PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Blackburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackburn has chosen White Knuckles as his entrance music. 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
Blackburn

183 cm
25
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Blackburn!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackburn throws a leg kick but Hardy sees it coming and moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Blackburn has a couple of punches blocked by Hardy.
Blackburn misses with the head strike.

Hardy manages to break the clinch.
Hardy moves out of range of the leg kick from Blackburn.

Blackburn closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Hardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blackburn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Blackburn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blackburn is working Hardy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blackburn.
Hardy is looking to stand up but Blackburn isn't so interested in that idea.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackburn chips away with some ground and pound.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardy has control of Blackburn's left arm, preventing Blackburn from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blackburn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blackburn.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blackburn's guard.
Hardy postures up in Blackburn's guard and throws a big left but Blackburn blocks it.
Blackburn keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Hardy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Blackburn manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hardy manages to get himself to full guard.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet but Blackburn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Blackburn preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn postures up in Hardy's guard and throws a big left but Hardy blocks it.
Blackburn keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hardy's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blackburn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blackburn working some strikes from top position.
Blackburn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blackburn looks gassed!
Blackburn works over Hardy with some ground and pound from guard.
Blackburn throws a strike but Hardy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hardy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hardy stops Blackburn from standing up.
Hardy passes Blackburn's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn wants to improve his position but Hardy is controlling well.
Hardy is keen to just control but Blackburn is a slippery customer.
Hardy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blackburn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hardy scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Hardy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Blackburn is trying to maintain the position but Hardy is very close to passing his half guard.
Blackburn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Blackburn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Hardy stands and steps away. Blackburn gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hardy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Blackburn!
Hardy looking to control but Blackburn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hardy with shots to the head and body - Blackburn looks very uncomfortable down there.
BOOM! Hardy connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hardy looking to finish Blackburn with some ground and pound. This is bad for Blackburn!
Hardy controlling the pace for now.
Blackburn can't escape the position.
Hardy putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dan Hardy will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Blackburn misses with a takedown attempt

and Hardy counters by moving into the clinch.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hardy stalling.
Hardy goes for a takedown attempt but Blackburn pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Blackburn swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.

Blackburn closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.

Hardy working for a triangle but Blackburn defends it easily.
Blackburn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blackburn wants to pass the guard but Hardy is keeping the position.

Hardy manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hardy manages to break the clinch.
Blackburn misses with a takedown
and Hardy counters with a head kick. That will keep Blackburn thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Hardy rushes Blackburn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hardy looking for a takedown.
Hardy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blackburn keeps control of Hardy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hardy blocks an uppercut.
Hardy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blackburn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blackburn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blackburn swings wildly with an uppercut but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blackburn is pressed up against the cage. Hardy has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blackburn down to the mat. Blackburn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Blackburn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hardy utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hardy stalling in the clinch but Blackburn improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy can't get the takedown.
Blackburn scores with a shot to the side of Hardy's head.
Hardy looking for a takedown.
Blackburn misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blackburn shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hardy eats them both and turns towards Blackburn to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Hardy clinches up with Blackburn and pushes him back against the cage.
Blackburn throws a punch but it's blocked by Hardy.
Hardy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blackburn lands a hook that snaps the head of Hardy backwards.
Blackburn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blackburn misses with a hook from the clinch.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blackburn throws a head kick that misses.
Steve Blackburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blackburn fails with the takedown

and Hardy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short right from Hardy on the inside.
Blackburn gets underhooks to prevent Hardy's takedown attempt.
Blackburn misses with the head strike.
Blackburn is pressed up against the cage. Hardy has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blackburn down to the mat. Blackburn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Blackburn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn throws a combination that misses

and Hardy counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hardy.
Hardy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blackburn throws a punch but it's blocked by Hardy.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Blackburn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
A head punch on the inside from Blackburn fails to land.
Blackburn lands a hook that snaps the head of Hardy backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Blackburn fails to land.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hardy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Blackburn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hardy working some strikes from top position.
Blackburn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Blackburn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardy with a nice head shot there.
Hardy postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blackburn controls Hardy momentarily but Hardy frees himself.
Blackburn throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Blackburn trying to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hardy is in close to Blackburn's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Blackburn wants to stand and escape but Hardy is having none of it.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Blackburn keeps moving.
Hardy scoring with some ground and pound.
Blackburn wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Blackburn keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hardy moves into the clinch.

Hardy breaks the clinch.
Blackburn is looking to clinch.
Blackburn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hardy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Blackburn misses with a punch on the inside.
Blackburn misses with the head strike.
Hardy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blackburn walks away with a smile on his face. Hardy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Blackburn is looking to clinch but Hardy is avoiding it.
Blackburn has his takedown stuffed

so Hardy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hardy's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Blackburn wants to sweep but no luck.
Hardy slips nicely into half guard.
Hardy wants to control but Blackburn is keeping him busy.
Dan Hardy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blackburn is looking to escape.
Hardy lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn wants to control but Hardy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hardy is pressing down on Blackburn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Blackburn is holding on for now.
Blackburn tries to kick Hardy off but Hardy keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Blackburn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardy takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hardy lands with a punch from half guard.
Blackburn wants to control but Hardy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blackburn wants to get back to full guard.
Hardy working Blackburn over with strikes.
Blackburn tries to get to full guard but Hardy has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Blackburn is defending against the submission attempts here by Hardy.
Blackburn wants to improve his position but Hardy is controlling well.
Hardy passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Blackburn!
A nice elbow there by Hardy.
Blackburn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Blackburn regains half guard.
Hardy scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hardy connects with a nice short shot to Blackburn's temple.
Blackburn tries to get to full guard but Hardy has control of the leg.
Blackburn trying to control but Hardy postures up.
Hardy scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Blackburn is looking for a sweep. Hardy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hardy seems to be working for a kimura but Blackburn defends the submission attempt.
Blackburn strikes from the bottom but Hardy passes into mount!
Hardy controlling from the full mount.
Blackburn is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four 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.
Blackburn wants to hold on but Hardy pushes him away.
Hardy lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
A nice elbow there by Hardy.
Hardy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Blackburn bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Blackburn is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Steve Blackburn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Hardy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blackburn throws and elbow that misses. Hardy uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blackburn's guard. Nice move by Hardy!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

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