PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Renato Babawto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy has chosen Run this town as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Babawto
vs
Hardy

178 cm
26
177 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

184 cm
32
186 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renato Babawto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chad Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Babawto.
Babawto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Babawto throws a solid leg kick but Hardy takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Babawto.
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.
An inside leg kick from Hardy misses.
Babawto gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hardy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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 Renato Babawto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Babawto with a poor takedown
and Hardy makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Babawto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hardy quickly recovers to half guard.

Hardy has one foot on Babawto's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hardy has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babawto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hardy.
Hardy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Babawto doesn't seem bothered though.
Babawto throws a jab when Hardy was well out of range.
Babawto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babawto misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hardy counters with a straight right hand.
Babawto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hardy lands with a shot to the body.
Hardy throws a right hand that Babawto ducks under and follows up with a left that Babawto also avoids with ease.

Hardy tries to sprawl but Babawto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hardy is refusing to be controlled, as Babawto sits in half guard.
Hardy is looking for a sweep. Babawto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Babawto is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hardy reverses the position - he's now on top in Babawto's guard.
Babawto looking for a sweep. Not yet Babawto, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy connects with a couple of short punches.
Babawto pulls Hardy in close to prevent any damage.
Babawto being controlled here, momentarily.

Babawto pushes Hardy off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Babawto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Babawto throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Hardy to counter with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardy connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babawto with a poor takedown
enabling Hardy to counter with a crisp jab.
Hardy shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hardy lands a jab-cross combination.
Babawto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hardy! But no joy.

Babawto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hardy's guard.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Babawto manages to pass to side control.
Hardy regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Babawto.
Babawto preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babawto trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Babawto is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Babawto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Babawto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardy defending well though.

Babawto is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hardy has managed to free his arm - good work.
Babawto is just content to waste time from the top position. Hardy takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Hardy wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Babawto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hardy.
It seemed like Hardy was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Chad Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hardy thuds his right hand into Babawto's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Babawto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hardy.
Hardy lands a nice shot that snaps Babawto's head back.
Renato Babawto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Babawto manages to avoid it.
Babawto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardy counters with a nice body shot.
Babawto with a poor takedown
and Hardy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Babawto misses with a takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Babawto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy catches Babawto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Babawto misses with a hook. Hardy ducked under it nicely.
Babawto shoots in for a double leg but Hardy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Babawto has his takedown stuffed
and Hardy finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy cracks Babawto with a good jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Babawto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardy counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Babawto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Babawto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hardy appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hardy scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Babawto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Babawto doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hardy counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hardy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A head kick misses from Babawto.
Hardy lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy fakes the leg kick and cracks Babawto in the body.
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!
Hardy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Babawto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hardy punishes Babawto's body with a nice straight punch.
Babawto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hardy finds it's way round the side to connect with Babawto's head.
Babawto tries for a takedown but Hardy circles away easily
and Hardy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Babawto shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense.
Hardy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Babawto's hands.
Babawto misses with the body kick
and Babawto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Babawto is rocked!
Babawto drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Oh Babawto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Babawto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hardy to the mat! Hardy manages to get full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Hardy manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Babawto seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hardy is leaning against Babawto and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Hardy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hardy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Babawto gets full guard.
Hardy is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Babawto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hardy manages to get himself to full guard.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Babawto from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babawto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Babawto trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Babawto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hardy manages to avoid it.
Hardy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Babawto stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Babawto walks into a straight right hand from Hardy.
Hardy connects with a body shot.
Babawto fails to land the takedown.
Hardy tests Babawto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Babawto throws a solid leg kick but Hardy takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Babawto.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hardy. Babawto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Babawto with a poor takedown
enabling Hardy to counter with a crisp jab.
Babawto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hardy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hardy throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hardy catches Babawto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hardy cracks Babawto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Babawto shoots in for a double leg but Hardy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Babawto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babawto walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Babawto fails with the takedown
and Hardy counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hardy moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babawto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Babawto looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hardy cracks Babawto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Babawto misses with a body punch
and Hardy counters with a stiff right hand.
Babawto misses with a takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hardy with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hardy throws a shot to the body.
Babawto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hardy keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hardy lands with a cross.
Babawto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Chad Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Babawto gets a double leg takedown into Hardy's guard.

Hardy uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Babawto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hardy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Babawto throws a series of punches but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy scores with a shot to the body.
No luck for Babawto with that takedown attempt.
Hardy lands a nice looking body shot.
Hardy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Chad Hardy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hardy scores with a nice head shot.
Babawto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a nice uppercut.
Renato Babawto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babawto just misses with a punch to the body.
Babawto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
As Babawto backs off Hardy throws a huge counter combo but Babawto manages to avoid it all.
Hardy scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hardy scores with a nice right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hardy.
Hardy walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hardy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Babawto fails with the takedown.
Babawto throws a head kick that misses
and Hardy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Babawto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Renato Babawto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babawto shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Babawto sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hardy lands a slapping body shot.
A head kick misses from Babawto.
A countering left hand to the body from Hardy misses.
Babawto ducks right into an uppercut from Hardy.
Babawto throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hardy counters with a nice uppercut.
Babawto has his takedown stuffed
and Hardy counters with a stiff right hand.
Hardy lands a slapping body shot.
Hardy connects with a crisp jab.
Babawto fails with the takedown
enabling Hardy to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardy 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Hardy!
An out of breath Chad Hardy thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.