PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Hardman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Marcelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Hardman looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Hardman
vs
Marcelo

175 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jackson Hardman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Don Marcelo!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marcelo misses with a kick to the body.

Hardman clinches up against the cage.
Marcelo letting Hardman take a breather here.

Marcelo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Marcelo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Marcelo has a closed guard, preventing Hardman from standing up.
Marcelo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Marcelo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hardman is looking to stand up but Marcelo won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hardman stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardman lands a jab to the head.

Hardman gets caught napping as Marcelo dives in and scores a takedown. Hardman manages to retain guard.
Marcelo looks winded!
Marcelo trying to control but Hardman is working from the bottom.
Marcelo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marcelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcelo won't allow Hardman to sweep him here.
Hardman controlling Marcelo's posture.
Marcelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Don Marcelo was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Marcelo moves into the clinch.

Hardman manages to break the clinch.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Marcelo has eaten all the pies!

Marcelo gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marcelo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardman is trying to control but Marcelo passes into side control!
Marcelo trying to control the position but Hardman is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardman is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Marcelo off and has taken his back!
Hardman controlling the position well here. Marcelo rolled but Hardman kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hardman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marcelo on the ground.

Hardman decides to stand up.

Marcelo clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Marcelo shoots in and bounces Hardman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hardman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hardman tries to get out of the position.
Hardman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marcelo trying to control but Hardman is working from the bottom.
Hardman tries to strike from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Don Marcelo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marcelo clinches.

Marcelo drags the fight down to the ground.
Marcelo controls Hardman momentarily but Hardman frees himself.
Marcelo wants to sweep here but Hardman controlling him for the moment.
Hardman wanted to stand there but Marcelo had control of the position.
Don Marcelo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hardman gets to his feet - Marcelo follows without any prompting.
Hardman listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Marcelo needs to keep his hands up - Hardman had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marcelo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardman's guard.

Hardman pushes Marcelo off and gets back to his feet.

Marcelo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hardman is staying active underneath Marcelo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ground and pound from Marcelo.

Marcelo is trying to work for a kimura but Hardman is defending well.
Hardman is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hardman controls his leg.
Marcelo working over Hardman with some ground and pound. Hardman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardman controlling the position for now.
Hardman is trying to stand up here but Marcelo is controlling him well.
Hardman is looking to improve his position.
Marcelo works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

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

Marcelo looking to secure an arm triangle but Hardman defends it well.
Marcelo throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
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.
Hardman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marcelo tries to control but Hardman wriggling away.
Marcelo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hardman haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Marcelo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hardman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Marcelo looking to pass the guard.
Hardman trying to keep a closed guard but Marcelo is proving a slippery customer.
Marcelo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marcelo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marcelo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo preventing the sweep.
Marcelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hardman connects with a single shot there.

Hardman clinches up with Marcelo and pushes him back against the cage.

Hardman is trying to trip Marcelo. He has hold of a leg but Marcelo is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hardman persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hardman won't allow Marcelo to get back to his feet.
Hardman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Marcelo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hardman has picked Marcelo up and slammed him! Marcelo can't keep hold of the triangle and Hardman manages to pass to side control!

Hardman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Marcelo to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardman lands with a straight right. Marcelo didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardman blocks a head kick by Marcelo.

Marcelo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hardman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Marcelo wants to control from the top but Hardman keeps moving.

Hardman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marcelo defends well.
Hardman keeping moving, preventing Marcelo from controlling successfully.
Marcelo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardman kicks Marcelo off and gets to his feet.

Hardman gets caught flat footed, as Marcelo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hardman wants to sweep but no luck.

Hardman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marcelo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marcelo passes Hardman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardman wants to control but Marcelo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jackson Hardman.
I think Marcelo 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Marcelo!