PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Helios Garcius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Garcius
vs
Hardy

183 cm
32
190 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

187 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Helios Garcius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tim Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hardy jumps guard but Garcius turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Garcius is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Garcius gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hardy is looking to improve his position.
Hardy is refusing to be controlled, as Garcius sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardy defending well though.
Hardy is controlling Garcius's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hardy throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Garcius trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardy is on top in guard.

Garcius wants to stand up but Hardy is controlling him.
Hardy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garcius wants to stand and escape but Hardy is having none of it.
Hardy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Garcius keeps moving.
Hardy won't allow Garcius to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcius utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Garcius knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hardy on the ground.
Hardy with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy advances position into side control!
Hardy looks up at the clock and then as Garcius takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hardy smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Garcius is trying to get back to half guard.

Hardy tries for a kimura but Garcius is defending well.
Hardy is looking to take a break and control but Garcius is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hardy throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcius is not content to let Hardy control the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Hardy.
Garcius is looking to reverse the position.
Hardy is looking to take a break and control but Garcius is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hardy might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Garcius haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Garcius wants to get back to his feet.
Garcius tries to bench press Hardy off him but Hardy keeps the position.
Hardy trying to control the position but Garcius is working away.

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.
Garcius is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hardy has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Hardy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Garcius manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Garcius blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hardy.
Garcius is in trouble now - Hardy has advanced to mount!
Hardy misses with a head shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hardy throwing strikes but Garcius uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hardy is taking a breather. Garcius says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hardy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Hardy dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hardy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Garcius has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hardy uses from the top position.
Garcius is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hardy throwing strikes but missing.

Garcius uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Garcius shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hardy is trying to defend but Garcius finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hardy regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy wants to sweep here but Garcius controlling him for the moment.
Garcius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hardy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcius can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Garcius trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Garcius accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Garcius postures up in Hardy's guard and throws a big left but Hardy blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy won't allow Garcius to sweep him here.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Garcius keeps moving.
Hardy advances to half guard.
Garcius is staying active underneath Hardy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Garcius regains full guard. Nicely done.
Garcius can't keep his opponent in guard - Hardy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hardy controlling the action here.
Garcius tries to roll over but Hardy keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy thows a huge punch but Garcius dodges it nicely.
Garcius blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hardy.
Hardy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hardy trying to mount his opponent but Garcius defends it.
Garcius is looking to escape.
Garcius keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hardy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Garcius's head.
Hardy trying to control the action but Garcius is working from the bottom.
Hardy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Garcius is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcius is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Hardy thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hardy throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hardy looking to control but Garcius is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hardy avoids the attempt from Garcius to control.
Garcius bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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.

Hardy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim Hardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hardy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hardy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Garcius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hardy fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Garcius looks to land a combination but Hardy avoids it well.
Helios Garcius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcius doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardy circles away.
Garcius swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hardy counters with a nice uppercut.
Garcius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Garcius takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hardy lands a jab to the head.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Garcius circles away.
Hardy pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Garcius closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hardy is fighting off a takedown attempt but Garcius is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hardy to the mat. Hardy regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcius preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.

Hardy is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hardy is keen to just control but Garcius is a slippery customer.
Hardy passes to side control.
Hardy throws an elbow but Garcius slips to the side and avoids it well.
Garcius prevents Hardy from moving into mount.
Garcius dodges the ground and pound from Hardy.
Garcius wants to control but Hardy postures up.
Hardy tries to score with some ground and pound. Garcius controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy in side control, throwing shots but Garcius defends.
Tim Hardy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garcius prevents Hardy from improving position.
Hardy trying to control the action but Garcius is working from the bottom.

Garcius bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Hardy lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Hardy takes the fight into the clinch.
Garcius working hard to break the clinch.

Hardy drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garcius trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Hardy is trying to control the position but Garcius postures up.
Hardy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garcius missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Garcius decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hardy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Garcius tries a low kick but Hardy avoids it.
Tim Hardy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hardy.
Garcius circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardy lands a nice hook to Garcius's body. Garcius takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcius's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hardy connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Garcius scrambles back to his feet.
Garcius seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Hardy tries to clinch up but Garcius circles away and keeps his distance.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches.
Hardy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Garcius smiles and moves away.

Hardy clinches with his opponent.
Hardy jumps guard but Garcius stands there with Hardy around his waist. Hardy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Garcius gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hardy regains guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Hardy!