PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shane Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hardy
vs
Thompson

190 cm
22
246 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

201 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Hardy lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thompson doesn't seem phased though.

Thompson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thompson showed some decent athleticism there.
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.
Hardy is trying to stand back up but Thompson is controlling him
Thompson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thompson is thwarting Hardy's attempts to control the position.
Thompson wants to pass to mount but Hardy is defending the position.
Thompson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hardy trying to control here.

Hardy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.

Thompson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hardy.
Hardy 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hardy wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.

Hardy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson lands a couple of elbows.
Hardy wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Thompson stands up over Hardy, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hardy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thompson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Hardy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thompson sees it coming and defends easily.
Thompson is looking for a sweep. Hardy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thompson is just riding it out for now. Hardy eventually gives up the hold.
Hardy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hardy missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thompson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hardy is fighting to break Thompson's control of his arms but Thompson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hardy is looking to work some ground and pound but Thompson has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hardy's guard.
Thompson advances position into side control!
Thompson landing a few strikes.
Thompson cracks Hardy with a big right hand but Hardy just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hardy tries to bench press Thompson off him but Thompson keeps the position.
Thompson is looking to take a break and control but Hardy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hardy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Thompson off and has taken his back!
Thompson is trying to break free.
Hardy throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Thompson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Thompson's corner are yelling at him, telling him to just focus on controlling Hardy's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Hardy.
Hardy misses with an elbow to the head.

Hardy is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Even with his hooks in, Hardy manages to miss with strikes from the back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Hardy's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Hardy is trying to stick to Thompson's back but Thompson is turning into Hardy. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hardy's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Thompson.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Thompson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thompson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hardy!
Thompson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hardy throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hardy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hardy is working hard here to advance position.
Hardy throwing hammer fists to the chest of Thompson. What's that going to do exactly?
Jack Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardy is looking to improve his position but Thompson isn't that keen on the idea.
Hardy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hardy gets back to half guard.
Hardy gets back to full guard.
Thompson lands a couple of elbows.
Hardy has Thompson pulled in close to control his posture.

Hardy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Thompson tries to pass.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Hardy.
Hardy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hardy tries to get out of the position.
Thompson working some strikes from top position.
Hardy trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hardy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thompson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thompson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hardy throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hardy postures up.
Hardy preventing the sweep.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hardy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hardy throwing strikes from guard but Thompson blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy throwing strikes but missing.
Hardy stopping the sweep attempt from Thompson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.
Thompson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy chips away with some ground and pound.
Thompson looking to control.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hardy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thompson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four 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.
Hardy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hardy postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson is controlling Hardy's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Thompson wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.
Hardy throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hardy manages to get himself to full guard.
Thompson postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardy is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hardy jabs Thompson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hardy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hardy lands a glancing blow to the side of Thompson's head.
Hardy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thompson in his tracks.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hardy enables Thompson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hardy manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.
Hardy wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Hardy is trying to control the position but Thompson postures up.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Hardy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hardy looking for a sweep. Not yet Hardy, not yet.
Thompson is in close to Hardy's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Hardy looking to control.
Hardy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thompson is one step ahead there.
Hardy trying to strike off his back.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet but Thompson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Hardy has his foot on Thompson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thompson works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thompson throwing strikes from guard but Hardy blocks nicely.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Thompson postures up in Hardy's guard and throws a big left but Hardy blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardy is on top in guard.
Hardy thows a big elbow that misses.
Hardy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson seems keen to control Hardy's posture.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson controls Hardy momentarily but Hardy frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hardy forces his way into half guard.
Thompson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hardy.
Thompson controlling the position for now.
Hardy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hardy is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.
Hardy not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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.
Hardy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thompson defending well though.
Thompson is trying to get back to full guard.

Hardy is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Thompson still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Thompson has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Hardy is trying to control Thompson's posture but Thompson avoids it.
Thompson advances to mount.
Shane Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BOOM! Thompson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hardy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hardy wants to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hardy is looking to escape.
Jack Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardy can't escape the position.

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 Shane Hardy.
I think Thompson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

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