PBP Commentary

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

Kane
vs
Hardy

183 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

185 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darwin Kane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Hardy!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardy closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hardy taking a breather here.
Hardy creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kane sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kane struggling a bit here.
Kane tries to escape but Hardy is in control.
You can see the frustration on Kane's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kane is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hardy is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kane keeps working.

Hardy stands up and beckons Kane to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy drives through with a takedown into Kane's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Kane pushes Hardy off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kane is looking to improve his position.
Hardy missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kane is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy is looking to stall here but Kane recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane pulls Hardy in close to his closed guard and prevents Hardy from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kane is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane wants to get back to his feet but Hardy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A combination from Kane does no damage.
Kane takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hardy lands a head kick!

Hardy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kane to the mat! Kane manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kane working for a triangle but Hardy defends it easily.
Kane controlling Hardy's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy wants to stand but Kane has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Hardy dominated that round.
That's time! Kane's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hardy lands a front kick.
Kane throws a one two combo.

It looks like Xavier Hardy has been cut.

Hardy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kane sprawls well initially but Hardy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kane looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kane trying to control here.
Hardy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Xavier Hardy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kane controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kane.
Hardy stays in close to Kane's body and controls the position.
Hardy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hardy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kane's guard.

Hardy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kane doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hardy.
Hardy prevents Kane from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kane is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hardy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hardy's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kane is punishing Hardy with some ground and pound.
Hardy is trying to get back to his feet but Kane has full control of the position and if anything, Hardy has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Hardy is trapped and Kane is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Kane lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Hardy hold on?!
Hardy rolls, trying to escape but Kane keeps control of the position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Kane controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control but not successfully.
Kane loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Hardy hold on?
Hardy looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Hardy breaks Kane's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is fighting to break Kane's control of his arms but Kane is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kane wants to stand but Hardy is controlling the position.
Kane wants to sweep but no luck.
Kane trying to control the position here.
Kane has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Darwin Kane will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Xavier Hardy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardy misses with a head kick.

Hardy dives in and scores a takedown into Kane's guard.
Kane has his hands on Hardy's head, controlling the position.
Hardy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kane is proving hard to escape from.
Kane trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane is pulling down on Hardy's head. It's preventing any offense from Hardy, at least for the moment.
Kane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kane is pulling down on Hardy's head to control his posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hardy closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kane tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Hardy easily slips into full mount!
Kane tries to lock up and control but Hardy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kane is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Kane tries to lock up and control but Hardy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane is trying to stand.
Hardy throwing strikes here but Kane is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kane holds of for dear life.
Hardy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kane tries to hold on but Hardy pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hardy throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kane because Hardy loaded up on that one.
Hardy avoids the attempt from Kane to control.
Hardy throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hardy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kane is looking to escape.
Hardy throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kane is squirming around, avoiding Hardy's attempts to control the action.
Hardy throws some wild stikes that Kane manages to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardy 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Hardy!