PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henderson Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hart has chosen DMX - Where My Dogs At as his entrance music. 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.

Cormier
vs
Hart

180 cm
24
223 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

189 cm
26
217 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Fight Night Nutrition
Merciless Gladiators

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Henderson Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Shane Hart!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier stuffs the takedown.
Cormier has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Cormier leaves Hart with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cormier misses with a takedown attempt - Hart sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hart gets caught flat footed, as Cormier shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Cormier drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hart manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cormier has Hart in his guard.
Cormier bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hart's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cormier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cormier postures up in Hart's guard and throws a big left but Hart blocks it.
Cormier postures up in Hart's guard and throws a big left but Hart blocks it.
Cormier lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hart avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hart controls Cormier momentarily but Cormier frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Cormier drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hart dives on top into guard.
Cormier wants to stand but Hart is controlling the position.
Cormier has Hart pulled in close to control his posture.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hart working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Hart trying to control but Cormier is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hart stands up and waves to Cormier to follow him.
Hart throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hart chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cormier moves in looking to clinch but Hart pushes him off.
Hart tries to land a front kick but Cormier steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cormier moves out of range as Hart strikes.

Cormier closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Cormier working the ground and pound from side control.
Cormier creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hart sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cormier working the ground and pound.
Cormier throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hart works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Cormier throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henderson Cormier dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hart shoots in but Cormier avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Henderson Cormier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cormier shoots for a takedown but Hart saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cormier is looking to clinch.

Cormier takes the fight into the clinch.

Cormier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cormier shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hart sprawls well. Hart wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cormier gets slowly back to his feet.
Hart avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Hart does no damage.
Hart tried to score with a low kick but Cormier checks it.
Hart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cormier.
Hart looks to land a right hand but Cormier moved out of range.
Hart tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cormier was well out of range. Poor timing from Hart.
Hart looks to score with a jab to the body but Cormier is just out of range.
Hart shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cormier defends it nicely.
Henderson Cormier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Hart.
Cormier misses with a takedown attempt
and Hart counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hart misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cormier dives in and scores a takedown into Hart's guard.
Cormier throws a big right hand that misses.
Cormier works over Hart with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cormier is looking to work some ground and pound but Hart has wrist control.
Cormier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cormier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart trying to control but Cormier is working from the bottom.
Cormier is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hart wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.
Hart postures up.
Cormier trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Henderson Cormier just wasn't active enough.
Hart shoots in for a double leg but Cormier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hart with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cormier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hart's guard now.
Cormier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hart looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cormier throwing strikes but missing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cormier trying to control but Hart is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henderson Cormier dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hart throws a combination that misses

and Cormier counters with a takedown into side control.
Henderson Cormier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hart is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Cormier seems to be working for a kimura but Hart defends the submission attempt.
Cormier missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Cormier is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hart wants to get back to full guard.
Cormier has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cormier throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Cormier is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hart has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shane Hart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hart is pressing down on Cormier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.
Cormier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cormier trying to control but Hart is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier throws an elbow that misses. Hart uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cormier's guard. Nice move by Hart!
Hart being controlled here momentarily.
Hart wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.
Cormier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hart controls the pace.
Cormier keeping moving, preventing Hart from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Shane Hart hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cormier enables Hart to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cormier manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cormier controlling Hart's posture.
Cormier trying to control the position.
Cormier is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cormier thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hart's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henderson Cormier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cormier, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henderson Cormier!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Henderson Cormier made sure he mentioned Merciless Gladiators, along with how happy he was to win his fight.