PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bob Hope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob Hope could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Heath Hardy's chin.

Hope
vs
Hardy

187 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
132 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Lion Fightwear

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bob Hope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Heath Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hope stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hope is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hope cracks Hardy with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hope moves out of range of the strikes.
Hope lands the left hand.
Hardy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hope to score with a decent uppercut.
Hardy moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hope cracks Hardy with a good jab.
Hope tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.
Hope is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hope clinches up against the cage.
Hardy stalling.
Hope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but Hope is blocking nicely.
Hardy lands a nice uppercut.
Hardy blocks a body shot from Hope.
A short body shot lands from Hope as the two fighters clinch.
Hardy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hardy lands a nice shot to the body.
Hardy is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy stalling against the cage.
Hardy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hardy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hope is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardy.
Hope lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hope throws a punch but it's blocked by Hardy.
Hardy trying to land knees to the body.
Hope throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hardy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hope misses with a body punch.
Hardy struggles to land a body shot inside as Hope controls his hands.
Hardy avoiding damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hope.
Hardy scores with a shot to the side of Hope's head.
Hope stops a takedown attempt from Hardy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hope tries a body shot but Hardy blocks it.
Hope misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hardy prevents a body shot from Hope.
Hope scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hope takes a shot to the head.
Hope misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Hardy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hope presses Hardy against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hope misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hope blocks a body shot from Hardy.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hope on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hope lands a body shot.
Hope blocks a body shot from Hardy.
Hope swings wildly with an uppercut but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hope swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good shot there by Hope.
Hope lands a glancing blow to the side of Hardy's head.
Hardy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hope digs a good body shot into Hardy's ribs.

Hope rushes Hardy and presses him up against the cage.
Hope scores with a shot to the side of Hardy's head.
Hardy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hopes head.
Hope really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hardy tries to throw a body punch but Hope avoids it by throwing Hardy back against the cage.
A short right from Hope.
Hope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hope scores with a shot to the side of Hardy's head.
Hope is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hope tries to throw a body punch but Hardy avoids it by throwing Hope back against the cage.
Hardy avoids the elbow strike from Hope, against the cage.
Hardy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control the position but instead, Hope has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hardy into the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hardy misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hope.
Hope misses with a punch to the body.
Hope managing to block the knees to the body from Hardy.
Hope will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hardy up against the cage.
Hardy wants a takedown but no success here.
Hope misses with some punches.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hope avoids it.
Hope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hope blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Hope fails to land.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hope throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Hope dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hardy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hope moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Hope misses the target.
Hope dodges the punch combination from Hardy.
Heath Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy tries a head kick but it misses.
Hope digs a good body shot into Hardy's ribs.
Hardy lands with a good body shot.
Hardy looks to land a left hand but Hope moved out of range nicely.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Hope moves out of range.
Hardy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hope stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Heath Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hope keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hope moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hope tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Hardy misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy wants to clinch up but Hope keeps it at a distance.
Hope tries to counter by clinching up but Hardy breaks away and moves out of range.
Hardy misses with a takedown
and Hope counters with a straight right hand.
Hardy throws a lazy head kick
enabling Hope to counter with a crisp jab.

Hope darts in and clinches Hardy up against the cage.
Hardy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hope has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardy just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hope's brow.
Hardy prevents a body shot from Hope.
Hope throws a punch but it's blocked by Hardy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy tries to score a body lock takedown but Hope shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hardy missing with knees to the body.
Hope swings wildly with an uppercut but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hardy trying to land knees to the body.
Hope tries to work over Hardy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bob Hope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Hardy.
Hardy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hope sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hope ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardy moves away.
Hardy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hardy throws a hook but Hope blocks it.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Hope moves out of range easily.
Hardy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hope moves away.
Hope is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A left and a right from Hope both land. Nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hardy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hardy throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hope counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hope uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hardy.
Hope throwing a counter right hand but Hardy manages to avoid it.
Hope blocks a low kick nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hardy. Hope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hope is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hope takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hardy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardy finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hope slips a jab from Hardy.
A little feinted left hand from Hope on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hardy fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hope checks it well.
Hope is looking to counter punch.
Hardy throws a body shot but no joy.
Hope ducks under a wild hook from Hardy.
Hope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hardy.
Hope checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hope moves out of range as Hardy strikes.
Hope misses with a hook to the body
and Hardy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hope moves out of range as Hardy strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hardy.
A slow jab from Hardy misses its intended target.

Hardy instigates a clinch.
Hardy tries to land knees in the clinch but Hope avoids the damage to the body.
Hope misses with a body punch.
Hardy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hope's elbow.
Hope blocks a body shot from Hardy.
Hardy wants a takedown.
Hardy gets through Hope's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy tries to clinch there but Hope circles away.
Hardy looks to land a left hand but Hope moved out of range nicely.
Hardy misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Hardy throws a leg kick
and Hope counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Heath Hardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A swing and a miss from Hope.
Hardy is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Hardy does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Hardy has closed the distance and engaged Hope in a clinch.
Hope scores with a shot to the side of Hardy's head.
Hope working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hope misses with the head strike.
Hope lands with a right to the head.
Hope is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hope tries to work over Hardy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hardy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hope misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Hardy.
Hope misses with the head strike.
Hardy is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy wants a takedown.
Bob Hope has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hardy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hopes head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hope lands with a right to the head.
Hope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hardy pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hardy misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hope.
Hardy tries to score a body lock takedown but Hope shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bob Hope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Hardy.
Hope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hope lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hardy backwards.
Hope swings wildly with an uppercut but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hope working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Hope fails to land.
Hardy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hope gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hardy.
Hope is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hardy is defending well for now.
Hope misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Hardy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hardy.
Hope working aggressively here.
Hardy scores with a shot to the side of Hope's head.
Hardy tries to land knees in the clinch but Hope avoids the damage to the body.
Hope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hope tries to work over Hardy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hardy stalling in the clinch but Hope improves position.
Hope managing to block the knees to the body from Hardy.
A short uppercut from Hardy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hope dodges an elbow strike from Hardy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hope.
Hardy has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hope is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hardy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hope gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hardy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hope managing to block the knees to the body from Hardy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardy.
Hope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hardy misses with an elbow strike.
Hardy is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hope blocks an elbow strike from Hardy.
Hardy pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hardy is looking to control Hope's arms but Hope gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hardy has his back to the cage.
Hardy stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hardy is looking to control Hope's arms but Hope gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hardy has his back to the cage.
Hardy tries to score a body lock takedown but Hope shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nice body punch from Hope - that landed with a thud.
Hope stops a takedown attempt from Hardy.
Hope content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right from Hardy.
Hardy is trying to pull guard but Hope turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to work over Hope's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hope lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hardy content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hope can't find room to land a body shot as Hardy controls the action.
Hardy can't find room to land a body shot as Hope controls the action.
Hardy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hardy blocks an uppercut.
Hope doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hardy is struggling to control the position.

Hardy breaks from the clinch.
Hardy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hope defends well and Hardy ends up having to push Hope into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hope lands a slapping body shot.
Hardy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hope.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bob Hope.
Well Hope has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Hope!
Bob Hope very nearly forgot to thank Lion Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.