PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

West
vs
Hard

202 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malcolm West!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rock Hard!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hard. Hard obviously looking to wear him down.
Hard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
West shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick misses from Hard.
West avoids the head kick by Hard.
Both fighters circling a little - Hard finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rock Hard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hard scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
West tries to clinch up.
Hard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt West.
Hard throws a head kick that half lands.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

West gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hard is looking to break free of the clinch but West has double underhooks.
Hard is looking to break free of the clinch but West has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West prevents Hard from breaking the clinch.

West pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hard, right into the meat.
West fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm West. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hard throws a head kick that misses

and West counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hard's face as he tries to break the clinch.

West manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Hard.
Hard looks winded!
West looks for a takedown but Hard sprawls well.
West avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hard as he jumps to the side.
Hard connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed West momentarily.
Hard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hard scores with a head kick.
Hard keeps the fight on the outside.
West really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hard's corner calls for a 1-2. Hard obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

West forces Hard back against the cage and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

West escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
West closes the distance and clinches up with Hard, looking for a takedown. West pushes Hard against the cage but Hard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

West clinches up with Hard and pushes him back against the cage.
Hard gets underhooks to prevent West's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hard prevents the takedown attempt.
West keeps control of Hard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

West manages to break the clinch.
West shoots in but Hard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hard looks like he wants to counter punch here.

West closes the distance and clinches.

West gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hard is trying to escape back to his feet but West uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Hard is trying to buck West off.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hard wants to get back to his feet but West is dominant here and he's now got Hard's back!
Hard trying to get back to his feet but West is in full control for now.
Even with his hooks in, West manages to miss with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hard throws a head kick but West moves out of range.
West tries to counter by clinching up but Hard breaks away and moves out of range.
West tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Hard.
Hard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by West.
Hard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
West moves out of range as Hard throws a body kick.
West walks into a straight right hand from Hard.
Hard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

West fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hard, pushing him back against the cage.
Hard wants to break free but West has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
West is working for takedown but Hard is calmly controlling the position for now.
West trying to land knees to the body.
West lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hard.
Hard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but West has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hard is breathing heavily.
West tries for a takedown but Hard manages to get underhooks.

West breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hard throws a head kick but West moves out of range.
Malcolm West is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
West tries to clinch but Hard is having none of it.
Hard tries a quick counter leg kick but West is wise to it.

West throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. West is in Hard's guard.
Hard wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and West manages to pass to side control.
West thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hard blocking the ground and pound attempt from West.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West is nestled in close to Hard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
West 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.
West throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hard tries to kick West off but West keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
West throwing shots but Hard is blocking nicely.
Hard tries to kick West off but West keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with West. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
West throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
West thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
West prevents Hard from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
West shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hard as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm West. That's going to take a lot out of him.
West tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hard swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - West looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
West shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hard pinned against the cage. Hard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hard lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
West fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hard throws a fast counter high kick but West manages to duck under it in time.
Hard scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West tries to clinch up but Hard circles away and keeps his distance.
Hard stuffs the takedown.
Hard scores with a nice body kick.
Hard punishes West's body with a nice straight punch.
No luck for West with that takedown attempt.
Hard throws a nice head kick!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
West is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Hard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

West fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hard avoids it really well and circles away.
Hard lands a high kick!
Good leg kick by Hard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
West shoots in looking for a takedown. Hard tries to sprawl out of it but West keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of West's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to West's calf.
A jab lands there for Hard.
West tries to clinch there but Hard circles away.
West walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hard.
Hard throws a head kick that West semi-blocks.

West rushes Hard and presses him up against the cage.

West breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rock Hard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hard misses with the combination.
Hard slaps away a takedown attempt from West, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm West. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from West.
West will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hard throws a sloppy head kick

and West counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by West.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
West is working for takedown but Hard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hard working hard to break the clinch.

West breaks the clinch.
West is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of West's head.
West dives in and grabs Hard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hard pushes down on West's head and hops out.
Hard scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between West's hands.
Hard finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by West.
Rock Hard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
West fails with an attempt to clinch.
West tries to close the distance and clinch but Hard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
West shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hard pinned against the cage. Hard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hard throws a fast counter high kick but West manages to duck under it in time.
West takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hard throws the kick towards the body but West avoids it.
West is looking to counter the offense by Hard and move into the clinch.
West tries to clinch but Hard is having none of it.

West gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

West has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hard uses from the top position.
Rock Hard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hard preventing the sweep.
Hard is looking to stand up but West won't let him.
Hard is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Malcolm West has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rock Hard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rock Hard!