PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Hardcore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and sol sunday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricky Hardcore had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.7lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hardcore
vs
sunday

175 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
135 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Hardcore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, sol sunday!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Hardcore misses the target.
Hardcore scores with a nice strike.

sunday has taken the fight to the clinch.
sunday jumps guard but Hardcore stands there with sunday around his waist. sunday gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

sunday escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
sunday drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like sol sunday has been cut.
sunday has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

sunday decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
sunday missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

sunday seems to be looking for submissions.
Hardcore is staying active underneath sunday, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcore is trying to stand back up but sunday is controlling him

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

sunday is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
sunday wants to free his trapped foot but Hardcore is holding on for dear life with his legs.
sunday missing with some ground and pound from the half 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hardcore loads up on a big right hand but sunday slips the punch.
Hardcore rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but sunday moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardcore lands a body shot.
sunday staying out of range there.
sunday slips a straight right by Hardcore.
sunday bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hardcore missing with a left hand there. sunday was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hardcore throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hardcore lands with an overhand left.
Hardcore slaps away a takedown attempt from sunday, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hardcore misses with a straight right.
A combination from Hardcore does no damage.
Hardcore throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore misses with a straight left.
Hardcore misses with a hook. sunday ducked under it nicely.
Hardcore throws a hook but sunday blocks it.
Hardcore throws a jab when sunday was well out of range.

sunday looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
sunday trying to control but Hardcore is working from the bottom.
sunday wants to pass the guard but Hardcore is keeping the position.
Hardcore working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from sunday.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
sunday trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
sunday in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

sunday is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hardcore is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hardcore has escaped and now he's on top!

sunday isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hardcore stacks sunday on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hardcore!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Hardcore dominated that round.
The cut man is working on sol sunday's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice shot lands for Hardcore.

sunday darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

sunday is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hardcore doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time sunday.
sunday is keen to just control but Hardcore is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardcore is defending against the submission attempts here by sunday.
sunday missing with some ground and pound from the half 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.
Hardcore wants to get back to his feet.

sunday seems to be working for a kimura but Hardcore defends the submission attempt.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
sunday keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardcore.
Hardcore is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
sunday blocks a jab.
Ricky Hardcore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardcore throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Hardcore.
Hardcore misses with a looping right.
Hardcore leaves sunday with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardcore missing with a left hand there. sunday was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
sunday fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardcore avoids it really well and circles away.
Hardcore misses with a straight right.
sunday slips under a jab from Hardcore.
sunday is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hardcore sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ricky Hardcore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of sol sunday.
Hardcore throws a lazy right hand but sunday sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ricky Hardcore is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

sunday scores a takedown into full mount!
sunday misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
sunday looking to control but Hardcore is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

sunday goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Hardcore is on top in guard.
sunday doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
sunday trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

sol sunday showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on sol sunday's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hardcore throws an uppercut from half a mile away. sunday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
sunday pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardcore misses with a looping left.
sunday avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
sunday blocks a jab.
sol sunday is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
sunday closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardcore circles away.
Horrible takedown by sunday or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardcore which made him look bad.
Hardcore throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hardcore bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of sunday's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Hardcore as sunday shoots in.
Ricky Hardcore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of sol sunday.
A telegraphed right hand from Hardcore misses the target.
sunday moves out of range of the strikes.
sunday ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardcore waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract sunday.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sunday uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hardcore.
Some wild striking there from Hardcore.
Hardcore throws out a loose jab but sunday uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hardcore checks a leg kick.
Hardcore comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hardcore displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from sunday.
Hardcore throws an uppercut from half a mile away. sunday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hardcore scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
sunday uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hardcore.
Hardcore throws a jab when sunday was well out of range.
Hardcore scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore thows a body shot but no joy.
Hardcore looks to land a combination but sunday avoids it well.
Hardcore throws a hook to the side of sunday's head but sunday sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hardcore looks to throw the jab but sunday is out of range.

sunday feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
sunday throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardcore works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
sunday trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
sunday missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

sunday thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
sunday trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardcore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
sunday misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
sunday keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardcore.
sunday shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardcore as he avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by sunday.
Hardcore waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract sunday.
Hardcore misses with an uppercut. sunday saw that one coming.
A big right from Hardcore misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
sunday throws a leg kick but Hardcore sees it coming and checks it nicely.

sunday feints and as Hardcore raises his hands in defense, sunday changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hardcore wants to stand and escape but sunday is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricky Hardcore.
I think Hardcore has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ricky Hardcore!