PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theopolis Barrymore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy comes to the cage accompanied by Ambitionz Az A Ridah. Barrymore comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Thing That Should Not Be kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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?

Hardy
vs
Barrymore

178 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

186 cm
28
194 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andre Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Theopolis Barrymore!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Hardy misses.
Hardy misses with the combination.
Hardy jabs Barrymore to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hardy throws a nice looking combination but Barrymore bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barrymore shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Hardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hardy throws out a powerful jab.
Hardy uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Barrymore has time to react.
Hardy misses with a double jab

and Barrymore counters with a single leg into guard. Hardy didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Barrymore stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy has his hands on Barrymore's head, controlling the position.
Barrymore advances position into side control!

Barrymore thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
An elbow from Barrymore crashes against the mat.

Barrymore swings around for an armbar but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Barrymore's guard.
Hardy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barrymore on the ground.

Barrymore looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hardy has picked Barrymore up and slammed him! Barrymore can't keep hold of the triangle and Hardy manages to pass to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrymore tries to improve position but can't.
Hardy working away.
Barrymore is trying to get back to his feet.
Hardy controlling the position.
Barrymore is looking for a sweep.
Barrymore tries to escape but Hardy is in control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barrymore is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Barrymore's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barrymore closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardy circles away.
Hardy scores with a hook.
Hardy misses with a two punch combination.
Hardy works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hardy scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrymore on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hardy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Hardy.
Hardy stuffs the takedown attempt from Barrymore. Barrymore gets slowly back to his feet.
Andre Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theopolis Barrymore.
Hardy leaves Barrymore with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardy stuffs the takedown attempt from Barrymore. Barrymore gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andre Hardy will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barrymore shoots and misses
and Hardy counters with a left and a right that stings Barrymore.
Andre Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barrymore avoids a punch combination nicely.
Andre Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barrymore looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hardy is fending him off so far but Barrymore persists. Nope, Hardy circles away and we're back to standing.
Hardy throws a nice looking combination but Barrymore bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Hardy finds it's way through Barrymore's defenses.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barrymore takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sloppy strikes from Hardy. Those never looked like landing.
A punch combination from Hardy misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrymore dives in and grabs Hardy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardy pushes down on Barrymore's head and hops out.
Andre Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theopolis Barrymore.
Hardy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barrymore.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hardy.
Hardy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Barrymore dives in and grabs Hardy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardy pushes down on Barrymore's head and hops out.
Hardy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Barrymore decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hardy's guard.
Barrymore is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Barrymore trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Theopolis Barrymore has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barrymore stops Hardy from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barrymore 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barrymore trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Theopolis Barrymore was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Barrymore checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Barrymore fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardy lunges at Barrymore with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Barrymore's hand.
Hardy displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hardy fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardy lands with a nice body punch.
Hardy tries a low kick but Barrymore avoids it.
Nice jab there from Hardy.
Andre Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardy lands with a hook. Barrymore tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hardy fails to land with a series of punches.
Andre Hardy is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy leaves Barrymore with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardy tests Barrymore's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hardy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Barrymore counters by clinching up.
Hardy is trying to break free.

Barrymore pulls guard effortlessly.

Barrymore had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hardy defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Barrymore has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hardy is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Barrymore.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy happy to just control the position for now.
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 Andre Hardy will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hardy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barrymore on the side of the head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hardy lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Barrymore has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Barrymore and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barrymore is defended easily by Hardy.
Hardy lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hardy.
Hardy throws a combination. Barrymore tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barrymore looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hardy misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrymore tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hardy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barrymore avoids the body shot from Hardy.
Barrymore shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense.
Hardy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barrymore will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Andre Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theopolis Barrymore.
Hardy swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barrymore.
Hardy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barrymore is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hardy.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Barrymore moves out of range.
Hardy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A shot to the liver by Hardy. Beautiful body shot.
Andre Hardy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrymore shoots in looking for a takedown. Hardy tries to sprawl out of it but Barrymore keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hardy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Barrymore or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardy which made him look bad.
Hardy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hardy misses with a series of wild punches.
Hardy uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Barrymore shoots for a double leg takedown but Hardy sprawls well. He's pushed Barrymore's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrymore fails with the takedown
and Hardy counters with a straight right hand.
Barrymore takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hardy closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nice uppercut there from Hardy.
Hardy throws a right and a left that Barrymore avoids nicely.
Hardy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barrymore shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardy sprawls well. Hardy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barrymore gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardy misses with a two punch combination.
No luck for Barrymore with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrymore shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hardy defends it nicely.
Barrymore shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A left and a right from Hardy both land. Nice combination.
Theopolis Barrymore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hardy connects with a body shot that sends Barrymore's belly button to the back.
Hardy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barrymore.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barrymore has a takedown stuffed.
Hardy throws a leg kick that is checked
and Barrymore counters with a thumping low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardy throws a right and a left that Barrymore avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hardy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Hardy!
Andre Hardy made sure to mention his sponsor, Hell's Balls Recovery (160) in his post fight interview.