PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Date (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Hardcastle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardcastle has chosen "Fade (Reed Streets Remix)" By Kanye West as his entrance music. Alistair Date could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Duke Hardcastle's chin.

Date
vs
Hardcastle

191 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alistair Date!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Duke Hardcastle!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Date listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Date throws a jab when Hardcastle was well out of range.
Date lands a jab to the nose.

Date fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hardcastle, pushing him back against the cage.
Date is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Date.
Date can't break the clinch.
Date dodges an elbow strike from Hardcastle.
Date tries to break the clinch but Hardcastle is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardcastle prevents Date from breaking the clinch.
Date blocks an elbow strike.

Hardcastle manages to break the clinch.
Date lands a jab to the head.
Date is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Date tests Hardcastle's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Hardcastle is rocked!

Date closes the distance and clinches.
Date working hard to break the clinch.
Hardcastle 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.
Hardcastle wants a takedown.
Date wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardcastle has him pressed against the cage.
Hardcastle jumps guard but Date turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Date wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Hardcastle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Date scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardcastle takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Date cracks Hardcastle with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Date feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Hardcastle sprawling to the canvas! Hardcastle rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Date finish him?!
Hardcastle is still on wobbly legs! Can Date finish him?
Date looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Date has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hardcastle has Date pressed against the cage, preventing Date from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hardcastle seems to have recovered his senses.
Hardcastle wants a takedown.
Alistair Date has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duke Hardcastle.
Date wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hardcastle has Date pressed against the cage, preventing Date from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Date wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Date has had enough of the clinch but Hardcastle keeps him there for the moment.

Hardcastle manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Date scores with a hook to the body. Hardcastle takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hardcastle walks into a left hand.
Date is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hardcastle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Date counters with a nice uppercut.
Date feints with a jab and clips Hardcastle right behind the ear with a massive overhand right! Hardcastle is sent crashing into the canvas and Date leaps in for the kill! Hardcastle tries to get to his feet but Date is just battering him from every conceivable angle. The ref decides that Hardcastle is in need of a savior and steps in!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alistair Date!