PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Herschel Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiro Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masahiro Kimura will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hardy
vs
Kimura

156 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herschel Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masahiro Kimura!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kimura.
Kimura misses with a takedown attempt - Hardy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hardy clinches up with Kimura and pushes him back against the cage.
Hardy stalling the fight.
Kimura is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Herschel Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masahiro Kimura.
Kimura prevents the takedown attempt.
Kimura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hardy gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Hardy has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kimura regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Kimura escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hardy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hardy wants to stand but Kimura has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hardy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kimura is looking for a triangle but Hardy pushes his legs off easily.

Kimura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Kimura working for a triangle but Hardy defends it easily.
Hardy with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hardy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kimura's guard.

Kimura has his foot on Hardy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hardy works his way back into a safe position though.

Kimura is looking for a triangle but Hardy pushes his legs off easily.
Kimura looks winded!
Hardy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Kimura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hardy is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hardy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Hardy has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Kimura to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Hardy is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Kimura pulls down on the head and he's put Hardy to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Masahiro Kimura!