PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcin Held (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Hardcastle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardcastle is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by "Fade (Reed Streets Remix)" By Kanye West. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Held
vs
Hardcastle

170 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

171 cm
21
187 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcin Held!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Duke Hardcastle!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Held looks to clinch

and Hardcastle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Hardcastle's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Held is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hardcastle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Held. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hardcastle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Held wants to clinch

and Hardcastle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Held won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Held is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hardcastle connects with a decent elbow.
Held tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Held is trying to get back to his feet but Hardcastle has full control of the position and if anything, Held has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardcastle working for the choke.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Hardcastle controlling the positon.
We've been informed that Hardcastle has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Hardcastle is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Hardcastle has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Hardcastle 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.

Held tries to clinch but Hardcastle moves away

and Hardcastle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Held's guard.
Hardcastle tries to free his leg and advance position but Held is retaining full guard.
Hardcastle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Hardcastle drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Held dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Held controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardcastle pulls Held in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Held controlling from the top position.
Hardcastle keeping moving, preventing Held from controlling successfully.
Held is really struggling to control Hardcastle but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Duke Hardcastle has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardcastle shoots in looking for a takedown. Held tries to sprawl out of it but Hardcastle keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Held manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hardcastle.

Held has taken the fight to the clinch.
Held swings wildly with an uppercut but Hardcastle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Held misses with the head strike.

Hardcastle has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Held is trying to keep an underhook but Hardcastle manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hardcastle wants to take a breather but Held is having none of it.
Held pushes Hardcastle off looking to stand but Hardcastle dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Held pushes Hardcastle off looking to stand but Hardcastle dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardcastle sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Held looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Held fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marcin Held seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardcastle swats away the attempt to clinch by Held.
Held tries to clinch but Hardcastle moves out of range.
Held doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardcastle circles away.
Marcin Held is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Held moves in looking to clinch but Hardcastle pushes him off.
Hardcastle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Held defends it well.
Held tries to clinch up

and Hardcastle counters with a single leg into guard. Held didn't expect that.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Held is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hardcastle is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Hardcastle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Held tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Held tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardcastle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Held wants to clinch up but Hardcastle keeps it at a distance.
Held closes the distance but Hardcastle moves to the side

and Hardcastle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hardcastle stays in close to Held's body and controls the position.
Hardcastle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Held keeping full guard, as Hardcastle tries to pass.
Hardcastle should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardcastle working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Held wants to stand and escape but Hardcastle is having none of it.
Hardcastle is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Held looks to clinch
and Hardcastle counters with a head kick.

Held has Hardcastle up against the cage in a clinch.
Held misses with some punches.
Held is trying to force a seperation but Hardcastle has the dominant position.
Held misses with a hook from the clinch.
Held misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hardcastle breaks from the clinch.
Held is looking to clinch.
And Hardcastle tries to counter it with a takedown but Held pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Held moves into the clinch.

Hardcastle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Held wants to clinch

and Hardcastle counters with a takedown into side control.
Held is looking to get back to his feet here but Hardcastle is keeping cool and he's managed to take Held's back.
Held wants to get back to his feet.
Hardcastle throwing damaging strikes from the back! Held could be in trouble here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardcastle is looking for the choke from the back position but Held is controlling his hands well.

Hardcastle is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Held has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Hardcastle biding his time, looking for the opening.
Marcin Held has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hardcastle is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Held knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Held for a finish.
Duke Hardcastle is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardcastle is riding his opponent, not letting Held buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duke Hardcastle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardcastle winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duke Hardcastle!
Duke Hardcastle tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.