PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Lumsden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lumsden comes to the cage accompanied by The power. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lumsden
vs
Hardy

205 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matthew Lumsden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lumsden keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lumsden fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hardy scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Hardy shoots in and bounces Lumsden off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lumsden has momentary wrist control but Hardy slips an elbow through the middle.
Lumsden is trying to keep Hardy in close.
Hardy advances position into side control!
Lumsden really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lumsden being controlled for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Lumsden's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lumsden tries to bench press Hardy off him but Hardy keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hardy taking a breather here.
Lumsden taking a bit of punishment here - Hardy scoring with strikes.
Lumsden struggling a bit here.

Hardy wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lumsden, who protects the arm well.
Hardy takes a little break here. Lumsden wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Let's hope that Hardy has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Hardy might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Hardy landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lumsden trying to remain calm as Hardy controls from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Hardy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lumsden is looking to reverse the position.
Hardy lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lumsden down.
Hardy slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lumsden takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Check out the look on Hardy's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hardy moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Lumsden wants to get back to his feet but Hardy drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Lumsden can't do much from the bottom here.
Hardy moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hardy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lumsden wants to control but Hardy postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tom Hardy hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lumsden shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Hardy dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lumsden fails to land the takedown.
Hardy shoots in but Lumsden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lumsden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lumsden wants it to stay on the feet.
Matthew Lumsden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lumsden looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hardy is fending him off so far but Lumsden persists. Nope, Hardy circles away and we're back to standing.
Lumsden is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hardy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Lumsden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lumsden misses with a takedown attempt - Hardy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hardy looks to land a combination but Lumsden avoids it well.
Hardy stuffs the takedown attempt from Lumsden. Lumsden gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lumsden moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Lumsden is avoiding it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lumsden gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardy counters with a left and a right that stings Lumsden.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy misses with a hook to the body
and Lumsden counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hardy is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hardy tries to bum rush Lumsden with a series of wild strikes but Lumsden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Hardy shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hardy takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Lumsden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lumsden pushes Hardy off looking to stand but Hardy dives back in and keeps control.
Hardy controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tom Hardy.
Lumsden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardy.

Hardy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lumsden napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy takes a little break here. Lumsden wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hardy working the ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Lumsden's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Hardy is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lumsden knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lumsden tries to improve position but can't.
Tom Hardy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Check out the look on Hardy's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Lumsden is looking for a sweep.
Hardy taking a breather here.
Hardy working the head and body with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Lumsden's face as Hardy controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Hardy has hold of Lumsden's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Lumsden seems comfortable defending it but Hardy has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Lumsden is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Lumsden is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Hardy couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tom Hardy!
Tom Hardy bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.