PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Callahan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Major Hardwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardwood comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ali Bomaye by The Game kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Callahan
vs
Hardwood

200 cm
32
222 lbs
29 - 17 - 0

190 cm
32
214 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

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 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harry Callahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Major Hardwood!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardwood gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Callahan counter with a right hand.
Callahan throws out a loose jab but Hardwood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hardwood looks for a takedown but Callahan sprawls well.
Callahan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hardwood.
Hardwood swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Callahan counters with a nice uppercut.
Callahan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hardwood misses the jab.
Hardwood throws a good cross that connects.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callahan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hardwood scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Callahan doesn't seem bothered though.
Hardwood scores with a nice strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardwood buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Major Hardwood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Callahan blocks the low kick.
A swing and a miss from Hardwood.
Hardwood lands a nice hook to Callahan's body. Callahan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hardwood throws a shot from downtown. Callahan moves away and avoids it.
Hardwood doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Callahan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Harry Callahan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Major Hardwood.
Callahan cracks Hardwood with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Callahan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hardwood misses with a body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Callahan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Callahan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice jab there from Callahan.
Callahan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hardwood lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Callahan misses with a straight right.
Hardwood throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Callahan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Callahan misses with a straight left.
Hardwood throws a lazy uppercut
letting Callahan counter with a right hand.
Callahan slips a straight right by Hardwood.
Decent striking displayed by Callahan there.
Callahan blocks a head kick by Hardwood.
Callahan is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hardwood walks forward, straight into a front kick from Callahan.

Hardwood takes the fight into the clinch.
Callahan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Callahan has a couple of punches blocked by Hardwood.
Hardwood scores with a shot to the side of Callahan's head.
Hardwood lands a body punch in the clinch.
Callahan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hardwood backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardwood.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hardwood - that landed with a thud.
Hardwood blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Callahan looking to throw knees to the head but Hardwood is blocking nicely.
Hardwood taking a breather.
Hardwood is stalling here.
A head punch on the inside from Callahan fails to land.
Hardwood working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
I was talking to Callahan's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A short left from Callahan.
A left hand lands to the body for Hardwood.
Hardwood misses with the head strike.
Callahan prevents a body shot from Hardwood.
Callahan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Hardwood.
Callahan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hardwood.
Hardwood blocks a body shot from Callahan.
Hardwood is looking to control Callahan's arms but Callahan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hardwood has his back to the cage.
Callahan trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Callahan fails to land.
Hardwood tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Callahan can't find room to land a body shot as Hardwood controls the action.
Callahan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Callahan misses with an elbow over the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Callahan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Callahan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hardwood blocks the elbow strike.
Hardwood goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Hardwood.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hardwood.
Callahan prevents a body shot from Hardwood.
Hardwood throws a head punch that misses.
Hardwood blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Callahan tries a knee to the head but Hardwood blocks it.
Callahan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hardwood misses with a short punch on the inside.
Callahan tries to throw a body punch but Hardwood avoids it by throwing Callahan back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardwood.
A left hand lands to the body for Hardwood.
Callahan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
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 Harry Callahan will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hardwood looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Callahan misses with a wild body shot.
Callahan throws a body punch but Hardwood moves out of range.
Hardwood fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Callahan manages to avoid it.
Callahan throws a leg kick but Hardwood sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hardwood tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hardwood connects with an inside leg kick.
Hardwood throws a push kick but Callahan slaps the foot to one side.
Hardwood throws out a leg kick but Callahan moves out of range and Hardwood only half commits.
Callahan throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Hardwood counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callahan has momentary wrist control but Hardwood slips an elbow through the middle.

Callahan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Callahan is on top in guard.

Callahan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callahan landing some decent shots from guard.
Callahan chips away with some ground and pound.
Callahan wants to control from the top but Hardwood keeps moving.
Hardwood is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Callahan won't allow Hardwood to sweep him here.
Callahan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Callahan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Callahan pushing down on Hardwood's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood tries to roll over but Callahan keeps him under control.
Hardwood trying to control here.
Hardwood is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Callahan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Callahan's back!
Hardwood gets his hands free as Callahan looks to control.
Callahan tries to break free.

Hardwood looking to break Callahan's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Callahan remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Hardwood will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hardwood has the hooks in. Callahan is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardwood is persistently looking for the submission but Callahan is defending it well.
Hardwood connects with a big shot to the side of Callahan's head.

Hardwood looking for the choke but no joy.
Callahan wants to control his opponent's hands but Hardwood gets his hands free.
Hardwood is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Callahan up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callahan is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Hardwood loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Callahan hold on?
Callahan tries to break free.
Callahan is keeping busy.
Hardwood throwing damaging strikes from the back! Callahan could be in trouble here!
Hardwood is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Hardwood lands shots from the back.

Callahan showing good submission defense here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardwood has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Callahan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Major Hardwood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Callahan leaves Hardwood with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Callahan is looking to land body kicks.
Harry Callahan is winning the standup battle so far.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Callahan 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 Hardwood has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hardwood and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Callahan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Callahan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hardwood misses with a looping right.
Callahan attempts a counter takedown but Hardwood avoids it well and moves away.
Callahan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Callahan lands with a nice body punch.
Hardwood throws a hook but Callahan blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callahan throws a big shot that misses.
Hardwood takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hardwood feints and then cracks Callahan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Callahan down.
Hardwood tries a low kick but Callahan avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hardwood. Callahan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hardwood throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Callahan.
Callahan looks to throw the jab but Hardwood is out of range.
Hardwood tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Hardwood closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Callahan to the mat! Callahan manages to get full guard.
Callahan keeping moving, preventing Hardwood from controlling successfully.
Major Hardwood has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardwood missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Callahan keeping moving, preventing Hardwood from controlling successfully.
Hardwood has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hardwood sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hardwood throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Callahan working for a triangle but Hardwood defends it easily.
Hardwood content to stall in guard here.
Hardwood trying to control the position from guard on top but Callahan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardwood throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Callahan's waist but Callahan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hardwood off to one side.
Callahan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardwood swings for the body but Callahan moves out of range.
Callahan lands a head kick. Hardwood smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Callahan moves away.
Hardwood swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Callahan is looking to counter punch.
Callahan throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Hardwood closes the distance and pushes Callahan back into the cage.
Callahan misses with a body punch.
Hardwood looking to slow down the pace here.
Callahan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Callahan.
Hardwood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hardwood misses with some punches.
Hardwood misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hardwood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hardwood is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardwood.
Callahan lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Hardwood as the two fighters clinch.
Hardwood tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardwood tries to throw a body punch but Callahan avoids it by throwing Hardwood back against the cage.
Hardwood softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hardwood misses with some punches.
Major Hardwood seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Callahan lands with a right to the head.
Hardwood misses with a hook to the ribs.
Callahan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Callahan avoiding damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardwood misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Callahan.
Nice body punch from Hardwood - that landed with a thud.
Hardwood is trying to maintain a safe position but Callahan gets an underhook and turns Hardwood into the cage.
Callahan tries to land a knee to the head but Hardwood blocks with his arms.
Hardwood misses with some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hardwood.
Callahan throws a head punch that misses.
Hardwood looking to slow down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Major Hardwood.
I think Hardwood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Major Hardwood!
In his post fight interview, Major Hardwood gave a big smile as he said 'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!'.