PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Basty Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sexton Hardcastle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hardcastle's choice of entrance music: How I Could Just Kill a Man- Rage Against the Machine. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Jones
vs
Hardcastle

176 cm
25
162 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
151 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Basty Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sexton Hardcastle!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hardcastle closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jones quickly recovers to half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Jones pushes Hardcastle off looking to stand but Hardcastle dives back in and keeps control.
Jones manages to get to full guard.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Hardcastle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hardcastle told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Hardcastle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardcastle wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hardcastle taking some punishment here, with Jones in his half guard.

Hardcastle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jones pulls his head out easily.
Jones is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hardcastle has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jones is working away from the top position though.
Jones wants to take a breather but Hardcastle is having none of it.
Hardcastle trying to control but Jones postures up.
We've been hearing that Jones has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Jones winds up and cracks Hardcastle with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hardcastle trying to control but Jones postures up.
Hardcastle taking some punishment here, with Jones in his half guard.
Jones takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jones is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hardcastle reverses the position - he's now on top in Jones's guard.
Hardcastle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jones throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Jones on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jones tries to get out of the position.
Hardcastle is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hardcastle wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Jones keeping full guard, as Hardcastle tries to pass.
Jones is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hardcastle wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Jones will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hardcastle stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Hardcastle from controlling successfully.
Hardcastle won't allow Jones to get back to his feet.
Hardcastle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hardcastle preventing the sweep.
Hardcastle lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hardcastle won't allow Jones to get back to his feet.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones wants to stand up but Hardcastle is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jones with a poor takedown

and Hardcastle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardcastle.
Jones throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jones bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hardcastle's guard.

Hardcastle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardcastle tries to strike from the bottom.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Hardcastle.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcastle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hardcastle looking for a guillotine here but Jones defends easily.

Jones decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hardcastle, up you get!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones walks into a stiff left hand from Hardcastle.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
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 Basty Jones will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hardcastle moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jones fails with the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Hardcastle. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
Jones dives in and grabs Hardcastle's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardcastle pushes down on Jones's head and hops out.
Hardcastle changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Basty Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardcastle scores with a three punch combo!
Jones throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hardcastle is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Jones fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones gets caught flat footed, as Hardcastle shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardcastle scoring with some ground and pound.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle scoring with some ground and pound.
Hardcastle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jones's head.
Hardcastle slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hardcastle connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Jones some visible discomfort.
Hardcastle working the ground and pound from side control.
Jones is trying to get back to half guard.

Hardcastle working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hardcastle working the head with strikes.
Jones is not content to let Hardcastle control the position.
Jones is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hardcastle has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is not content to let Hardcastle control the position.
Jones is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hardcastle's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jones is staying active underneath Hardcastle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hardcastle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hardcastle missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jones tries to kick Hardcastle off in order to stand up. Hardcastle Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Hardcastle tries for a kimura but Jones is defending well.
Hardcastle lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking for a sweep.
Hardcastle working the ground and pound but Jones is defending the strikes.
Hardcastle gets to mount! Jones was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Hardcastle prevents Jones from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hardcastle. What's that going to do exactly?
Hardcastle lands a nice shot to the head.
Hardcastle trying to control but Jones is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardcastle has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jones's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle controlling from the full mount.
Hardcastle is continuing to stall.
Jones is in a horrible position here. Hardcastle smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Jones 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jones manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jones striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Hardcastle is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hardcastle trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Hardcastle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sexton Hardcastle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hardcastle lands a jab to Jones's midsection.
Jones ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardcastle moves away.
Hardcastle getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hardcastle displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jones.
Hardcastle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jones defends it well.
Hardcastle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jones wants to clinch up but Hardcastle keeps it at a distance.
And Hardcastle tries to counter it with a takedown but Jones pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hardcastle displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hardcastle stalks Jones and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jones's face. Jones staggers backwards, shaken.
Jones goes for a double leg but Hardcastle avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hardcastle continues to drive forward.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown but Hardcastle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jones's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And Hardcastle tries to counter it with a takedown but Jones pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Basty Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hardcastle's waist but Hardcastle gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jones off to one side.
And Hardcastle tries to counter it with a takedown but Jones pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardcastle lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle lands a jab-cross combination.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Hardcastle pushes him off.
Hardcastle is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Jones wants to clinch.
Hardcastle feints a jab promting Jones to slip. Hardcastle then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jones slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hardcastle connects with a body shot that sends Jones's belly button to the back.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardcastle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardcastle shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jones manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hardcastle preventing the sweep.
Jones has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hardcastle works a leg free and moves into half guard.
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!
Jones regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hardcastle works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
Jones is staying active underneath Hardcastle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hardcastle is pressing down on Jones's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jones is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Jones is looking to escape.

Hardcastle seems to be looking for submissions.
Sexton Hardcastle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardcastle is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Jones reverses the position - he's now on top in Hardcastle's guard.
Jones wants to pass the guard but Hardcastle is keeping the position.
Jones stands up over Hardcastle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jones makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Basty Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing strikes from guard but Hardcastle blocks nicely.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hardcastle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcastle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones preventing the sweep.
Jones sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hardcastle's guard.
Hardcastle trying to control but Jones postures up.
Hardcastle preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hardcastle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sexton Hardcastle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardcastle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Sexton Hardcastle!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Sexton Hardcastle!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Sexton Hardcastle!

Sexton Hardcastle wins by unanimous decision!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Sexton Hardcastle waved his t-shirt featuring Voodoo Nutrition's logo in front of the cameras.