PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Hardcastle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fletcher Huntington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Huntington has chosen Verdi - Triumphal March from Aida as his entrance music. Alexander Hardcastle has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hardcastle
vs
Huntington

180 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

167 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Hardcastle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fletcher Huntington!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Huntington fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hardcastle sprawls well initially but Huntington persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hardcastle is trying to stand back up but Huntington is controlling him
Huntington is keen to just control but Hardcastle is a slippery customer.

Hardcastle is defending against the submission attempts here by Huntington.
Huntington is thwarting Hardcastle's attempts to control the position.
Hardcastle is in trouble now - Huntington has advanced to mount!
Hardcastle is bucking up trying to escape but Huntington cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hardcastle wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardcastle takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hardcastle's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huntington postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hardcastle looks a forlorn figure.
Huntington has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Huntington looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Huntington working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Huntington looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hardcastle really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Huntington won't let Hardcastle get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Hardcastle defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Huntington.
The referee warns Hardcastle that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle is trying to stand.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hardcastle in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Huntington is working for a guillotine from mount but Hardcastle frees his head quite easily.
Huntington working the ground and pound effectively.

Hardcastle bucks up and throws Huntington to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Huntington throws a right hand that Hardcastle ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardcastle also avoids with ease.

Hardcastle shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hardcastle was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hardcastle is breathing heavily.
Hardcastle prevents Huntington from getting the reversal.

Hardcastle stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Huntington looks to land a combination. Hardcastle sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle tries for a takedown but Huntington circles away easily

and Huntington counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Huntington passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Huntington tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hardcastle tries to escape but Huntington is in control.
Huntington trying to control the position but Hardcastle is working away.
Hardcastle prevents Huntington from improving position.
Huntington wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardcastle keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huntington laying and praying for a moment but Hardcastle takes advantage and regains half guard.
Huntington trying to control the pace.

Huntington is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Huntington throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fletcher Huntington dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Huntington shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hardcastle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Huntington is controlling him.
Huntington passes Hardcastle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Huntington missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Huntington landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hardcastle is trying to stand back up but Huntington is controlling him
Huntington throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Huntington has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hardcastle is trying to stand but he's just given Huntington his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Huntington has his opponent's back but Hardcastle is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Huntington.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcastle fails with the takedown

and Huntington counters with a shoot takedown. Hardcastle fights it but they end up in guard.
Huntington cracks Hardcastle with a solid left hand.
Huntington won't allow Hardcastle to get back to his feet.
Huntington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Huntington postures up.
Hardcastle wants to stand but Huntington is controlling the position.

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

and Huntington counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle tries to score a body lock takedown but Huntington shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Hardcastle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardcastle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Huntington avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hardcastle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hardcastle can't get the takedown.
Huntington gets underhooks to prevent Hardcastle's takedown attempt.

Huntington breaks from the clinch.
Hardcastle takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hardcastle takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Huntington changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hardcastle looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Huntington works to advance to full mount. Hardcastle defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Huntington landing shots from mount.
Huntington landing punches.
Huntington lands a big shot there that rocks Hardcastle but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Huntington trying to control but Hardcastle is having none of it.
Hardcastle tries to reverse the position but Huntington maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huntington lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hardcastle wants to get back to his feet.
Hardcastle is controlling an arm, preventing Huntington from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Hardcastle is trying desperately to improve position.

Hardcastle bucks up and throws Huntington to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Huntington looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle pulls Huntington in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardcastle wants to stand and escape but Huntington is having none of it.
Huntington tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardcastle is retaining full guard.
Hardcastle wants to stand but Huntington is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Huntington slips nicely into half guard.
Huntington is trying to control the action in half guard but Hardcastle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fletcher Huntington showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Huntington looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hardcastle fails with the takedown
and Huntington counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hardcastle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Huntington counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hardcastle tries to pull guard but Huntington holds him up against the cage and eventually Hardcastle drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Hardcastle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Huntington manages to break the clinch.
Huntington throws a right and a left that Hardcastle avoids nicely.
Hardcastle with a poor takedown

and Huntington counters with a shoot takedown. Hardcastle fights it but they end up in guard.
Hardcastle has momentary wrist control but Huntington slips an elbow through the middle.
Huntington wants to control from the top but Hardcastle keeps moving.
Huntington with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huntington passes Hardcastle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Huntington passes to side control.
Huntington working the body and head with strikes.

Huntington tries for a kimura but Hardcastle is defending well.
Hardcastle is trying to get back to his feet.

Huntington is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hardcastle has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hardcastle wants to control but Huntington postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Huntington wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardcastle keeps working.
Hardcastle is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hardcastle dodges the ground and pound from Huntington.
Hardcastle is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Huntington has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Huntington has hold of Hardcastle's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Hardcastle seems comfortable defending it but Huntington has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Hardcastle is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Hardcastle is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Huntington couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Fletcher Huntington!