris moves out of range.
Hardy with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hardy looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches.
Hardy tries to work over Harris's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harris has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hardy after a bit of a struggle.
Harris drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hardy pulls his leg out and moves away.
Will Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Harris.
Harris uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hardy.
Hardy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hardy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Harris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hardy.
Nice body kick there by Hardy.
Nice shot lands for Hardy.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hardy. That's going to slow Harris down.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harris as he jumps to the side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harris misses with an uppercut.
Will Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harris was well out of range. Poor timing from Hardy.
Paul Harris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hardy on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hardy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Harris doesn't seem bothered though.
Hardy throws a front kick aimed at Harris's knee but Harris avoids it well.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Harris moves out of range easily.
Hardy throws a leg kick that is checked
and Harris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hardy tries to land a front kick but Harris steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hardy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hardy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harris was well out of range. Poor timing from Hardy.

Harris closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hardy did well to prevent Harris getting side control.

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

Harris is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Harris trying to control from half guard but Hardy is working away.
Hardy trying to hold on to Harris's head to control him but Harris postures up.

Harris is trying to work for a kimura but Hardy is defending well.
Harris wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy missing with punches from the bottom.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard.

Harris is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hardy sees it coming and defends easily.
Paul Harris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hardy is not content to let Harris control the position.
Harris missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Harris thows a huge punch but Hardy dodges it nicely.
Hardy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Harris looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardy striking off his back but it's not causing Harris any problems.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Harris 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Harris!