PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Loke Sabel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hardy
vs
Sabel

185 cm
27
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

204 cm
21
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Loke Sabel!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marcus Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy misses with a double jab

so Sabel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hardy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hardy tries to get out of the position.
Sabel's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sabel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sabel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy looking for a sweep. Not yet Hardy, not yet.
Sabel sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy seems keen to control Sabel's posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sabel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hardy. Sabel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sabel with the counter takedown but Hardy avoids it easily.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sabel stuffs the takedown attempt from Hardy. Hardy gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sabel throws a one two combo.
A shot to the body from Hardy misses

and Sabel counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hardy!
Hardy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Hardy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sabel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy struggling a bit here.
Hardy regains half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hardy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sabel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardy is keeping the position for now.
Sabel trying to move into half guard but instead Hardy has managed to sweep!

Sabel wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Sabel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hardy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sabel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hardy stands up over Sabel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've been hearing that Hardy has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hardy works over Sabel with some ground and pound from guard.

Hardy is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Sabel has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Hardy is looking to defend but Sabel has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Hardy! Sabel pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Hardy taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Loke Sabel!