PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hardin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Mike Hardin had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 147.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Mike Hardin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hardin
vs
Williams

200 cm
28
155 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

164 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Williams!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Williams shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Williams looking to pass the guard.

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

Williams gets to his feet. Hardin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hardin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Williams closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardin's guard.
Williams looking to pass the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Williams got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hardin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Williams has managed to get both his arms back between Hardin's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardin has wrist control.
Williams stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardin keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Hardin keeping full guard, as Williams tries to pass.
Williams really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hardin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Williams trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hardin's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hardin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Williams is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up. George Williams was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Williams fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hardin to the ground. Williams is now in Hardin's guard.
Williams looks winded!
Hardin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Williams manages to get himself to full guard.

Hardin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hardin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hardin passes Williams's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is looking to improve his position.
Williams keeping control of the position.
Williams is trying to maintain the position but Hardin is very close to passing his half guard.
Hardin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hardin thows a huge punch but Williams dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin is keen to just control but Williams is a slippery customer.
Hardin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Williams is desperately trying to improve his position but Hardin has a good base and remains in mount.

Hardin working for a submission but Williams is keeping him at bay.
Williams is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Williams dominated that round.
That's time! Hardin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Williams works Hardin's body with a nice hook.
Hardin moves out of range of the body kick.

Williams feints and as Hardin raises his hands in defense, Williams changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
George Williams has got the better of the ground game so far.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardin wants to sweep but no luck.
Williams looking to sit in guard and control but Hardin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Williams is trying to keep Hardin in close.
Williams is breathing heavily.

Hardin gets to his feet - Williams follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin shoots in looking for a takedown but Williams manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hardin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hardin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Williams.
Hardin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Williams doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardin circles away.
Hardin has a takedown stuffed.
Williams shoots for a takedown but Hardin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Williams rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Williams sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Hardin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardin circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Williams feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Williams wants to control from the top but Hardin keeps moving.
Williams trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hardin's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardin is on top in guard.
Williams looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Williams is looking for a triangle here but Hardin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams struggling a bit here.
Williams is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Hardin is staying active.
Williams is trying to work for a sweep but Hardin has mounted him!

Hardin stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Hardin instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin is trying to pull guard but Williams has him pressed against the cage.
Hardin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hardin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hardin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Williams's elbow.

Hardin breaks the clinch.
Williams tries to clinch but Hardin is having none of it.
Williams pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardin wants to clinch up but Williams keeps it at a distance.
Williams tries to clinch up but Hardin circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hardin.

Williams closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Williams tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Williams.
Horrible takedown by Hardin or perhaps it was just good defense by Williams which made him look bad.
Williams misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A clash of legs there as Williams blocks the low kick.
Hardin is looking to clinch.
Hardin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Good exchange - Hardin coming out on top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hardin gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin wants to break the clinch but can't.

Williams lands a takedown into guard.
Williams wants to get up but he can't break Hardin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hardin trying to control the position.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardin trying to keep a closed guard but Williams is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. George Williams wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hardin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Williams takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Williams is looking to clinch but Hardin is avoiding it.
Horrible takedown by Williams or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardin which made him look bad.
Mike Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Williams.
Williams stuffs the takedown.
A combination from Williams does no damage.
Hardin misses with a takedown attempt

and Williams counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hardin!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to control here but Hardin has managed to regain half guard.
Williams tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hardin.
Hardin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Williams would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hardin working a defensive guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Williams is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Williams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Williams 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Williams!