PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ariel Hodge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ston Hardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ston Hardson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hodge
vs
Hardson

200 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ariel Hodge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ston Hardson!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hodge circles away.
Hardson tries to bum rush Hodge with a series of wild strikes but Hodge uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hodge attempts a counter takedown but Hardson avoids it well and moves away.

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

Hodge gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hodge tries to clinch but Hardson is having none of it.
Hodge walks into a left hand.

It looks like Ariel Hodge has been cut.
Hardson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hodge.
Hardson misses with a few strikes there.

Hardson instigates a clinch.
Hodge goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hardson prevents it.
Hardson stops a takedown attempt from Hodge.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hodge manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hodge looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardson breaks the clinch.

Hardson clinches.
Hardson can't break the clinch.
Hardson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Hodge breaks from the clinch.
Hardson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hodge circles away quickly and effectively.
Hodge will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hodge throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hardson's head.
Hodge keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hardson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hodge manages to avoid it.

Hardson moves into the clinch.

Hodge breaks from the clinch.
Hodge gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardson counters with a left and a right that stings Hodge.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hardson pushes Hodge up against the cage in a clinch.

Hardson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hardson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hardson looks winded!
Hardson misses with a takedown attempt - Hodge sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hodge shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Hardson counter with a right hand.

Hodge pushes Hardson up against the cage in a clinch.
Hodge takes a shot to the head.
Hodge has Hardson pressed against the cage, preventing Hardson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hardson lands a shoulder strike.
Hodge looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodge is trying to drag Hardson to the mat but Hardson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A frustrated look appears on Hardson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hardson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hardson lands with a right to the head.
Hardson tries to break free but Hodge pushes him back against the cage.

Hardson gets control of Hodge's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hardson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hodge wanted to stand there but Hardson had control of the position.
Hodge prevents Hardson from getting back to his feet.
Hardson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hardson is controlling Hodge's posture.
Hodge is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Hodge decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hardson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hodge backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ston Hardson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ariel Hodge's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Hodge gets a double leg takedown into Hardson's guard.
Hodge prevents Hardson from getting back to his feet.
Hodge wants to control from the top but Hardson keeps moving.
Hodge throws a big elbow that misses.
Hodge throws a strike but Hardson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hodge trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hardson stands up and waves to Hodge to follow him.

Hardson has Hodge up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Hardson on the inside.
Hodge tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hardson jumps guard and drags Hodge to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hodge prevents Hardson from getting back to his feet.

Hodge gets to his feet - Hardson follows without any prompting.

Hardson has Hodge up against the cage in a clinch.
Hodge is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hardson prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hardson manages to break the clinch.

Hardson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Hardson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Hodge with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hodge tries to counter by clinching up but Hardson breaks away and moves out of range.
Hodge fails with the takedown.
Hardson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hodge moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardson throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hodge takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hardson throws a combination. Hodge tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Hardson has managed to clinch.
Hardson gets underhooks to prevent Hodge's takedown attempt.
Hodge is trying to pull guard but Hardson has him pressed against the cage.
Hodge has Hardson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hardson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hodges head.
Hardson has Hodge pressed against the cage.
Ston Hardson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Hardson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hardson closes the distance and pushes Hodge back into the cage.

Hardson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardson throws a series of punches but Hodge avoids them all with ease.
Hardson throws a right and a left that Hodge avoids nicely.

Hardson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hardson manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hodge stands and steps away. Hardson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hardson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hardson tried to score with a low kick but Hodge checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hardson. That did some damage!

Hardson has managed to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hodge takes a shot to the head.

Hardson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hardson lands with a nice combination. Hodge backs away looking to recover.

Hardson gets a clinch.

Hodge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hodge jumps guard but Hardson stands there with Hodge around his waist. Hodge gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hardson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hodge has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ston Hardson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ariel Hodge's cut.
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!

Hardson has closed the distance and engaged Hodge in a clinch.
Hodge is working for takedown but Hardson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hodge drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hardson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hardson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hardson forces Hodge back against the cage and clinches.
Hodge tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardson smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hodge slips a jab and a cross from Hardson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hodge shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardson as he jumps to the side.
Hardson shoots in but no luck this time.
Hodge appears to be looking for a big counter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hardson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardson is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Hardson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Hardson has managed to clinch.

Hardson breaks the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Hardson. No joy for Hodge on that attempt.
Hodge sets himself, and Hardson steps forward looking for the clinch! Hodge avoids it this time.

Hardson takes the fight into the clinch.

Hardson breaks from the clinch.
Ariel Hodge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hodge has managed to clinch.

Hardson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hodge sees it coming and avoids it easily.
As Hardson looks to move away, Hodge throws a big counter combo but Hardson just gets out of the way.

Hardson takes the fight into the clinch.
Hodge is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardson has double underhooks.

Hardson breaks from the clinch.
Hardson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hardson duly obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hodge is fending him off so far but Hardson persists. Nope, Hodge circles away and we're back to standing.
Hodge lands with a nice body kick.
Hardson misses with a double jab.
Ston Hardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardson throws a body shot but no joy.
Hardson slaps away a takedown attempt from Hodge, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hardson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Hardson clinches up with Hodge and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardson can't break the clinch.

Hodge breaks the clinch.
Hodge shoots for a double leg takedown but Hardson sprawls well. He's pushed Hodge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hodge shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hardson defends it nicely.
Hodge is looking to clinch.
Hardson is looking for the big counter here.
Hodge slaps away a takedown attempt from Hardson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hodge wants to clinch up but Hardson keeps it at a distance.
Hardson feints the counter takedown.
Hodge shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardson clinches up with Hodge and pushes him back against the cage.

Hodge manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hodge.

Hardson drives through and clinches with Hodge against the cage.

Hardson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hardson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hodge tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hardson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hardson landing a few strikes.
Ston Hardson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hodge tries to escape but Hardson is in control.
Hardson is staying tight to Hodge's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ariel Hodge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ston Hardson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardson 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ston Hardson!