PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Combat Jack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Major Hardwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack comes to the cage accompanied by l. Hardwood is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ali Bomaye by The Game. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jack
vs
Hardwood

186 cm
33
215 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

190 cm
33
214 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Combat Jack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Major Hardwood!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jack throws out a powerful jab.

Hardwood feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've been hearing good reports from Jack's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardwood wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.
Jack is pulling down on Hardwood's head to control his posture.

Jack is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jack wants to sweep here but Hardwood controlling him for the moment.
Hardwood trying to control but Jack is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardwood looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardwood trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardwood uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jack.
No joy there for Hardwood, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Hardwood clinches up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hardwood.
Hardwood stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jack misses with a knee to the head.
Hardwood swings wildly with an uppercut but Jack uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jack lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack lands with a left to the head.
Hardwood can't find room to land a body shot as Jack controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jack.
Jack lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Jack misses with a knee to the head.
Jack with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardwood doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jack has a couple of punches blocked by Hardwood.
Hardwood lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hardwood goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Jack creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Jack holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hardwood lands a body punch in the clinch.
Jack throws a punch but it's blocked by Hardwood.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hardwood.
Hardwood tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jack's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jack.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hardwood misses with a body punch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jack takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Jack misses with a knee to the head.
Hardwood on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hardwood digs a right hand into Jack's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jack's gas tank.
Hardwood lands a shoulder strike.
Hardwood stalling.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardwood.
Jack tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardwood.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jack lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hardwood backwards.
Hardwood lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jack being controlled against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Hardwood fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jack connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hardwood's face.
Hardwood misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jack being controlled against the cage.
Hardwood misses with a punch to the body.
Jack unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hardwood lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardwood misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jack swings wildly with an uppercut but Hardwood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hardwood lands with a light punch inside.
Jack blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jack throws a punch but it's blocked by Hardwood.
Hardwood misses with the head strike.
Jack looking to throw knees to the head but Hardwood is blocking nicely.
Jack tries a knee to the head but Hardwood blocks it.
Hardwood misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hardwood blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Combat Jack will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hardwood lands a nice shot that snaps Jack's head back.

It looks like Combat Jack has been cut.
Hardwood misses with a straight right.
Major Hardwood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jack looks to score with a jab to the body but Hardwood is just out of range.
Jack throws a body kick that misses.
Hardwood tries a low kick but Jack avoids it.
Hardwood shoots in and drives through. Jack sprawls well.
Jack quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

Hardwood moves into the clinch.
Hardwood misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Hardwood fails to land.
Hardwood tries a body shot but Jack blocks it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hardwood.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardwood blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Combat Jack has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hardwood scores with a hook to the body.
Hardwood misses with a body punch.
A short right from Jack.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hardwood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardwood swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jack tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hardwood avoids it.
Jack lands a hook that snaps the head of Hardwood backwards.
Hardwood misses with a body punch.
Jack blocks a body shot from Hardwood.
Jack tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hardwood avoids it.
Hardwood struggles to land a body shot inside as Jack controls his hands.
Jack misses with a knee to the head.
Hardwood blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch on the inside from Hardwood fails to land.
Hardwood misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hardwood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hardwood misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jack blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jack pushes Hardwood back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hardwood taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hardwood has a couple of punches blocked by Jack.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood misses with a punch to the body.
Hardwood fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jack lands a nice knee to the body.
Jack blocks an uppercut.
Hardwood scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hardwood misses with a punch on the inside.
Hardwood misses with some punches.
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!
Jack throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hardwood blocks it with crossed arms.
Hardwood misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Hardwood.
Hardwood tries to work over Jack's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardwood.
Jack content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hardwood as Jack tries to tie him up.
Hardwood misses with a punch on the inside.
Jack tries to stall but Hardwood uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jack connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hardwood's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack scores a nice knee to the body.
Jack looking to stall.
Hardwood throws a punch but it's blocked by Jack.
Jack blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hardwood.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardwood.
A short right from Jack on the inside.
Jack misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hardwood.
Jack unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hardwood lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short left from Hardwood.
Jack prevents a body shot from Hardwood.
Jack blocks a body shot from Hardwood.
Jack blocking some punches.
Hardwood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hardwood doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hardwood misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jack tries to land knees in the clinch but Hardwood avoids the damage to the body.
Jack unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hardwood lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jack lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hardwood backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardwood lands a hook that snaps the head of Jack backwards.
Jack connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hardwood's face.
Hardwood on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jack lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hardwood.
Hardwood lands with a short shot to the head.
Jack working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hardwood.
Jack scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardwood tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hardwood on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hardwood.
Hardwood taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Hardwood scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Major Hardwood will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Combat Jack's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hardwood tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jack swivels and escapes.
Hardwood throws a leg kick
and Jack counters with a thumping low kick.
Jack misses with a double jab.
Hardwood slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jack with a hook.
Jack goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hardwood.
Jack tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jack tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hardwood presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hardwood unloading with bombs!
Jack is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hardwood is looking for a kimura but Jack is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hardwood to get the leverage.
Hardwood is thwarting Jack's attempts to control the position.
Jack is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardwood trying to control the action but Jack is working from the bottom.
Hardwood misses with a head shot. Jack uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hardwood lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood landing some decent shots from guard.
Hardwood wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.
Hardwood is stalling in the full guard.
Jack preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jack's head.

Jack escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hardwood gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jack looking for a sweep. Not yet Jack, not yet.
Hardwood scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hardwood wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.
Hardwood scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hardwood postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hardwood wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jack ducks under a wild hook from Hardwood.
Jack swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Jack avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jack looks to land a left hand but Hardwood moved out of range nicely.
Combat Jack is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardwood throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jack lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jack scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hardwood throws a low kick, looking for Jack's leg but Jack calmly moves out of range.
Jack misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Hardwood counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hardwood content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Jack has locked up a guillotine! Jack's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Hardwood is holding on here and Jack must be using up a lot of energy. Hardwood has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Jack gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Combat Jack!
Combat Jack was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
The defeated Major Hardwood had this to say: 'Damn, I got something in my eye.'.