PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Cifaretto (ranked 2468 p4p, 3062 weight class) and Stratton Hartford (ranked 285 p4p, 341 weight class). Hartford has chosen Outshined as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cifaretto
vs
Hartford

188 cm
25
211
5 - 4 - 0

194 cm
24
205
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Wrestler Wayfare

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ralph Cifaretto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stratton Hartford!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hartford takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cifaretto feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hartfords jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hartford misses with a body kick.
Cifaretto lands an overhand right.
Good work by Cifaretto as he checks the leg kick.
Cifaretto changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hartford misses with a wild combination.
Hartford jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice defenses there by Hartford.
Hartford throws a big counter head kick but Cifaretto avoids it with no problem.
Nice sprawl there from Hartford as Cifaretto shoots in.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hartford.
Cifaretto ducks under a wild hook from Hartford.
Cifaretto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hartford moves away.
The fighters circling - Hartford throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Cifaretto shoots in and gets a takedown into Hartford's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cifaretto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hartford is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cifaretto is controlling him.
Cifaretto trying to control but Hartford is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartford wants to get back to his feet but Cifaretto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cifaretto trying to control but Hartford is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cifaretto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hartford is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cifaretto goes for a double leg but Hartford avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hartford continues to drive forward.
Hartford lands with a short shot to the head.
Hartford prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Cifaretto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cifaretto tries to score a body lock takedown but Hartford shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cifaretto goes for a takedown attempt but Hartford pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hartford.
Hartford throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cifaretto takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cifaretto swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hartford counters with a solid body kick.
Hartford throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Hartford clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartford stalls.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hartford slows down the pace here.
Hartford continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Hartford holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hartford receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Hartford has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Cifaretto seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Hartford can turn it around.
Cifaretto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hartford avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hartford lands with a short head shot on the inside.

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.
Hartford stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Stratton Hartford.
Hartford lands a high kick!

It looks like Ralph Cifaretto has been cut.
Hartford jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cifaretto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cifaretto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cifaretto looks to land a left hand but Hartford moved out of range nicely.
Hartford misses with a body kick.
Hartford scores with a body shot.
Cifaretto moves away from the strike by Hartford.
Hartford wants to clinch up but Cifaretto keeps it at a distance.
Hartford thumps Cifaretto with a low kick.
Hartford slips a straight right by Cifaretto.
Hartford tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cifaretto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cifaretto tries to counter with a takedown but Hartford is quick to defend against it.
Hartford misses with a straight left.
Nice cross by Hartford.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stratton Hartford dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ralph Cifaretto's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cifaretto throws a looping overhand right but Hartford ducks down to avoid it.

Hartford lands a high kick to the side of Cifaretto's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Hartford dives into guard, looking to finish.

Cifaretto is rocked!

Hartford stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Oh Cifaretto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Hartford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hartford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hartford slips a jab from Cifaretto.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hartford ducks under a wild hook from Cifaretto.
Cifaretto lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cifaretto seems to have got his legs back now.
Cifaretto throws a lazy uppercut

and Hartford lands a stunning uppercut that sends Cifaretto to the mat!
Hartford wants to stand up but Cifaretto has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Cifaretto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hartford stands up and beckons Cifaretto to join him on the feet.
Cifaretto punishes Hartford's body with a nice straight punch.
Hartford moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Hartford as he connects with a hook.
Cifaretto defending well as Hartford loads up on a big left hand.
Cifaretto half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hartford walks into a left hand.
Cifaretto slips under a jab from Hartford.
Cifaretto appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hartford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hartford ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartford throws a head kick that misses.

Hartford moves into range and clinches up with Cifaretto.
Hartford is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hartford manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hartford just leaning against Cifaretto, taking a breather.
The crowd are getting on Hartford's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Cifaretto wants to take the fight to the mat but Hartford manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hartford prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Cifaretto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hartford lands a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cifaretto tries for a takedown but Hartford manages to get underhooks.
Cifaretto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartford is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hartford lands a hook to the side of the head.

Hartford breaks the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hartford. Cifaretto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cifaretto throws a looping overhand right but Hartford ducks down to avoid it.
Cifaretto throws a jab but it's blocked by Hartford.
Cifaretto avoids a kick to the body.
A thudding body kick lands there by Hartford!
Cifaretto has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hartford pushes Cifaretto away with a front kick.
Hartford scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartford throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hartford pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hartford bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Cifaretto! He dives into his guard looking to finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hartford tries to stand but Cifaretto is controlling from the bottom.

Hartford stands up from Cifaretto's guard - Hartford perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hartford chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hartford keeps Cifaretto at a distance using the push kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stratton Hartford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ralph Cifaretto's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hartford stalling against the cage.
Hartford prevents a takedown attempt there.

Cifaretto is trying to trip Hartford. He has hold of a leg but Hartford is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cifaretto persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Hartford has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Cifaretto is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hartford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hartford tries to clinch there but Cifaretto circles away.
Cifaretto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hartford.
Cifaretto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hartford goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartford scores with a leg kick.
Hartford throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cifaretto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hartford punishes Cifaretto's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hartford misses with a two punch combination.
Cifaretto looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Good leg kick by Hartford.
Hartford throws an overhand right that lands on Cifaretto's shoulder, as Cifaretto tries to avoid the shot.
Hartford throws a looping overhand right but Cifaretto ducks down to avoid it.
Hartford fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hartford lands a jab to Cifaretto's midsection.
Cifaretto shoots for a takedown but Hartford saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hartford thumps Cifaretto with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cifaretto swings for the body but Hartford moves out of range.
Hartford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stratton Hartford is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartford misses with a hook.
Stratton Hartford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cifaretto looks to score with a jab to the body but Hartford is just out of range.
Hartford lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cifaretto misses the shot to the body.
Cifaretto fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hartford on the side of the head.
Hartford changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cifaretto throws a hook but Hartford avoids it easily.
Hartford avoids the body shot from Cifaretto.
Cifaretto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hartford. Cifaretto shrugs it off though.
Hartford slips under a jab.
Hartford is looking to clinch.
Jab, jab by Hartford - just one landing.
Stratton Hartford seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Cifaretto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hartford tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cifaretto is in Hartford's guard.
Hartford is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cifaretto is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cifaretto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Cifaretto tries for a kimura but Hartford is defending well.

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.
Hartford is trying to get back to his feet.

Cifaretto goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hartford rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cifaretto's guard! Nice work there by Hartford!

Cifaretto has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hartford is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cifaretto.

Hartford decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cifaretto to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stratton Hartford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hartford has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stratton Hartford!
Our winner, Stratton Hartford, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.