PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Major Hardwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardwood is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ali Bomaye by The Game. Stan Smith had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 207.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Major Hardwood has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Smith
vs
Hardwood

188 cm
31
220 lbs
19 - 8 - 1

190 cm
35
214 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent 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 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Stan Smith !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Major Hardwood!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardwood fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Hardwood, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Hardwood against the cage but Hardwood circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hardwood.
Nice cross by Hardwood.
Hardwood swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smith .

It looks like Stan Smith has been cut.
Hardwood scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hardwood misses with a straight right.
Hardwood works Smith 's body with a nice hook.
Hardwood pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A counter left hand to the body from Smith misses its target.
Hardwood connects with a solid leg kick.

Hardwood lands a big shot that drops Smith ! Can he finish him?

Smith is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardwood controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hardwood throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Hardwood passes Smith 's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith is staying active underneath Hardwood, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardwood is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.
Hardwood working Smith over with strikes.
Hardwood with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hardwood is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardwood lands strikes from half guard.
Hardwood not doing much here.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hardwood.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

Hardwood seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Hardwood scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hardwood is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith trying to hold on to Hardwood's head to control him but Hardwood postures up.
Hardwood is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Hardwood wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hardwood is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Smith '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.
Hardwood trying to control from Smith 's half guard. Smith has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hardwood has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hardwood working some strikes from top position.
Hardwood trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Hardwood passes Smith 's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Smith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hardwood scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood slips a nice elbow through Smith 's hands, connecting with Smith 's forehead.
Hardwood missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hardwood trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Hardwood takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hardwood missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hardwood is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.

Hardwood maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Smith could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Hardwood has cracked it and Smith is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Hardwood!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Major Hardwood!
Post fight, an emotional Major Hardwood said 'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!'.