PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hardy's choice of entrance music: "We Are" by Hollywood Undead. Rafael Tran has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tran
vs
Hardy

212 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Hardy!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tran's head.

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

Hardy decides to stand back up.

Hardy tries to keep at a distance but Tran has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tran fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tran tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hardy gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hardy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hardy is trying to control. Tran wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tran manages to get to full guard.
Tran keeping full guard, as Hardy tries to pass.

Tran has his feet on Hardy's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hardy showed some decent athleticism there.

Tran looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hardy controlling the action here.
Hardy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tran does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tran looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tran looking for submissions off his back.
Hardy frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hardy looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tran is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Tran is looking to improve his position but Hardy isn't that keen on the idea.
Hardy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tran regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Hardy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardy has Tran up against the cage in a clinch.

Hardy pulls Tran into guard.
Tran will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tran connects with a couple of short punches.
Tran chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran throws a big elbow that misses.
Tran stands up over Hardy, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tran throwing strikes from guard but Hardy blocks nicely.
Tran throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy has control of Tran's left arm, preventing Tran from doing any damage.
Tran really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tran is one step ahead there.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tran postures up in Hardy's guard and throws a big left but Hardy blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardy paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hardy moves into the clinch.
Hardy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Hardy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tran postures up in Hardy's guard and throws a big left but Hardy blocks it.
Tran lands a couple of digs.
Tran in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hardy is pulling down on Tran's head to control his posture.
Tran postures up in Hardy's guard and throws a big left but Hardy blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tran is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tran postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tran is in close to Hardy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tran postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Tran shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hardy is trying to control the position but Tran postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tran accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tran throws a big elbow that misses.
Xavier Hardy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tran accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hardy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tran fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Tran dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tran looks for a takedown but Hardy sprawls well.

Hardy clinches.
Hardy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Hardy pulls Tran into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tran manages to get himself to full guard.

Hardy controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy looking to pass the guard.

Tran throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hardy escapes and throws Tran's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Tran regains half guard there - taking advantage of Hardy's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Hardy looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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 prevents Tran from improving his position.
Hardy trying to pass the guard but Tran defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tran has a takedown stuffed.

That's four 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.

Hardy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hardy showed some decent athleticism there.
Hardy is keen to just control but Tran is a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tran is trying to get back to full guard.

Tran looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Hardy!
A relieved looking Xavier Hardy thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.