PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Wub (ranked 5885 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Hardcastle (ranked 19791 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardcastle has chosen "Fade (Reed Streets Remix)" By Kanye West as his entrance music. The key to victory for Mike Wub has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Wub
vs
Hardcastle

177 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
25
187 lbs
4 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Wub!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Duke Hardcastle!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wub drives through and clinches with Hardcastle against the cage.
Hardcastle looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Hardcastle gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Wub.

Hardcastle decides to pull guard.
Hardcastle keeping moving, preventing Wub from controlling successfully.
Wub postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wub looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle has a closed guard, preventing Wub from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hardcastle can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wub trying to control but Hardcastle is working from the bottom.

Hardcastle is working an open guard so Wub takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Wub moves into the clinch successfully.
Wub lands an elbow just above Hardcastle 's eye.
Wub is pushing Hardcastle up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Wub can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wub stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Wub breaks the clinch.
Hardcastle has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Wub is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Hardcastle misses with a jab to the body
and Wub counters with a two punch combo.

Wub darts in and clinches Hardcastle up against the cage.
Wub stalling in the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wub fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Wub. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Wub.
Hardcastle throws a big counter head kick but Wub avoids it with no problem.
Wub tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hardcastle manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hardcastle! But no joy.
Wub wants to clinch up but Hardcastle keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wub looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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.
Hardcastle leaves Wub with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardcastle is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Wub fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardcastle flicks out a counter leg kick but Wub steps away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Wub dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wub is looking to clinch but Hardcastle is avoiding it.
Hardcastle steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wub.

Wub clinches.
Wub jumps guard but Hardcastle stands there with Wub around his waist. Wub gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wub is trying to break the clinch but Hardcastle has him pressed against the cage.
Wub wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wub tries to work over Hardcastle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Wub's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wub is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle keeps the fight on the outside.
Wub is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardcastle tries to counter with a clinch but Wub shakes him off and moves away.
Hardcastle stuffs the takedown attempt from Wub. Wub gets slowly back to his feet.

Wub clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wub has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wub landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hardcastle is breathing heavily.
Hardcastle tries for a takedown but Wub manages to get underhooks.
Hardcastle is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Wub. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wub tries for a takedown but Hardcastle manages to get underhooks.
Wub tries to pull guard but Hardcastle holds him up against the cage and eventually Wub drops back down to his feet.
Wub tries to pull guard but Hardcastle won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardcastle manages to break the clinch.
Wub tries to clinch there but Hardcastle circles away.
Hardcastle tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Wub closes the distance and clinches.
Wub tries to score a body lock takedown but Hardcastle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wub trying to control the position but instead, Hardcastle has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wub into the cage.
Wub is trying to break the clinch but Hardcastle has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wub misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hardcastle.
Wub keeps control of Hardcastle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wub jumps guard but Hardcastle stands there with Wub around his waist. Wub gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wub dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hardcastle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wub is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Wub dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Wub breaks from the clinch.
Wub fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardcastle tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hardcastle leaves Wub with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardcastle with the counter takedown but Wub avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardcastle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardcastle feints the counter takedown.
Wub fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardcastle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wub looks for a takedown but Hardcastle sprawls well.
Wub wants to clinch up but Hardcastle keeps it at a distance.
Wub wants to clinch but Hardcastle slips to the side
enabling Hardcastle to counter with a crisp jab.

Wub has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wub tries to pull guard but Hardcastle holds him up against the cage and eventually Wub drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Wub. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wub prevents Hardcastle from breaking the clinch.
Hardcastle goes for a takedown attempt but Wub pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Wub fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hardcastle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wub defends it well.
Wub tries to clinch but Hardcastle moves out of range.
And Hardcastle tries to counter it with a takedown but Wub pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Wub gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wub is trying to pull guard but Hardcastle turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wub leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wub lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wub is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardcastle can do to turn this around?
Hardcastle is working for takedown but Wub is calmly controlling the position for now.
Wub looking for a takedown.
Wub has Hardcastle pressed against the cage, preventing Hardcastle from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Wub misses with a hook from the clinch.

Wub breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wub tries for a takedown but Hardcastle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hardcastle is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Wub looks for a takedown but Hardcastle sprawls well.
Hardcastle wants to counter the offense by Wub and move into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wub tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardcastle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And Hardcastle tries to counter it with a takedown but Wub pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Wub shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hardcastle steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wub.
Duke Hardcastle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wub shoots in looking for a takedown but Hardcastle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wub's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hardcastle tries to counter with a clinch but Wub shakes him off and moves away.
Hardcastle swats away the attempt to clinch by Wub.
Hardcastle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wub defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Duke Hardcastle.
I think Wub has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Wub!