PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lance Hardwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dusan Kikovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardwood kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Stone Sour - Last Of The Real. Dusan Kikovic is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Hardwood
vs
Kikovic

175 cm
26
145 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

168 cm
32
143 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lance Hardwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dusan Kikovic!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kikovic connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hardwood misses with a body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Kikovic misses.
Hardwood takes a swing at Kikovic's ribcage but misses.
Hardwood misses with a leg kick
and Kikovic counters with a nice leg kick.
Kikovic throws a jab but it's blocked by Hardwood.

Kikovic throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hardwood was covering up waiting for the punch and Kikovic finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hardwood is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kikovic is controlling him.
Hardwood is wriggling around but Kikovic manages to pass to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kikovic trying to control the action but Hardwood is working from the bottom.
Kikovic stops Hardwood from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikovic wants to advance to full mount but Hardwood doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Kikovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hardwood is wriggling around but Kikovic manages to pass to half guard.
Hardwood is looking to escape.
Kikovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardwood keeps working.
Kikovic prevents Hardwood from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardwood won't allow Kikovic to pass to mount.
Hardwood is trying to stand back up but Kikovic is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kikovic trying to control from Hardwood's half guard. Hardwood has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hardwood is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kikovic trying to control but Hardwood is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kikovic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hardwood connects with a crisp jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Hardwood checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hardwood misses with a series of wild punches.
Kikovic tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Some wild striking there from Hardwood.
Hardwood cracks Kikovic with a good jab.
Kikovic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Kikovic misses the target.
Hardwood ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kikovic takes one to the chin there.
Kikovic throws a body shot but no joy.
Hardwood slips a jab from Kikovic.
Hardwood ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kikovic moves away.
Kikovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kikovic moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kikovic ducks under a wild hook from Hardwood.
Kikovic fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hardwood is out of range.
Kikovic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hardwood lands a jab-cross combination.
Hardwood swings for the body but Kikovic moves out of range.
Kikovic tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hardwood lands a right hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kikovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hardwood.
Hardwood misses with an uppercut. Kikovic saw that one coming.

Hardwood gets caught napping as Kikovic dives in and scores a takedown. Hardwood manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikovic advances position into side control!
Hardwood is being controlled here.

Kikovic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hardwood has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hardwood is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kikovic is controlling him well.
Kikovic looking to control but instead Hardwood has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Kikovic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hardwood knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kikovic wants to take a breather but Hardwood is having none of it.

Kikovic seems to be looking for submissions.
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 Lance Hardwood will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hardwood cracks Kikovic with an open hand slap.
Hardwood throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hardwood will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lance Hardwood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kikovic goes for a double leg but Hardwood avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hardwood continues to drive forward.
Kikovic's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kikovic's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hardwood is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kikovic on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hardwood misses with a combination
and Kikovic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lance Hardwood is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Hardwood. Those never looked like landing.
Hardwood misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hardwood lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kikovic takes one to the side of the head.
Kikovic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardwood as he avoids it easily.
Kikovic lands with a good body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardwood throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kikovic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hardwood is trying to escape back to his feet but Kikovic uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kikovic swings around for an armbar but Hardwood sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kikovic's guard.
Kikovic working a defensive guard here.
Kikovic has Hardwood pulled in close to control his posture.
Kikovic looking to control.
Hardwood wants to stand but Kikovic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Hardwood decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hardwood throws a hook to the side of Kikovic's head but Kikovic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lance Hardwood is winning the standup battle so far.

Kikovic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kikovic trying to control the position but Hardwood is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardwood is wriggling around trying to escape but Kikovic has hooked up a rear naked choke! Is it over??? Is it... you're damn right it is! Hardwood taps out and Kikovic picks up the big win! Great work there by Kikovic!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dusan Kikovic!
Dusan Kikovic took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Spartan Nutrition for their support in the buildup to the fight.