PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mister Pink (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pink has chosen Mitsa as his entrance music. Mister Pink struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 172.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Mister Pink is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hardy
vs
Pink

183 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
7 - 30 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 30 - 1, fighting out of London, Mister Pink!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pink shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet but Pink is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hardy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pink 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.
Pink trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardy is looking to stand up but Pink isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pink!

Hardy is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Pink tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
Pink looks gassed!
Hardy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardy connects with a high kick.

Pink shoots in and bounces Hardy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pink won't allow Hardy to get back to his feet.

Hardy kicks Pink off and gets to his feet.
Hardy turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hardy connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pink takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hardy scores a takedown into full mount!
Hardy tries to control but Pink wriggling away.
Hardy connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hardy throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hardy connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hardy dominating with strikes here.
Hardy scoring with strikes but Pink is staying in there.

Hardy is working for a guillotine from mount but Pink frees his head quite easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hardy working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hardy postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Pink looks a forlorn figure.
Pink is squirming around, avoiding Hardy's attempts to control the action.
Hardy dominating with strikes here.
Hardy looking to control but Pink is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands a big elbow.
Pink tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hardy lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hardy looking to finish Pink with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pink!
Hardy landing strikes, looking to finish!

Hardy looking to secure an arm triangle but Pink defends it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hardy is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Pink can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Pink takes a swing at Hardy's ribcage but misses.
Pink fails to land the takedown.
Hardy is looking to clinch.

Hardy takes the fight into the clinch.

Hardy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hardy is defended easily by Pink.
Hardy misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pink blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Hardy throws a quick inside leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hardy is defended easily by Pink.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pink throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hardy throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pink.
Hardy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hardy throws a head kick but Pink moves out of range.
Pink fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dan Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mister Pink.
Hardy misses with a head kick.
Hardy throws a head kick but Pink moves out of range.
Hardy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pink.
Pink blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Pink shoots in looking for a takedown. Hardy tries to sprawl out of it but Pink keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hardy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hardy misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pink fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pink shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Pink avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Hardy moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pink closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardy circles away.
Hardy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hardy lands a head kick!

Pink drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hardy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pink's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Dan Hardy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pink lands strikes from half guard.
Pink not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
Hardy 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.
Pink throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Hardy kicks Pink off and gets back to his feet.
Pink looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hardy is fending him off so far but Pink persists. Nope, Hardy circles away and we're back to standing.

Pink forces Hardy back against the cage and clinches.
Pink jumps guard but Hardy stands there with Pink around his waist. Pink gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hardy.
Pink shoots and misses
and Hardy counters with a head kick. That will keep Pink thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Pink shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense.
Hardy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dan Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pink shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardy as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pink tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pink somewhat.
Hardy throws a head kick but Pink moves out of range.

Pink shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hardy napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pink creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hardy sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hardy regains half guard there - taking advantage of Pink's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pink wants to pass to mount but Hardy is defending the position.
Pink lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dan Hardy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pink shoots in for a double leg but Hardy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hardy lands a high kick!
Pink tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hardy throws a nice head kick!
Hardy looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hardy throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pink.
A solid body kick from Hardy.

Hardy instigates a clinch.
Hardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pink has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy is trying to break the clinch but Pink has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pink fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dan Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mister Pink.
Hardy has had enough of the clinch but Pink keeps him there for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hardy gets control of Pink's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hardy will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hardy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pink's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pink stopping the sweep attempt from Hardy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pink stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Pink tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hardy enables Pink to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hardy manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pink lands a couple of elbows.
Hardy throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Pink trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pink landing with the ground and pound.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hardy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pink trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hardy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pink has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hardy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pink does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hardy is just content to waste time from the top position. Pink takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pink has a closed guard, preventing Hardy from standing up.

Pink kicks Hardy off and gets to his feet.
Mister Pink has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hardy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pink to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pink throwing strikes from guard but Hardy blocks nicely.
Hardy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pink passes Hardy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hardy is trying to stand back up but Pink is controlling him
Hardy is staying active underneath Pink, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy is trying to stand up here but Pink is controlling him well.
Pink wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Pink scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hardy won't allow Pink to pass to mount.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Hardy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pink is working away from the top position though.

Pink is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hardy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pink.
Dan Hardy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hardy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mister Pink.
Well Hardy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mister Pink!