PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nero Hardy (ranked 1353 p4p, 1595 weight class) and Albert Sojka (ranked 189 p4p, 216 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hardy
vs
Sojka

180 cm
23
174
8 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
176
7 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

New Standard
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Arcticus University: London
New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nero Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert Sojka!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sojka takes one to the chin there.

It looks like Albert Sojka has been cut.
Hardy moves away from the strike by Sojka.
Sojka works over Hardy's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Nero Hardy has been cut.
Hardy on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sojka falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hardy counters by moving into the clinch.
A short left from Sojka.
We've been hearing reports that Hardy has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Hardy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hardy pushes Sojka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Sojka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hardy takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sojka slips a straight right by Hardy.
Sojka looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sojka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sojka misses with a wild body shot.
Sojka misses with the combination.

Hardy catches Sojka napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Sojka to the canvas!

Sojka is rocked!
Hardy postures up and lands a big shot to Sojka's brow.
Sojka is still in real trouble! Can Hardy finish him?
Hardy controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hardy is standing up over Sojka. Sojka looks to escape but Hardy dives into side control.
Sojka seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy is putting a hurting on Sojka here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sojka is trying to buck Hardy off.
Hardy is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sojka will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Hardy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sojka for as long as he can get away with.
Sojka told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Sojka taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hardy slows the pace down.
Hardy working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sojka is not content to let Hardy control the position.
Hardy scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sojka to see if he's OK.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sojka can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sojka tries to escape but Hardy is in control.
The referee asks Hardy politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hardy prefers to stall for the moment though.
Hardy lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sojka's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sojka tries to escape but Hardy is in control.
Hardy controls the position.
Hardy scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sojka to see if he's OK.
Hardy scores with punches from side control.
Hardy staying calm.
Sojka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hardy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hardy landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sojka is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hardy asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Hardy scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sojka to see if he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Sojka's face as Hardy controls the position.
Sojka is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sojka is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hardy connects with a decent elbow.
Hardy in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sojka is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hardy has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sojka takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hardy working the head with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nero Hardy dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sojka tries to get into range but Hardy steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Sojka! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! Hardy scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nero Hardy!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Nero Hardy waved his t-shirt featuring Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)'s logo in front of the cameras.