PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roger Cantor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Coming home -Dirty money kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cantor
vs
Hardy

175 cm
29
165 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

180 cm
43
160 lbs
24 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roger Cantor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jason Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Ben Hemmingworth and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy throws a body shot but no joy.
Hardy throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Cantor counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hardy!
Hardy is looking to reverse the position.
Hardy takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cantor working the ground and pound.
Cantor just content to control the position.
Hardy tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cantor wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cantor wants to control for a moment but Hardy uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Hardy tries to roll over but Cantor keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Cantor seems content to control.
Hardy trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hardy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cantor trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Cantor passes Hardy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cantor thows a huge punch but Hardy dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hardy is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cantor thows a huge punch but Hardy dodges it nicely.
Hardy trying to control from the bottom.
Hardy tries to roll over but Cantor keeps him under control.
Cantor sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hardy is in trouble now - Cantor has advanced to mount!
The referee warns Hardy that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy can't escape the position.
Hardy takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hardy is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hardy in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Cantor 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.
Cantor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hardy is looking to escape.
Hardy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cantor working the ground and pound effectively.
Cantor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cantor is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hardy can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cantor punishing his opponent with strikes.
Cantor lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cantor trying to pass the guard but Hardy defending well.
Hardy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cantor.
Hardy is trying to maintain the position but Cantor is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Cantor dominated that round.
That's time! Cantor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cantor throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cantor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hardy. That did some damage!
Cantor is looking to score with low kicks.
Cantor misses with a low kick as Hardy jumps back.
Good leg kick by Cantor there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cantor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hardy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cantor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hardy's waist but Hardy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cantor off to one side.
Cantor lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantor scores with a punch to the head.
Cantor shoots for a takedown but Hardy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hardy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cantor was well out of range. Poor timing from Hardy.

Hardy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cantor manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy trying to control but Cantor is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Cantor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cantor is looking to sweep but instead, Hardy has passed into half guard.
Cantor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cantor working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hardy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Cantor is trying to keep Hardy in close.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Cantor keeps moving.
My spies in Tokyo Gym inform me that Hardy has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Cantor has his foot on Hardy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hardy works his way back into a safe position though.
Hardy landing some decent shots from guard.

Hardy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cantor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hardy has managed to get both his arms back between Cantor's legs - danger averted.
Hardy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hardy with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Cantor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hardy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cantor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hardy has managed to get both his arms back between Cantor's legs - danger averted.
Hardy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hardy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cantor's head.
Hardy stands up over Cantor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hardy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cantor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cantor keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy won't allow Cantor to sweep him here.

That's four 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.

Cantor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hardy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hardy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cantor keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Cantor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cantor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hardy throws out the jab.
Cantor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hardy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cantor throws a low kick but Hardy moves out of range easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hardy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jason Hardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cantor throws a low kick but Hardy moves out of range easily.
A little jabbing left from Hardy on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Cantor. No joy for Hardy on that attempt.
Hardy throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cantor closes the distance and clinches up with Hardy, looking for a takedown. Cantor pushes Hardy against the cage but Hardy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cantor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hardy thuds a left hand into Cantor's body.
Hardy misses with an uppercut. Cantor saw that one coming.
Cantor has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cantor there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cantor is looking to counter punch.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Cantor moves out of range easily.
Cantor drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hardy sprawls and moves away.

Cantor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hardy!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantor trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Cantor looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hardy is avoiding damage well.
You can see the frustration on Hardy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cantor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardy can do to turn this around?
Hardy is not content to let Cantor control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cantor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hardy is trying to improve his position.
Cantor in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hardy is looking for a sweep.
Cantor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantor in side control, throwing shots but Hardy defends.
Cantor throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hardy tries to buck Cantor off but Cantor is having none of it.
Cantor controlling the position.
Cantor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hardy trying to remain calm as Cantor controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cantor fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hardy is trying to improve his position.
Cantor landing a few strikes.
Cantor throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hardy is looking for a sweep.
Cantor working the ground and pound from side control.
Hardy regains half guard.
Hardy trying to hold on to Cantor's head to control him but Cantor postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Cantor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cantor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Cantor!
Roger Cantor thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Jason Hardy was interviewed post fight and said 'As always I can do everything through Christ my lord and savior who strengthens me. Without him I wouldn't be here tonight. Don't worry I'll be back.'.