PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Flint Hardcastle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantine Kacema (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kacema has chosen Efegei Efegei as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hardcastle
vs
Kacema

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Flint Hardcastle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Konstantine Kacema!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kacema throws a right hand that Hardcastle ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardcastle also avoids with ease.
Hardcastle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hardcastle tries a head kick but it misses.
Kacema is looking to clinch but Hardcastle is avoiding it.
Kacema swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardcastle.
Kacema takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Konstantine Kacema has been cut.
Hardcastle throws a sloppy head kick and Kacema moves out of range easily.
Kacema slips a jab and a cross from Hardcastle.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kacema has eaten all the pies!
Kacema fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kacema shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hardcastle's guard.

Kacema has gone for a leg lock! Hardcastle slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kacema's guard.
Kacema is trying to keep Hardcastle in close.
Kacema looking for a sweep. Not yet Kacema, not yet.
Hardcastle is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle trying to control but Kacema is working from the bottom.
Kacema is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kacema is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hardcastle trying to control the position from guard on top but Kacema is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardcastle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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.
Hardcastle swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Kacema gets a takedown into half guard.
Kacema is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hardcastle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hardcastle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hardcastle is trying to control the position but Kacema postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kacema wants to control from the top but Hardcastle keeps moving.
Hardcastle is trying to keep Kacema in close.
Hardcastle keeping moving, preventing Kacema from controlling successfully.
Kacema won't allow Hardcastle to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hardcastle stuffs the takedown attempt from Kacema. Kacema gets slowly back to his feet.
Kacema fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kacema takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Flint Hardcastle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kacema sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kacema looks gassed!

Hardcastle moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Hardcastle.
Hardcastle lands with a short shot to the head.
Hardcastle is trying to stall.

Hardcastle breaks from the clinch.
Hardcastle wants to clinch but Kacema slips to the side

and Kacema counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hardcastle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kacema can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hardcastle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hardcastle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kacema.
Kacema preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hardcastle looking for a guillotine here but Kacema defends easily.
Kacema wants to control from the top but Hardcastle keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flint Hardcastle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Konstantine Kacema's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hardcastle lands a jab-cross combination.
Kacema circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardcastle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kacema.

Kacema shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kacema showed some decent athleticism there.

Kacema is looking for a kimura here.

Kacema is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kacema is breathing heavily.
Hardcastle trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kacema not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hardcastle wants to improve his position but Kacema is controlling well.
Hardcastle trying to control here.
Hardcastle moves into full guard.
Kacema working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hardcastle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle is pulling down on Kacema's head. It's preventing any offense from Kacema, at least for the moment.
Hardcastle manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hardcastle throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hardcastle wants to control the pace but Kacema is squirming around nicely.
Hardcastle avoids the attempt from Kacema to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardcastle tries to control but Kacema wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardcastle stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kacema.
Kacema trying to control the action but Hardcastle is working from the bottom.
Hardcastle pushes Kacema away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kacema gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hardcastle is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hardcastle is looking for a sweep. Kacema is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kacema trying to mount his opponent but Hardcastle defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hardcastle.
Hardcastle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Konstantine Kacema has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardcastle is working hard here to advance position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hardcastle holds on and takes a little breather.
Kacema controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kacema trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcastle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kacema is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hardcastle is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hardcastle has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Konstantine Kacema will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Konstantine Kacema's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hardcastle scores with a head kick.
Kacema blocks a head kick by Hardcastle.
Kacema blocks a head kick by Hardcastle.

Kacema scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kacema throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hardcastle trying to control from the bottom.
Kacema scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kacema slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kacema.
Hardcastle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hardcastle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardcastle keeping moving, preventing Kacema from controlling successfully.
Hardcastle trying to keep a closed guard but Kacema is proving a slippery customer.
Kacema with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hardcastle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hardcastle keeping full guard, as Kacema tries to pass.

That's two 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.
Kacema trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcastle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kacema throwing strikes from guard but Hardcastle blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kacema takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kacema misses with a wild body shot.
Kacema showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardcastle.
Kacema will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hardcastle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hardcastle tries to clinch up but Kacema circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardcastle misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hardcastle keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hardcastle misses with a head kick.

Hardcastle gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Hardcastle.
Hardcastle tries to land knees in the clinch but Kacema avoids the damage to the body.
Kacema misses with a body punch.
Kacema takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hardcastle is pressed up against the cage. Kacema has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hardcastle down to the mat. Hardcastle avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Flint Hardcastle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konstantine Kacema.
Hardcastle misses with a wild combination.
Hardcastle looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hardcastle throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Hardcastle tries to keep at a distance but Kacema has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kacema gets the takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Kacema.
Hardcastle tries to bench press Kacema off him but Kacema keeps the position.
Hardcastle struggling a bit here.

Kacema has an Americana. Hardcastle didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Kacema is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Kacema hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Konstantine Kacema!