PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Zedowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Zedowski
vs
Hardy

182 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Murder Inc.

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Zedowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Hardy or perhaps it was just good defense by Zedowski which made him look bad.

Zedowski scores with a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Hardy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zedowski looking to pass the guard.
Hardy is adopting a defensive guard.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Zedowski from controlling successfully.

Zedowski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Zedowski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zedowski looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zedowski defends it easily.
Hardy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zedowski's guard.

Zedowski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Zedowski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hardy defends it easily.
Hardy trying to control but Zedowski is working from the bottom.
Hardy might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zedowski kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zedowski wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Zedowski keeps moving.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zedowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hardy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zedowski pinned against the cage. Zedowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zedowski moves out of range as Hardy strikes.
Zedowski moves out of range of the strikes.

Zedowski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardy looking for a guillotine here but Zedowski defends easily.
Hardy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zedowski is one step ahead there.
Hardy is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zedowski looking to pass the guard.
Zedowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Zedowski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zedowski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hardy trying to keep a closed guard but Zedowski is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Hardy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zedowski defends well.
Zedowski cracks Hardy with a solid left hand.
Zedowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zedowski is breathing heavily.
Hardy wants to sweep but no luck.
Zedowski wants to pass the guard but Hardy is keeping the position.

Zedowski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hardy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Zedowski dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zedowski shoots in and bounces Hardy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hardy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zedowski is controlling him.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Zedowski from controlling successfully.
Hardy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zedowski manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Zedowski is keeping the position.

Zedowski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hardy drops back looking for a leg! Zedowski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zedowski manages to kick Hardy off! Hardy jumps back into Zedowski's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Zedowski keeps moving.

Zedowski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zedowski keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Zedowski is keeping the position.
Hardy slips nicely into half guard.

That's two 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.

Zedowski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hardy pulls his head out easily.
Hardy is pressing down on Zedowski's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zedowski is holding on for now.
Zedowski is staying active underneath Hardy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hardy wants to free his trapped foot but Zedowski is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Hardy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zedowski is looking for a sweep. Hardy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to control but Zedowski is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zedowski doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hardy counters with a single leg into guard. Zedowski didn't expect that.
Zedowski keeping full guard, as Hardy tries to pass.
Zedowski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Zedowski keeps moving.
Hardy advances position into side control!
Hardy creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zedowski sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zedowski tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hardy taking a breather here.
Hardy in side control, throwing shots but Zedowski defends.

Hardy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hardy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Zedowski is looking for a sweep.
Zedowski is trying to escape the position but Hardy is controlling the position.

Hardy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hardy 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!

Hardy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zedowski.
Zedowski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hardy counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardy.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zedowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zedowski keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hardy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hardy passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy taking a breather here.
Zedowski is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hardy is trying to control. Zedowski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zedowski works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Zedowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Zedowski looking for a guillotine here but Hardy defends easily.
Zedowski keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy postures up.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Zedowski keeps moving.

Zedowski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Zedowski keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hardy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hardy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zedowski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hardy has managed to get both his arms back between Zedowski's legs - danger averted.
Hardy is pushing down on Zedowski's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zedowski is fighting to maintain full guard but Hardy has managed to sneak the leg through.

Hardy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zedowski doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hardy.
Zedowski manages to get to full guard.

That's four 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.

Zedowski 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.
Zedowski keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hardy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hardy!