PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kasper Hansen (ranked 2954 p4p, 4826 weight class) and AJ Gardener (ranked 289 p4p, 396 weight class). AJ Gardener has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hansen
vs
Gardener

185 cm
25
153
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
147
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kasper Hansen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, AJ Gardener!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hansen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gardener tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hansen is in Gardener's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gardener can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hansen wants to pass the guard but Gardener is keeping the position.
Hansen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gardener trying to keep a closed guard but Hansen is proving a slippery customer.
Gardener looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hansen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hansen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardener controls Hansen momentarily but Hansen frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hansen darts in looking for a takedown but Gardener gets double underhooks and turns Hansen into the cage.
Gardener drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hansen defends it well.
Gardener is pressed up against the cage. Hansen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gardener down to the mat. Gardener avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hansen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gardener on his heels. He'll look to pass Gardener's guard now, I'm sure.
Gardener trying to control the position.
Hansen wants to pass the guard but Gardener is keeping the position.
Hansen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gardener being controlled here, momentarily.
Hansen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hansen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hansen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hansen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gardener for as long as he can get away with.
Gardener trying to keep a closed guard but Hansen is proving a slippery customer.
Hansen looking to pass the guard.
Gardener being controlled here, momentarily.
Hansen continues to stall.
Hansen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hansen gets a takedown into half guard.
Hansen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Gardener really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hansen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hansen in particular looking to stall.
Hansen prevents Gardener from improving his position.
Hansen content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gardener wants to get back to full guard.
Gardener trying to control here.

Hansen is working for a submission of some sort.
Hansen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Hansen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hansen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gardener was covering up waiting for the punch and Hansen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hansen tries to free his leg and advance position but Gardener is retaining full guard.
Gardener tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hansen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hansen pushes down on Gardener's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hansen is controlling the pace.
Gardener trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hansen prevents Gardener from improving his position.
Hansen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Hansen.

Hansen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gardener defends it well.
Hansen slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hansen is looking for a kimura here.

Hansen is trying to work for a kimura but Gardener is defending well.

Hansen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hansen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Further stalling from Hansen.
Gardener wants to get back to full guard but Hansen has passed into side control.
Hansen controlling the position from side mount.
Kasper Hansen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hansen continues to hold on tight.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Hansen is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Hansen working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
You can see the frustration on Gardener's face as Hansen controls the position.
Hansen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Gardener is trying to improve his position.

Hansen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hansen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gardener can't do much from the bottom here.
Hansen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gardener can do to turn this around?
Hansen remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hansen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gardener has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Hansen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gardener feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gardener being controlled here momentarily.
Gardener stopping the sweep attempt from Hansen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hansen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gardener trying to control but Hansen is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hansen is controlling Gardener's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hansen is on top in guard.

Hansen content to stall in guard here.
Gardener tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hansen postures up.
Hansen is pushing down on Gardener's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gardener is fighting to maintain full guard but Hansen has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gardener wants to control but Hansen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hansen slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hansen uses his free foot to push down on Gardener's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gardener.
Hansen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gardener tries to lock up and control but Hansen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hansen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hansen seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Gardener is holding on tight.
Hansen moves to the back.
Hansen trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Gardener doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hansen avoiding Gardener 's attempts to control his hands.
Hansen just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Gardener trying to control the hands but Hansen won't let him.
Gardener is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Hansen clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hansen shoots for a takedown but Gardener saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Hansen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gardener looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gardener can't do much from the bottom here.
Hansen staying calm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Hansen is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Gardener looks calm but he's in trouble here. Hansen gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Gardener is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Hansen lets go of the hold and Gardener can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kasper Hansen!
Kasper Hansen is the new featherweight champion!