PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Forrest Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RlCK JAMES (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy's entrance music is Shipping Up To Boston. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hardy
vs
JAMES

180 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Forrest Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, RlCK JAMES!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

JAMES closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - JAMES lands in his opponent's guard.
JAMES tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.
Hardy looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardy is on top in guard.
JAMES manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
JAMES throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hardy tries to reverse the position but JAMES maintains control.
Hardy tries to hold on but JAMES pushes him away.
Hardy is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because JAMES is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
JAMES fails to move to back control.
JAMES can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hardy is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy is desperately trying to improve his position but JAMES has a good base and remains in mount.

JAMES looking to secure an arm triangle but Hardy defends it well.
Hardy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

JAMES is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hardy has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hardy!
JAMES looks gassed!

JAMES throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
JAMES keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy landing some decent shots from guard.

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

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.
JAMES can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hardy controls the pace.
Hardy landing with the ground and pound.
Hardy has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
JAMES tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hardy tries to stand but JAMES is controlling from the bottom.
JAMES is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard but JAMES has mounted him!
JAMES controlling the position easily from mount.
Hardy is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is working hard here to advance position.

JAMES goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hardy turns into him and now he's in JAMES's guard.
Hardy throwing strikes from guard but JAMES blocks nicely.
Hardy passes JAMES's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
JAMES trying to hold on to Hardy's head to control him but Hardy postures up.

Hardy is looking for a kimura here.
JAMES is pressing down on Hardy's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Hardy decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Hardy decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hardy prevents JAMES from improving his position.
JAMES is not content to let Hardy control the position.
JAMES throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hardy wants to control but JAMES is keeping him busy.
Hardy controlling the action here.
Hardy moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Hardy dominated that round.
That's time! Hardy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hardy darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
JAMES punching from the bottom.

JAMES is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hardy pulls his head out easily.
Hardy moves nicely into side control.
JAMES is not content to let Hardy control the position.
Hardy controls the position.
JAMES tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hardy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
JAMES struggling a bit here.
JAMES is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
JAMES is not content to let Hardy control the position.
Hardy is really struggling to control JAMES but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Forrest Hardy just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
JAMES keeps the fight on the outside.

Hardy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hardy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
JAMES working a defensive guard here.
Hardy stays in close to JAMES's body and controls the position.

JAMES looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hardy is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
JAMES working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardy.
JAMES can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hardy controls the pace.

JAMES working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hardy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hardy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
JAMES keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

JAMES working for a triangle but Hardy defends it easily.
Hardy is looking to advance position but JAMES has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
JAMES throwing strikes here but Hardy is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JAMES avoids the attempt from Hardy to control.

JAMES goes for an armbar but Hardy turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hardy.
JAMES can't keep his opponent in guard - Hardy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
JAMES is staying active underneath Hardy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hardy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. JAMES defending well though.
Hardy is tying to control. JAMES wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
JAMES wants to get back to full guard.
Hardy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hardy wants to take a breather but JAMES is having none of it.

Hardy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. JAMES doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hardy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardy looks to land a combination but JAMES avoids it well.
Forrest Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
JAMES tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.
JAMES with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hardy counters with a nice double leg into side control. JAMES won't be happy with that.
JAMES is not content to let Hardy control the position.
JAMES manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hardy prevents JAMES from improving his position.
Hardy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Hardy dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hardy fails to land the takedown.
Hardy tries for a takedown but JAMES circles away easily

so JAMES counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
JAMES wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
JAMES advances to half guard.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardy is refusing to be controlled, as JAMES sits in half guard.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
JAMES controlling the action here.
Hardy is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Hardy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hardy showed some decent athleticism there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hardy in particular looking to stall.
JAMES is trying to control but Hardy manages to pass to mount!
Hardy moves to the back position.

Hardy looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! JAMES taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Forrest Hardy!