PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Damian Bachaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Hardin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bachaj comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - indestructible. Hardin is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by .. Jack Hardin told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Bachaj
vs
Hardin

176 cm
19
147 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damian Bachaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Hardin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hardin!
Hardin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hardin shoots in for a double leg but Bachaj sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hardin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bachaj fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardin avoids it really well and circles away.
Hardin stuffs the takedown attempt from Bachaj. Bachaj gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bachaj shoots in looking for a takedown. Hardin tries to sprawl out of it but Bachaj keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hardin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Bachaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bachaj tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hardin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bachaj misses with a double jab

and Hardin counters with a single leg into guard. Bachaj didn't expect that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hardin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hardin drops back looking for a leg! Bachaj is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bachaj manages to kick Hardin off! Hardin jumps back into Bachaj's guard.

Hardin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachaj is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Bachaj uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Bachaj with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardin counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bachaj is breathing heavily.

Hardin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hardin pushes down on Bachaj's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ground and pound from Hardin.
Hardin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hardin is trying to work for a kimura but Bachaj is defending well.
Bachaj trying to hold on to Hardin's head to control him but Hardin postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hardin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hardin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hardin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bachaj keeping control of the position.
Hardin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hardin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bachaj swings for the body but Hardin moves out of range.

Hardin feints and as Bachaj raises his hands in defense, Hardin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hardin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Hardin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bachaj looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bachaj looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bachaj!
Hardin wants to get back to his feet.
Hardin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hardin is looking for a sweep.
Hardin regains half guard.
Hardin trying to hold on to Bachaj's head to control him but Bachaj postures up.
Hardin tries to roll over but Bachaj keeps him under control.
Hardin pushes Bachaj off looking to stand but Bachaj dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Hardin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bachaj throws a head kick that misses.

Hardin moves into range and clinches up with Bachaj.
Hardin trying to land knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bachaj wants a takedown but no success here.
Bachaj jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardin walks away with a smile on his face. Bachaj gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hardin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bachaj counters with an outside leg kick.
Bachaj avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hardin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bachaj connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bachaj throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Bachaj as Hardin shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bachaj throws a solid leg kick but Hardin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bachaj.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachaj misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Bachaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hardin gets a takedown into half guard.
Hardin working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hardin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hardin lands strikes from half guard.

Hardin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hardin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Hardin is trying to work for a kimura but Bachaj is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bachaj wants to control but Hardin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hardin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hardin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Hardin is looking for a kimura here.

Hardin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bachaj blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hardin.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hardin thows a leg kick but Bachaj checks it
and Bachaj counters with a one-two to the body.

Hardin forces Bachaj back against the cage and clinches.
Hardin looking to stall.
Hardin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bachaj tries to pull guard but Hardin holds him up against the cage and eventually Bachaj drops back down to his feet.
Hardin tries to land a knee to the head but Bachaj blocks with his arms.
Hardin lands a good knee to the midsection. Bachaj won't want to take too many of those.
Hardin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bachaj on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hardin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bachaj avoids it.
Bachaj is trying to break the clinch but Hardin has him pressed against the cage.
Bachaj on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bachaj pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bachaj rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardin lunges at Bachaj with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bachaj's hand.
Bachaj lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Hardin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hardin thows a huge punch but Bachaj dodges it nicely.
Bachaj keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bachaj desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Hardin seems to be looking for submissions.
Jack Hardin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hardin decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Hardin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hardin tries to clinch but Bachaj moves away

and Bachaj counters by moving into the clinch.
Bachaj looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hardin can't get the takedown.
Hardin tries to score a body lock takedown but Bachaj shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bachaj gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hardin.
Damian Bachaj has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Hardin.
Bachaj is trying to break the clinch but Hardin has him pressed against the cage.
Hardin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Bachaj jumps guard.
Bachaj not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardin is looking to advance position but Bachaj has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Hardin is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachaj looking to control but Hardin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bachaj controlling the position easily from mount.
Hardin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hardin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hardin is trying to get back to full guard.
Hardin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bachaj.
Hardin wants to get back to full guard.
Bachaj wants to pass the guard but Hardin is defending well.

Hardin manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin wants to clinch.
Hardin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bachaj closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardin circles away.

Hardin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bachaj's guard.
Hardin is looking to work some ground and pound but Bachaj has wrist control.
Hardin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bachaj working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardin.
Hardin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bachaj looking for a sweep. Not yet Bachaj, not yet.
Damian Bachaj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bachaj is trying to control the position but Hardin postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin throwing strikes but missing.
Hardin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Bachaj.

Hardin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bachaj is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Hardin.
Hardin lands a knee to the head.
Bachaj jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardin walks away with a smile on his face. Bachaj gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hardin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bachaj swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bachaj tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bachaj lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardin tries to clinch up.
Jack Hardin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardin misses with a double jab
and Bachaj counters with a good low kick that Hardin was not able to check.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Hardin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardin 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

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