PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vance Hardin (ranked 6597 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Starly (ranked 6211 p4p, 0 weight class). Vance Hardin had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Hardin
vs
Starly

225 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vance Hardin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lance Starly!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starly changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardin tries to avoid it but Starly manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardin to the ground. Hardin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Starly has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Starly tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardin swivels and escapes.
Hardin seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Starly closes the distance and clinches.
Starly is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardin has double underhooks.
Starly misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hardin.
Hardin wants a takedown.
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 creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Starly's defenses.

Hardin works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hardin throws a big elbow that misses.
Starly controlling Hardin's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hardin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Starly preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardin is looking to work some ground and pound but Starly has wrist control.
Hardin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hardin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hardin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hardin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Starly is trying to hold Hardin in close to prevent damage but Hardin has managed to pass into half guard.
Hardin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardin slips a nice elbow through Starly's hands, connecting with Starly's forehead.
Starly blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hardin.
Hardin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Hardin escapes and gets back to his feet.
Starly looks winded!

Starly clinches.
Hardin stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Hardin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hardin effectively controlling the action here.
Hardin gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

Hardin pulls guard.

Hardin uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starly shoots for a double leg takedown but Hardin sprawls well. He's pushed Starly's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vance Hardin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance Starly.

Starly tries to keep at a distance but Hardin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hardin.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Hardin for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Hardin is looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Starly is defending well.
Hardin wants a takedown but no success here.
Starly jumps guard but Hardin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Starly looking for a takedown.
Hardin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Starly stops a takedown attempt from Hardin.
Hardin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hardin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hardin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Starly misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardin.
Hardin is looking to counter the offense by Starly and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starly looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Starly throws a sloppy head kick

and Hardin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hardin.
Hardin stalling.
Starly looking for a takedown.
Hardin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Starly up against the cage.
Hardin goes for a takedown attempt but Starly pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Starly has a takedown stuffed.
Hardin is looking to counter the offense by Starly and move into the clinch.
Lance Starly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Starly is looking to land body kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vance Hardin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Starly wants to slow Hardin down by chopping away at his legs.
As Starly tries to get set, Hardin tries to push him back and clinch up but Starly manages to avoid the attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Starly is pressed up against the cage. Hardin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Starly down to the mat. Starly avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Starly.
Starly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starly throws a leg kick

and Hardin moves into the clinch.
Hardin can't get the takedown.
Starly is breathing heavily.
Hardin has Starly pushed against the cage.
Hardin tries to score a body lock takedown but Starly shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vance Hardin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardin has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Starly clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardin scores with punches to the body.
Hardin avoiding Starly 's attempts to control his hands.
Hardin throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Starly!
Hardin loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Starly hold on?

Starly is trying to defend against the choke here but Hardin has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Hardin Tightens the hold and Starly taps out furiously! Hardin displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Vance Hardin!