PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Swagger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dale Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Swagger
vs
Hardy

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sammy Swagger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dale Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardy pushes Swagger up against the cage in a clinch.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Swagger goes for a takedown attempt but Hardy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hardy moves into the clinch.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Sammy Swagger has been cut.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hardy lands a knee to the body.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Swagger tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Swagger drops back down to his feet.
Hardy lands a good knee to the midsection. Swagger won't want to take too many of those.
Swagger is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Swagger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Hardy lands a knee to the head.
Hardy putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Swagger in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hardy slowing the pace effectively.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Swagger is rocked!
Hardy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Hardy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy working Swagger over with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Hardy lands a knee to the body.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Swagger lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Hardy working Swagger over with knees to the body.
Hardy crunches a lovely knee into Swagger's ribcage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hardy is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Swagger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.
Hardy wants to clinch up but Swagger keeps it at a distance.
Dale Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardy chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hardy clinches with his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy effectively controlling the action here.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy lands a nice knee to the body.
Swagger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.

Hardy darts in and clinches Swagger up against the cage.
Hardy stops a takedown attempt from Swagger.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy lands a good knee to the midsection. Swagger won't want to take too many of those.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Hardy.
Hardy scores with a knee to the head.
Hardy landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy crunches a lovely knee into Swagger's ribcage.
Swagger takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Swagger is trying to stall.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Swagger has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hardy is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hardy prevents Swagger from breaking the clinch.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but Swagger is blocking nicely.
Swagger wants a takedown but no success here.

Swagger pulls Hardy into guard.
Swagger is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swagger trying to keep a closed guard but Hardy is proving a slippery customer.
Swagger has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dale Hardy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sammy Swagger's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch but Swagger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Swagger darts in trying to clinch

and Hardy counters by moving into the clinch.
Swagger wants a takedown but no success here.
Swagger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hardy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hardy landing knees to the body.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Swagger lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Swagger lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hardy landing knees to the body.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hardy.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Swagger takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hardy obliges.
Hardy connects with a knee to the head.
Hardy has Swagger pushed against the cage.
Hardy lands a knee to the body.
Hardy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Swagger jumps guard but Hardy stands there with Swagger around his waist. Swagger gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Swagger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swagger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hardy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Swagger takes a knee right on the jaw!
Swagger is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Hardy lands a knee to the head.
Swagger has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hardy is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Swagger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Swagger blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hardy is pressed up against the cage. Swagger has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hardy down to the mat. Hardy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hardy moves into the clinch.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dale Hardy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Swagger tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Swagger drops back down to his feet.
Swagger is trying to break free.
Hardy lands a knee to the head.
Swagger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hardy is defending well for now.
Knees to the body from Hardy.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Swagger wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardy effectively controlling the action here.
Hardy trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Swagger throws an elbow but misses.
Hardy dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hardy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hardy is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hardy stops a takedown attempt from Swagger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Swagger goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hardy prevents it.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Swagger changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hardy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A good leg kick by Hardy.

Swagger tries to keep at a distance but Hardy has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hardy prevents the takedown attempt.
Swagger takes a knee right on the jaw!
Swagger takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hardy lands a knee to the head.
Hardy scores with a knee to the head.
Hardy is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hardy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Swagger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Swagger lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Swagger has Hardy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hardy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Swagger has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Swagger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Swagger is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Swagger is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy is pushing Swagger up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Swagger is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Swagger takes a knee to the side of the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dale Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sammy Swagger's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Swagger or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardy which made him look bad.
Swagger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardy as he jumps to the side.
A good leg kick by Hardy.
Swagger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Hardy clinches up with Swagger and pushes him back against the cage.
Hardy landing knees to the body.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Hardy effectively controlling the action here.
Hardy lands a nice knee to the body.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy leaning against his opponent.
Hardy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Swagger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Swagger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Swagger counters by clinching up.
Swagger wants a takedown but no success here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hardy.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hardy misses with a knee to the head.
Hardy stops a takedown attempt from Swagger.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but Swagger is blocking nicely.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Hardy gets underhooks to prevent Swagger's takedown attempt.
Hardy dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hardy using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Swagger is trying to stall.
Hardy scores with a knee to the head.

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.
Hardy lands a good knee to the midsection. Swagger won't want to take too many of those.
Hardy trying to land knees to the body.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but Swagger blocks with his arms.

Swagger drags the fight down to the ground.
Swagger bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hardy's guard.
Swagger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hardy holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy looking to control.
Swagger wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Swagger is in close to Hardy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hardy looking to control.
Dale Hardy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardy looking for a sweep. Not yet Hardy, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Swagger is defended easily by Hardy.

Hardy has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Swagger jumps guard but Hardy stands there with Swagger around his waist. Swagger gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swagger's face.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Hardy connects with a knee to the head.
Swagger wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardy crunches a lovely knee into Swagger's ribcage.
Swagger takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sammy Swagger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dale Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardy 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 25:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 25:30

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