PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vance Hardin (ranked 5167 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Rice (ranked 24863 p4p, 0 weight class). Vance Hardin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hardin
vs
Rice

225 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vance Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicholas Rice!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rice gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hardin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hardin can't get the takedown.

Hardin pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hardin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hardin wants to stand and escape but Rice is having none of it.
Rice in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hardin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rice stands up and waves to Hardin to follow him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rice or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardin, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Rice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardin.

Hardin darts in and clinches Rice up against the cage.

Rice has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hardin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hardin trying to get back to his feet but Rice is in full control for now.
Hardin is trapped and Rice is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Hardin trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Hardin is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Rice off. It looks like it's working - Rice slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Hardin displaying calm under pressure there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rice throws a leg kick which misses Hardin's front leg but catches the back leg as Hardin tries to avoid it.

Rice moves into the clinch.
Rice's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Rice pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hardin blocks a head kick by Rice.
Hardin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rice has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Rice decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hardin is looking to escape.
Rice controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rice wants to work for an arm triangle but Hardin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hardin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rice.
Hardin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hardin tries to kick Rice off but Rice keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Rice is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hardin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rice.
Hardin trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hardin tries to kick Rice off but Rice keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rice takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rice wants to free his trapped foot but Hardin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hardin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Hardin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rice is aware though and is defending well.
Rice really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hardin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rice trying to control but Hardin is working from the bottom.

Hardin has his feet on Rice's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rice 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.

A close round but Nicholas Rice will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rice closes the distance and clinches up with Hardin, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes Hardin against the cage but Hardin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rice misses with a takedown attempt - Hardin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rice tries for a takedown but Hardin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hardin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Vance Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicholas Rice.
Rice misses with a takedown attempt - Hardin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rice fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hardin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rice is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rice moves into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Hardin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hardin defends it nicely.
Hardin seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hardin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rice takes the fight into the clinch.
Rice is trying to drag Hardin to the mat but Hardin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hardin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardin is pressed up against the cage. Rice has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hardin down to the mat. Hardin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

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.

Rice looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hardin!
Hardin tries to escape but Rice is in control.
You can see the frustration on Hardin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rice tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hardin's legs.
Hardin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Rice goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hardin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rice's guard! Nice work there by Hardin!
Hardin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hardin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rice's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hardin landing with the ground and pound.
Hardin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rice's head.

Hardin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rice shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardin sprawls well. Hardin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rice gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rice but Rice pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice shoots and misses
and Hardin counters with a series of strikes. Rice will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rice tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hardin defends well and Rice ends up having to push Hardin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hardin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rice swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rice shoots in looking for a takedown but Hardin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rice's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rice throws a sloppy head kick and Hardin moves out of range easily.
Hardin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Hardin gets a clinch.
Hardin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rice is defending well.
Hardin fails to pull guard.

Rice's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vance Hardin dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rice misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hardin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rice keeps the fight on the outside.
Rice fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardin avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rice throws a head kick that misses.
Rice lands a jab-cross combination.
Rice takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rice shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rice got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hardin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rice has managed to get both his arms back between Hardin's legs - danger averted.

Hardin wriggles free and stands up.
Nicholas Rice seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rice.
Vance Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicholas Rice.
Rice shoots in but Hardin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hardin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rice manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hardin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice leaves Hardin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rice shoots and misses
and Hardin counters with a right hand to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rice is defended easily by Hardin.
Vance Hardin is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice sprawl there from Hardin as Rice shoots in.
Hardin tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rice manages to circle out of the way.

Hardin takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin pressing his opponent against the cage.

Hardin pulls guard effortlessly.

Hardin wriggles free and stands up.
Rice looks for a takedown but Hardin sprawls well.

Hardin moves into the clinch.
Hardin looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin slowing the pace effectively.
Hardin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rice can do to turn this around?
Hardin is pushing Rice up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nice elbow from Rice.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rice.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hardin blocks a low kick nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rice fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vance Hardin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hardin 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vance Hardin!