PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derwent Bolt (ranked 2427 p4p, 3436 weight class) and Mike Bard (ranked 314 p4p, 438 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bolt
vs
Bard

181 cm
20
222
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
28
205
4 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Derwent Bolt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Bard!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Topper Green and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolt checks a leg kick.
Bard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bolt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Bard has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Bard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bard punishes Bolt's body with a nice straight punch.
Nice uppercut there from Bolt.
Bolt scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good exchange - Bolt coming out on top.
Bard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bard takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bolt lands a glancing blow to the side of Bard's head.
The fighters circling - Bolt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bard throws a solid leg kick but Bolt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bard.
Bard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good shot there by Bolt.
Bard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Bolt misses the target.
Bolt connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bard misses with a straight left.
Bolt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bard.
Bard walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bolt checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Bard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bolt swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolt scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bard works Bolt's body with a nice hook.
Bolt shoots in for a takedown but Bard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bard is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bolt rather than just go for the knockout.
Bard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bolt looks to score with a jab to the body but Bard is just out of range.
Bolt scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bard throws a hook but Bolt avoids it easily.
Bolt dives in and grabs Bard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bard pushes down on Bolt's head and hops out.
Bard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bolt uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bard.
Bolt misses with a wild body shot.
Bard misses with a wild body shot.
Bolt blocks a jab.
Bard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bolt throws a hook but Bard blocks it.
Bard misses with a body shot.
Bard scoring well with a low kick there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good exchange - Bolt coming out on top.
A big left from Bolt misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bolt throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bard was covering up waiting for the punch and Bolt finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Bolt drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bolt jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bard has his foot on Bolt's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bolt works his way back into a safe position though.
Bard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bolt is one step ahead there.
Bard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Bolt looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bolt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bard looking to control.
Bard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bolt. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bolt wants to control from the top but Bard keeps moving.
Bard striking off his back but it's not causing Bolt any problems.
Bolt trying to control but Bard is working from the bottom.
Bard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bolt is one step ahead there.
Bard trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
It looks like Bolt has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Jab by Bard.
Bard has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bard closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bolt.

Bard gets a double leg takedown into Bolt's guard.
Bolt looking to control.

Bolt has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Bard should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Bolt has tightened it up now! Bard should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Derwent Bolt!
Derwent Bolt was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.