PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Wesley Hardin (ranked 1529 p4p, 2451 weight class) and Thomas Rose (ranked 172 p4p, 268 weight class). John Wesley Hardin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hardin
vs
Rose

200 cm
23
275
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
271
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

New Standard

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Wesley Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Rose!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jorge Garcia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rose.
Rose lands with a shot to the body.
Rose misses with an uppercut.
Rose misses the shot to the body.
That kick from Rose tenderised Hardin's leg. Hardin is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rose fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hardin checks it well.
An attempted straight right counter from Hardin misses the target.
Rose misses with a looping right.
Hardin throwing a counter right hand but Rose manages to avoid it.
Hardin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose throws a big shot that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Hardin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rose misses with a hook
and Hardin counters with a left to the body.
Hardin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Hardin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rose is looking to clinch.
Rose lands with a nice body kick.
Rose swings widly with a right hand
and Hardin counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Thomas Rose has been cut.
We've been told by Hardin's head coaches at Punch Fit that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hardin ducks under a wild hook from Rose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rose looks to score with a jab to the body but Hardin is just out of range.
Hardin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hardin defending well as Rose loads up on a big left hand.
A little feinted left hand from Hardin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rose. Hardin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Hardin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rose throws a leg kick
and Hardin counters with a stiff right hand.
Rose scores with a hook to the body. Hardin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rose lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hardin at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose throws a jab but it's blocked by Hardin.
Hardin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rose works Hardin's body with a nice hook.
Rose swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rose fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rose.
Hardin ducks under a wild hook from Rose.
A counter left hand to the body from Hardin misses its target.
Hardin blocks a head kick by Rose.
Hardin throwing a counter right hand but Rose manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rose doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardin circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Hardin misses the target.
Hardin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rose.
It looked like Hardin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rose throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A quick step to the side and Hardin tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rose misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the body from Rose misses
and Hardin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rose is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rose - that will leave a mark!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Rose dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Rose's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice body kick there by Rose.
Rose tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hardin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rose throws a looping overhand right but Hardin ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Rose lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hardin doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like John Wesley Hardin has been cut.
Rose throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hardin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rose. Hardin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A low kick from Rose is predictable there
and Hardin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rose closes the distance and clinches.
Hardin misses with the head strike.
Hardin swings wildly with an uppercut but Rose uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rose throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hardin blocks it with crossed arms.
Rose prevents a body shot from Hardin.
Hardin tries to throw a body punch but Rose avoids it by throwing Hardin back against the cage.
Rose lands a left hand.
Rose unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rose tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rose blocks a body shot from Hardin.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rose.
Rose lands an uppercut.
Rose lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hardin backwards.
Rose blocks an uppercut.
Hardin managing to block the knees to the body from Rose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rose backwards.
Rose scores with a nice hook to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hardin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rose misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hardin tries a body shot but Rose blocks it.
Rose lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rose.
Knees to the body from Rose.
Rose lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hardin backwards.
Rose with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rose misses with a knee strike.
Hardin tries to work over Rose's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rose makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hardin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rose blocks an uppercut.
Hardin struggles to land a body shot inside as Rose controls his hands.
Rose digs a right hand into Hardin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hardin's gas tank.
Rose tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hardin's elbow.
Rose blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Rose scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rose scores with a knee to the head.
Rose lands an uppercut.
Rose gets through Hardin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rose misses with a knee strike.
Hardin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rose softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rose lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rose lands a nice shot to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rose obliges.
Rose looking to throw knees to the head but Hardin is blocking nicely.
Rose lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rose lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rose lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hardin or not.
Rose lands a right hand.
Rose scores with a shot to the side of Hardin's head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rose obliges.
Rose doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rose misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hardin.
Rose blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rose throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hardin is trying to break free.
Rose has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hardin throws a head punch that misses.
Hardin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rose lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rose working Hardin over with knees to the body.
Rose misses with a knee to the head.
Hardin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hardin.
Hardin misses with a punch on the inside.
Hardin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rose lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rose lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rose tries a knee to the head but Hardin blocks it.
Rose tries to work over Hardin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Hardin.
Hardin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Rose showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hardin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rose.
Hardin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hardin swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hardin ducks under a wild hook from Rose.
Rose is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hardin.
A little feinted left hand from Hardin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rose misses with a lunging right hand
and Hardin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rose looks to score with a jab to the body but Hardin is just out of range.
Hardin slips a straight right by Rose.
Hardin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hardin moves out of range of the body kick from Rose.
A counter left hand to the body from Hardin misses its target.
Thomas Rose seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rose misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardin.
Hardin is looking to counter punch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rose.
Hardin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hardin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rose tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hardin was well out of range. Poor timing from Rose.
John Wesley Hardin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Rose is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rose moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas Rose seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rose blocking some punches.
Rose can't find room to land a body shot as Hardin controls the action.
Hardin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hardin throws a punch but it's blocked by Rose.
Hardin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hardin can't find room to land a body shot as Rose controls the action.
Hardin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rose's elbow.
Hardin struggles to land a body shot inside as Rose controls his hands.
Hardin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hardin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose blocks an uppercut.
Hardin tries to work over Rose's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hardin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hardin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hardin struggles to land a body shot inside as Rose controls his hands.
Hardin throws a punch but it's blocked by Rose.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardin.
Hardin misses with a punch to the body.
Rose prevents Hardin from breaking the clinch.
Hardin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hardin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rose's elbow.
Hardin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Hardin breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rose pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Rose clinches.
Rose is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hardin is defending well for now.
Hardin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hardin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hardin has a couple of punches blocked by Rose.
Hardin can't find room to land a body shot as Rose controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardin.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardin.
Hardin misses with a punch on the inside.
Hardin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rose's elbow.

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 John Wesley Hardin.
Well Rose has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

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