PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Hardin (ranked 3160 p4p, 3067 weight class) and Billy Marques (ranked 406 p4p, 396 weight class). Marques has chosen Raining Blood as his entrance music. John Hardin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Billy Marques's chin.

Hardin
vs
Marques

187 cm
26
189
9 - 13 - 1

191 cm
43
193
18 - 21 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Core Combat
KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 9 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, John Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Marques!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marques fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hardin sprawls well initially but Marques persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hardin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardin is looking to control Marques's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardin avoid being mounted?

Marques 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 Marques.
Hardin trying to hold on to Marques's head to control him but Marques postures up.
Hardin trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardin wants to hold on but Marques pushes him away.
Marques is landing with some decent strikes but Hardin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hardin is looking to get to half guard.
Hardin tries to hold on but Marques postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marques works his way to his opponent's back.

Hardin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
My spies in Catch Wrestling L.A. inform me that Marques has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Hardin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Hardin trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Hardin tries to escape the position.

Marques working for a choke but Hardin is defending well.

Marques tightening his grip on Hardin, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardin turns into Marques and is now in his guard.
Marques is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Marques keeping moving, preventing Hardin from controlling successfully.
Hardin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Marques controlling the position.

Marques pushes Hardin off and scrambles back to his feet.

Marques clinches up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardin wants to break free but Marques has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hardin has had enough of the clinch but Marques keeps him there for the moment.
Hardin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hardin working hard to break the clinch.
Hardin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Marques keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hardin's efforts to push away.
Marques lands a shoulder strike.
Hardin misses with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hardin working hard to break the clinch.

Hardin manages to break the clinch.
Hardin throws a lazy head kick
letting Marques counter with a right hand.
Hardin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hardin throws a body shot but no joy.

Marques changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hardin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hardin tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Marques easily slips into full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Marques looking for a guillotine from mount but Hardin is having none of it.

Marques is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hardin is surviving well by controlling Marques's body position as best he can.
Marques trying to control but Hardin is having none of it.
Hardin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marques content just to control the position here.
Hardin tries to hold on but Marques pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Marques dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Marques shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hardin is looking to improve his position.
John Hardin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hardin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marques pulls his head out easily.

Marques is working for a kimura but Hardin is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marques is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hardin is just riding it out for now. Marques eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin is looking to control Marques's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardin avoid being mounted?

Marques is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hardin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Marques is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marques looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hardin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Marques passes to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marques wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two 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.
Marques advances to mount.
Hardin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hardin tries to hold on but Marques pushes him away.
Hardin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Marques connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hardin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marques has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marques sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin tries to hold on but Marques postures up.

Marques looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Marques cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Marques avoids the attempt from Hardin to control.
Hardin working to try and regain half guard.
Hardin tries to lock up and control but Marques gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marques controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marques punishing his opponent with strikes.
Marques prevents Hardin from getting the reversal.
Marques is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hardin wants to control but Marques is having none of it.

Marques looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Hardin tries to hold on but Marques pushes him away.
Hardin has given up his back here.
Hardin rolls, trying to escape but Marques keeps control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marques has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Hardin! Can he survive? No! He's out! Marques gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Billy Marques!
A relieved looking Billy Marques thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.