PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richy Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy has chosen Enter Sandman By Metallica as his entrance music. Xavier Hardy is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rich
vs
Hardy

185 cm
27
186 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richy Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hardy to the mat! Hardy manages to get full guard.
Rich slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The strikes coming from Rich are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Rich tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rich sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hardy is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rich looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hardy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rich. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rich throws an elbow but Hardy slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich in side control, throwing shots but Hardy defends.
Rich throws a strike aimed at the side of Hardy's head but Hardy avoids it well.
Hardy avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rich.

Rich looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rich lands a nice forearm strike.

It looks like Xavier Hardy has been cut.
Hardy struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hardy regains half guard, as Rich was trying to land strikes.
Rich throws a strike but Hardy avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rich advances to half guard.
Rich throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rich wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Rich moves into full mount! Hardy won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rich moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hardy has worked his arm free - good work by Hardy!
Hardy is not content to let Rich control the position.
Rich postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rich looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hardy is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rich looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hardy is avoiding damage well.

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.

Rich is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hardy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hardy is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sloppy strikes there by Rich.
Rich misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rich working the ground and pound but Hardy is defending the strikes.

Rich goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hardy rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rich's guard! Nice work there by Hardy!
Rich keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richy Rich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Hardy's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rich changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hardy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rich pinned against the cage. Rich gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hardy wants to clinch up but Rich keeps it at a distance.
Hardy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rich.
Rich definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hardy tries to clinch but Rich moves out of range.
Hardy shoots in but Rich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardy can do to turn this around?
Rich darts in looking for a takedown but Hardy gets double underhooks and turns Rich into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the cage. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richy Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rich has a takedown stuffed.
Rich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hardy appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Richy Rich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rich sprawls well. Rich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hardy gets slowly back to his feet.
Rich tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rich shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Hardy there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Hardy clinches up against the cage.
Hardy jumps guard but Rich stands there with Hardy around his waist. Hardy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hardy leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rich tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hardy just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rich drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hardy is working for takedown but Rich is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hardy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rich is defending well for now.
Rich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hardy taking a breather.
Hardy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rich pulls his leg out and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hardy shoots in for a takedown but Rich shows good takedown defense.
Rich misses with a takedown attempt - Hardy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xavier Hardy's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rich dives in and grabs Hardy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardy pushes down on Rich's head and hops out.
Hardy fails to land the takedown.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hardy.
Hardy tries to clinch but Rich is having none of it.
Hardy tries to clinch but Rich moves out of range.
Rich tries for a takedown but Hardy circles away easily
and Hardy counters with a left and a right that stings Rich.
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richy Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hardy has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rich jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardy walks away with a smile on his face. Rich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rich shoots and misses
and Hardy counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hardy tries to clinch up but Rich circles away and keeps his distance.
Rich appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the cage. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As Rich backs off Hardy throws a huge counter combo but Rich manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Hardy scores with a four punch combination!
Hardy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rich circles away.
Rich tries to counter with a takedown but Hardy is quick to defend against it.
Rich darts in looking for a takedown but Hardy gets double underhooks and turns Rich into the cage.
Rich with a poor takedown
and Hardy counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hardy throws a head kick that half lands.
Rich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rich somewhat.

Hardy moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich can't get the takedown.
Rich prevents the takedown attempt.
Hardy utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Rich pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy is looking to pass into half guard but Rich pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rich is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rich wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Hardy can't keep his opponent in guard - Rich advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Rich seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Hardy is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Richy Rich!