PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pinina Zhikova (ranked 2655 p4p, 4057 weight class) and Brock Hardman (ranked 336 p4p, 469 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Brock Hardman enters the cage!

Zhikova
vs
Hardman

180 cm
23
205
7 - 5 - 0

191 cm
23
205
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pinina Zhikova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Brock Hardman!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhikova is defended easily by Hardman.

Zhikova shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hardman keeping moving, preventing Zhikova from controlling successfully.
Hardman wants to sweep here but Zhikova controlling him for the moment.
Zhikova is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hardman controls Zhikova momentarily but Zhikova frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhikova looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zhikova wants to pass the guard but Hardman is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhikova is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zhikova sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zhikova trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhikova stopping the sweep attempt from Hardman.
Zhikova wants to pass the guard but Hardman is keeping the position.
Zhikova advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhikova tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hardman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hardman tries to get to full guard but Zhikova has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zhikova controlling the action here.
Zhikova seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hardman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Zhikova is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hardman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhikova moves away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hardman connects with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Hardman. Those never looked like landing.
Zhikova tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardman swivels and escapes.
Hardman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hardman takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardman checks a leg kick.
Hardman tries a head kick but it misses.
Zhikova keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Zhikova shoots in but Hardman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hardman doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zhikova looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pinina Zhikova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhikova slips under a jab from Hardman.
Zhikova drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hardman sprawls and moves away.
Zhikova takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zhikova lunges at Hardman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hardman's hand.
Hardman scores with a head kick. Zhikova tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Zhikova has his takedown stuffed
and Hardman counters with a straight right hand.
Hardman throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zhikova misses with a wild body shot.
Hardman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardman wants it to stay on the feet.
Zhikova has his takedown stuffed
and Hardman counters with a nice body shot.
Hardman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Hardman. No joy for Zhikova on that attempt.
Hardman lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhikova misses with a body shot.

Hardman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardman wants to stand and escape but Zhikova is having none of it.
Zhikova trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zhikova won't allow Hardman to get back to his feet.
Zhikova seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Zhikova has gone for a leg lock! Hardman slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zhikova's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zhikova fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hardman sprawls well initially but Zhikova persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Zhikova is looking for a kimura but Hardman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zhikova to get the leverage.
Hardman is trying to control but can't.
Zhikova content to control rather than advance.
Hardman desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Zhikova thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hardman's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardman trying to hold on to Zhikova's head to control him but Zhikova postures up.
Hardman is positioning himself well to prevent Zhikova advancing to mount.

Hardman is defending against the submission attempts here by Zhikova.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhikova is trying to control. Hardman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zhikova throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zhikova trying to control from half guard but Hardman is working away.
Hardman is trying to maintain the position but Zhikova is very close to passing his half guard.
Zhikova looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hardman trying to control from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Hardman makes his way to full guard, as Zhikova worked for a kimura.

That's two 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.
Zhikova advances position into side control!
Hardman struggling a bit here.

Zhikova looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zhikova has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Hardman!
Zhikova sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zhikova lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova controlling from the full mount.
Zhikova lands with some strikes.
Zhikova tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Hardman defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zhikova.
Zhikova controlling his opponent.

Zhikova looking to secure an arm triangle but Hardman defends it well.

Zhikova is working for a guillotine from mount but Hardman frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova with good strikes from the mount here!
Hardman is working to get back to half guard.
Zhikova looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zhikova wants to control but instead Hardman manages to regain half guard.

Zhikova is trying to work for a kimura but Hardman is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zhikova is working for a submission of some sort.
Hardman pushes Zhikova off looking to stand but Zhikova dives back in and keeps control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pinina Zhikova dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Hardman gets caught flat footed, as Zhikova shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hardman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zhikova being controlled here momentarily.
Hardman wants to get back to his feet but Zhikova is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hardman is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Zhikova controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zhikova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhikova slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardman misses the shot to the body.
Zhikova on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hardman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zhikova.
Hardman now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hardman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hardman enables Zhikova to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hardman manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zhikova looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Zhikova is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zhikova wants to stand but Hardman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zhikova pushing down on Hardman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhikova in particular looking to stall.
Zhikova is stalling here. Hardman is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Zhikova seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hardman has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Zhikova tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hardman throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zhikova is looking for a sweep.
Hardman scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Zhikova to see if he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Zhikova's legs.
Zhikova is looking for a sweep.
Zhikova gets back to half guard.
Zhikova is looking to get back to full guard here but Hardman has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Hardman crashes against the mat.
Zhikova tries to buck Hardman off but Hardman is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Zhikova's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Hardman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zhikova is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zhikova is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Hardman working away.
Zhikova tries to improve position but can't.
Hardman trying to control the position but Zhikova is working away.
Zhikova is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zhikova is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brock Hardman.
I think Hardman 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brock Hardman!
Brock Hardman seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.