PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Dougles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy has chosen SAY IT TO MY FACE as his entrance music. 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.

Dougles
vs
Hardy

193 cm
20
209 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Dougles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Dougles looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hardy is defended easily by Dougles.
Hardy shoots for a double leg takedown but Dougles sprawls well. He's pushed Hardy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Hardy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dougles is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hardy is controlling him.

Hardy has gone for a leg lock! Dougles slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hardy's guard.
Dougles throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dougles preventing the sweep.
Dougles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dougles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dougles looking to pass the guard.
Dougles working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Hardy is looking for a triangle but Dougles pushes his legs off easily.
Hardy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dougles trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hardy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dougles defends it easily.
Dougles throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dougles.
Hardy is trying to keep Dougles in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Hardy has his foot on Dougles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dougles works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dougles is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Dougles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardy is keeping the position for now.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.

Hardy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dougles defends it easily.
Hardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dougles trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Hardy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dougles throwing strikes but missing.

Hardy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Dougles tries to pass.
Dougles missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dougles.
Dougles throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dougles trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dougles manages to get himself to full guard.
Dougles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hardy advances position into side control!
Dougles tries to buck Hardy off but Hardy is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hardy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hardy dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hardy shoots in for a double leg but Dougles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Hardy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hardy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hardy tries to free his leg and advance position but Dougles is retaining full guard.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Dougles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dougles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dougles is working an open guard so Hardy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hardy connects with a looping right hand.

Hardy clinches up against the cage.
Hardy tries to pull guard but Dougles won't allow it.
Hardy takes an elbow to the temple.
Hardy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dougles fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ryan Dougles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Hardy.
Dougles tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dougles circles away.
Hardy is breathing heavily.
Dougles tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy shoots in for a double leg but Dougles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hardy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dougles.
Dougles doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardy circles away.

Dougles gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dougles trying to land knees to the body.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy fails to land the takedown.
Dougles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardy paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dougles fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardy takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Dougles gets tackled into the cage by Hardy. Hardy maintains the clinch.
Dougles comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Dougles working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dougles lands an elbow inside.
Hardy avoids a wild elbow strike from Dougles.
Dougles tries a knee to the head but Hardy blocks it.
Hardy tries to circle away but Dougles has him pinned against the cage.
Hardy avoids a wild elbow strike from Dougles.
Dougles is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to pull guard but Dougles holds him up against the cage and eventually Hardy drops back down to his feet.
Dougles is looking to control Hardy's arms but Hardy gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dougles has his back to the cage.
Dougles leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dougles.
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!
Dougles landing some nice looking knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dougles lands a nice elbow.

Dougles ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dougles no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hardy looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryan Dougles will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dougles tries to clinch but Hardy is having none of it.

Hardy drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Dougles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dougles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hardy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dougles looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dougles looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dougles!
Dougles working away.
Hardy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Dougles.
Hardy is trying to control Dougles's posture but Dougles avoids it.
Dougles wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Dougles working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hardy defending against the ground and pound.
Dougles in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hardy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hardy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hardy tries to roll over but Dougles keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dougles missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dougles not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hardy is trying to stand back up but Dougles is controlling him
Hardy trying to hold on to Dougles's head to control him but Dougles postures up.

Hardy looking for submissions off his back.
Dougles sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardy defending well though.
Dougles sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardy defending well though.
Hardy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hardy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hardy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dougles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Dougles from controlling successfully.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dougles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dougles trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dougles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Dougles from controlling successfully.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hardy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dougles can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hardy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dougles is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dougles working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dougles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dougles advances position into side control!
Hardy wants to control but Dougles postures up.
Sloppy strikes there by Dougles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dougles.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy can't do much from the bottom here.
Hardy sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

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

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 Ryan Dougles.
I think Dougles has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ryan Dougles!