PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sexton Hardcastle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardcastle has chosen How I Could Just Kill a Man- Rage Against the Machine as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Emelianenko
vs
Hardcastle

177 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
151 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sexton Hardcastle!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardcastle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hardcastle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Emelianenko.
Hardcastle's coach down at Bruize Brothaz was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hardcastle's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Emelianenko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Hardcastle is avoiding it.
Emelianenko has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A big left from Emelianenko misses.
Emelianenko connects with the punch.
Hardcastle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Emelianenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
No joy there for Hardcastle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Emelianenko is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hardcastle.
Emelianenko scores with a hook.
Khabib Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardcastle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a lazy uppercut

and Hardcastle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hardcastle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hardcastle stopping the sweep attempt from Emelianenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.

Emelianenko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hardcastle defends it easily.
Hardcastle sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Emelianenko's guard.
Hardcastle winds up and cracks Emelianenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hardcastle scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hardcastle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hardcastle passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Emelianenko!
Emelianenko can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle landing strikes from the mount and Emelianenko is in trouble!
Hardcastle is landing with some decent strikes but Emelianenko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hardcastle controlling his opponent.
Emelianenko wants to hold on but Hardcastle pushes him away.
Hardcastle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Emelianenko is looking to get to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hardcastle working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hardcastle with good strikes from the mount here!
Hardcastle lands a big elbow.

Emelianenko is rocked!
Hardcastle controlling from mount.
Oh Emelianenko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Emelianenko regains half guard.
Well, if Hardcastle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Let's hope that Hardcastle has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ground and pound from Hardcastle.
Emelianenko wants to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko seems to have got his legs back now.
Hardcastle lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Emelianenko is trying to control but can't.
Emelianenko tries to roll over but Hardcastle keeps him under control.
Emelianenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hardcastle is working away from the top position though.
Hardcastle looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Emelianenko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko gets back to full guard.
Hardcastle lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hardcastle loads up on a big left hand. Emelianenko felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Hardcastle looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Emelianenko can't hide his disappointment, as Hardcastle celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sexton Hardcastle!
Sexton Hardcastle very nearly forgot to thank Voodoo Nutrition 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.