PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Hardin (ranked 5325 p4p, 517 weight class) and Charlie Hall (ranked 5227 p4p, 514 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hardin
vs
Hall

187 cm
23
189 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

186 cm
21
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Big right hand

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charlie Hall!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardin throws a front kick aimed at Hall's knee but Hall avoids it well.
Hall goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hall.
Hardin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hall.

Hall clinches with his opponent.
Hardin misses with a hook from the clinch.
I was talking to Hardin's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hall lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hardin backwards.

Hall breaks the clinch.
Hardin misses with a low kick as Hall jumps back.
Hall loads up on a big right hand but Hardin slips the punch.
Charlie Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardin tries a head kick but it misses.

Hall closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hardin to the mat! Hardin manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hall passes Hardin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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

Hall is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hardin defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin is looking to control Hall's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardin avoid being mounted?
Hall content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hall throwing shots but Hardin is blocking nicely.
Hardin tries to roll over but Hall keeps him under control.
Hardin trying to hold on to Hall's head to control him but Hall postures up.

Hardin looking for submissions off his back.

Hall decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
John Hardin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hardin misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Hardin. Those never looked like landing.
Hardin throws a jab but it's blocked by Hall.
Nice sprawl there from Hardin as Hall shoots in.
Hardin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hardin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hardin misses with a straight right.
Hall cracks Hardin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hall's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hardin under the eye.
Hardin throws a front kick that sends Hall stumbling back into the cage.

Hall darts in and clinches Hardin up against the cage.

Hall breaks from the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hall.
John Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Hall.

Hall shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hardin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hall trying to control the action but Hardin is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hall is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hardin has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall is trying to get an arm triangle but Hardin is defending well.
Hardin tries to buck Hall off but Hall is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hall working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hardin is looking for a sweep.

Hall decides to stand back up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Hall throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hardin was covering up waiting for the punch and Hall finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hardin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Hardin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hall must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hardin pulls Hall in close to prevent any damage.
Hall throwing strikes but missing.
Hardin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hall controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hall stopping the sweep attempt from Hardin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Hall dominated that 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.

Hardin plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hardin looks to score with a jab to the body but Hall is just out of range.
John Hardin is winning the standup battle so far.
Hardin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Hall misses.
John Hardin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hall throws a sloppy body shot
and Hardin counters with a body kick.
Hardin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hardin just misses with a punch to the body.
Hall connects with a leg kick. Hardin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hall uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hardin.
Hall throws a body kick that misses.
Hall works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hall throws a head kick that misses
and Hardin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hall thinking.
Hardin slaps away a takedown attempt from Hall, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hardin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hall connects with a nice looking jab.
Hardin misses with an uppercut.
A lazy left from Hall finds it's target.
Hardin misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin misses with a low kick.
Hardin misses with a hook.
It seemed like Hall was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A head kick misses from Hardin.

Hall scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hardin trying to control here.
Hardin is trying to get back to full guard.

Hall looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hardin wants to improve his position but Hall is controlling well.

Hardin looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hall.

Hall is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hardin defends it well.
Hardin moves into full guard.
Charlie Hall has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hall throws a big elbow that misses.
Hall looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hall wants to control from the top but Hardin keeps moving.
Hall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hardin is trying to control the position but Hall postures up.
Hall preventing the sweep.
Hall has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hall postures up.
Hardin wants to sweep but no luck.
Hall passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin wants to improve his position but Hall is controlling well.
Hardin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hall.

Hall is working for a kimura but Hardin is defending it quite comfortably.

Hardin is defending against the submission attempts here by Hall.
Hall is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hall is trying to control. Hardin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hardin is trying to maintain the position but Hall is very close to passing his half guard.

Hall is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hardin wants to improve his position but Hall is controlling well.
Hall sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardin defending well though.
Hardin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hall lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Hall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hall shoots in and gets a takedown into Hardin's guard.
Hardin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hall is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hardin is aware though and is defending well.
Hardin throws a big right hand that misses.
Hall controls Hardin momentarily but Hardin frees himself.
Hall keeping moving, preventing Hardin from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hall working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hardin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hardin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hall looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hall keeps trying to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hall can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hardin wants to pass the guard but Hall is keeping the position.
Hall keeping moving, preventing Hardin from controlling successfully.
Hardin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hall is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hall bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hardin's guard.

Hall makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hall 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.
Hardin wants to sweep here but Hall controlling him for the moment.
Hall with a nice head shot there.
Hall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hardin wants to sweep but no luck.
Hall passes Hardin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hardin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hall is working away from the top position though.

Hall is working for a submission of some sort.
Hall missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hall is nestled in close to Hardin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hardin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hall is working away from the top position though.
Hall throwing shots but Hardin is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall seems to be working for a kimura but Hardin defends the submission attempt.

Hall seems to be working for a kimura but Hardin defends the submission attempt.
Hardin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Hall is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hardin wants to control but Hall is keeping busy.

Hall is looking for a kimura but Hardin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hall to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hall not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hardin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hardin is looking to control Hall's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardin avoid being mounted?
Hardin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hall.
Hall trying to control the pace.

Hall is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Charlie Hall is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hall wants to control but Hardin is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hall is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hall tries to stand and escape but Hardin is controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Hall comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hall 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Hall!
Charlie Hall thanked the fans post fight for their support.