PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Beagal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Hardcore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan Hardcore acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Beagal
vs
Hardcore

180 cm
18
227 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steven Beagal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Hardcore!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardcore takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Beagal swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardcore.
Hardcore displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Beagal.
Beagal fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardcore ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Beagal moves away.
Hardcore swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Beagal.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Beagal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Beagal with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Beagal closes the distance and clinches.
Hardcore can't get the takedown.
Beagal gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hardcore.
Beagal gets underhooks to prevent Hardcore's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beagal wants to break free but Hardcore has control.

Beagal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheers as Beagal lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hardcore doesn't seem phased though.
Beagal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Beagal fails to land the takedown.
No luck for Beagal with that takedown attempt.
Hardcore defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Beagal.
Beagal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Hardcore closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore trying to control the pace.
Hardcore wants to pass to mount but Beagal is defending the position.
Hardcore trying to control the action but Beagal is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardcore is working for a submission of some sort.
Hardcore seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hardcore trying to mount his opponent but Beagal defends it.
Beagal pushes Hardcore off looking to stand but Hardcore dives back in and keeps control.

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.

Hardcore decides to stand and escape the position.

Hardcore rushes Beagal and presses him up against the cage.
Hardcore is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Beagal pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hardcore has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Beagal is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Beagal is trying to break the clinch but Hardcore has him pressed against the cage.
Hardcore changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Beagal fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Beagal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hardcore counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Beagal is breathing heavily.
Hardcore forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Hardcore dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Beagal doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hardcore counters with a takedown into side control.
Hardcore trying to control the position but Beagal is working away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Beagal stops Hardcore from passing to mount.
Beagal could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hardcore tries to advance position but instead Beagal slips a leg back in to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardcore throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardcore stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Beagal to get to his feet.

Hardcore shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Beagal is trying to defend but Hardcore finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hardcore thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bryan Hardcore has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardcore seems to be looking for submissions.
Hardcore thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hardcore wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beagal keeps working.
Beagal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hardcore.
Beagal is staying active underneath Hardcore, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Still in half guard, Hardcore seems content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hardcore leaves Beagal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Beagal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Hardcore closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hardcore controlling from side mount.
Hardcore wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beagal keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore controlling the position from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Hardcore 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!

Hardcore drives through and clinches with Beagal against the cage.
Beagal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hardcore is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Beagal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hardcore fails with the takedown
and Beagal counters with a three punch combo that has Hardcore backing up. Hardcore nods at Beagal to acknowledge the strikes.
Beagal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beagal doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hardcore counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hardcore is just content to waste time from the top position. Beagal takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardcore loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Beagal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hardcore controlling from the top position.
Let's hope that Hardcore has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Beagal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardcore.
Hardcore is looking to stand up but Beagal won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardcore stands and steps away. Beagal gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bryan Hardcore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardcore tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bryan Hardcore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beagal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardcore avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Beagal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beagal throws a head kick but Hardcore moves out of range.
Beagal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hardcore decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Beagal's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardcore not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hardcore trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hardcore not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Steven Beagal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Hardcore comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardcore winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Hardcore!