PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zachery Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makanouchi Ippe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hardy
vs
Ippe

194 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Zachery Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Makanouchi Ippe!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ippe pushes Hardy up against the cage in a clinch.

Ippe gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ippe stalling.

Hardy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ippe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardy is looking for a sweep. Ippe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ippe moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Hardy.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ippe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hardy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hardy managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ippe.
Ippe content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Hardy is not content to let Ippe control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ippe working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ippe has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ippe pulls guard successfully.
Ippe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hardy is looking for a sweep. Ippe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hardy is in trouble now - Ippe has advanced to mount!

Ippe goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hardy turns into him and now he's in Ippe's guard.
Ippe seems keen to control Hardy's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ippe's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hardy wants to get up but he can't break Ippe's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makanouchi Ippe dominated that round.
That's time! Hardy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ippe is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hardy's half guard.
Ippe is looking to take a break and control but Hardy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ippe perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ippe not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Ippe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hardy sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ippe controlling the pace.
Hardy throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy punching from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ippe decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hardy gets full guard.
Ippe is pushing down on Hardy's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hardy is fighting to maintain full guard but Ippe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hardy is refusing to be controlled, as Ippe sits in half guard.
Ippe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hardy won't allow Ippe to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Ippe manages to pass to side control.
Ippe wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Hardy regains half guard.
Hardy missing with punches from the bottom.
Ippe wants to get back to his feet.
Ippe tries to pass to full mount but Hardy defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Ippe has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ippe drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ippe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ippe holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Ippe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makanouchi Ippe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ippe throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hardy was covering up waiting for the punch and Ippe finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ippe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hardy 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.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Ippe tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ippe stands up from Hardy's guard - Ippe perhaps looking for a knockout.
A jab from Ippe finds it's way through Hardy's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ippe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hardy feinted with a counter takedown.
Makanouchi Ippe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ippe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hardy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ippe is in Hardy's guard.

Hardy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ippe defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ippe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Hardy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ippe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ippe wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Hardy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ippe wants to stand but Hardy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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

Ippe has Hardy up against the cage in a clinch.

Ippe pulls guard effortlessly.
Hardy connects with a couple of short punches.
Ippe wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Hardy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ippe trying to control the position here.

Hardy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ippe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hardy has managed to get both his arms back between Ippe's legs - danger averted.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Makanouchi Ippe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ippe 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Makanouchi Ippe!