PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jhonny Ippo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ippo comes to the cage accompanied by Rocky Theme. On his way into the cage it seems that Jhonny Ippo has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jhonny Ippo seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ippo
vs
Hardy

192 cm
23
270 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
21
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Double R Nutrients

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jhonny Ippo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.

Hardy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ippo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Ippo explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Ippo shoots in and bounces Hardy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ippo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hardy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ippo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hardy wants to sweep but no luck.
Ippo thows a big elbow that misses.
Ippo throws a big right hand that misses.
Hardy wants to stand up but Ippo is controlling him.
Hardy pulls Ippo in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ippo won't allow Hardy to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hardy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ippo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hardy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ippo wants to stand up but Hardy is controlling him.

Hardy has gone for a leg lock! Ippo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hardy's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hardy looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hardy is trying to hold Ippo in close to prevent damage but Ippo has managed to pass into half guard.
Hardy wants to improve his position but Ippo is controlling well.
Hardy should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hardy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to get to full guard but Ippo has control of the leg.
Ippo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hardy wants to improve his position but Ippo is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hardy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ippo's guard.
Ippo keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ippo keeping full guard, as Hardy tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ippo is looking to stand up but Hardy isn't so interested in that idea.
Hardy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ippo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Ippo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardy is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Hardy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ippo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ippo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ippo!
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 Jhonny Ippo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ippo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hardy counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ippo!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hardy goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ippo is on top in guard.
Hardy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ippo preventing the sweep.
Hardy is trying to keep Ippo in close.
Ippo thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ippo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ippo is in close to Hardy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ippo 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.
Ippo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ippo is standing up over Hardy. Hardy looks to escape but Ippo dives into side control.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ippo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hardy is trying to control Ippo's posture but Ippo avoids it.
Ippo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hardy some visible discomfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippo landing strikes.

It looks like Shane Hardy has been cut.
Hardy is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by Ippo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ippo lands some shots froms side control.
Hardy takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The strikes coming from Ippo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ippo throws a strike aimed at the side of Hardy's head but Hardy avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ippo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hardy is trying to get back to half guard.
Hardy can't do much from the bottom here.
Hardy defending against the ground and pound.
Hardy throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Hardy tries to improve position but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hardy with a poor takedown

so Ippo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Jhonny Ippo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.
Ippo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.
Hardy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hardy controls Ippo momentarily but Ippo frees himself.
Ippo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhonny Ippo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shane Hardy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ippo misses with a takedown

and Hardy counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ippo's guard now.
Hardy throwing strikes but missing.
Hardy postures up in Ippo's guard and throws a big left but Ippo blocks it.
Ippo keeping full guard, as Hardy tries to pass.
Hardy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hardy seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ippo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ippo tries to get out of the position.
Hardy trying to control but Ippo is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ippo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hardy off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hardy.
Hardy shoots and misses

and Ippo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hardy's guard.
Ippo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hardy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ippo has picked Hardy up and slammed him! Hardy can't keep hold of the triangle and Ippo manages to pass to side control!
Hardy is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippo misses with the ground and pound.
Ippo working the ground and pound but Hardy is defending the strikes.
Hardy sneaks back into half guard.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardy keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ippo is working away from the top position though.
Ippo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jhonny Ippo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardy trying to control from the bottom.
Hardy is trying to stand back up but Ippo is controlling him
Hardy trying to control but Ippo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ippo misses with a takedown

and Hardy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hardy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ippo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jhonny Ippo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Hardy.
Hardy with a poor takedown

and Ippo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hardy!
Hardy is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ippo misses with a head shot.
Ippo wants to control the pace but Hardy is squirming around nicely.
Hardy is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jhonny Ippo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ippo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jhonny Ippo!