PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Schmidt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ston Hardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ston Hardson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Schmidt
vs
Hardson

223 cm
25
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ernesto Schmidt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ston Hardson!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Schmidt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hardson misses with a series of wild punches.
Schmidt was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hardson tries to bum rush Schmidt with a series of wild strikes but Schmidt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Schmidt tries to avoid it but Hardson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Schmidt to the ground. Schmidt escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hardson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hardson misses with a series of wild punches.
Hardson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Schmidt jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Hardson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt misses with a head kick.
Hardson misses the jab.
Hardson misses with a lunging right hand
and Schmidt counters with a three punch combo that has Hardson backing up. Hardson nods at Schmidt to acknowledge the strikes.
Schmidt on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jab by Hardson.

It looks like Ernesto Schmidt has been cut.
Hardson throws a right hand that Schmidt ducks under and follows up with a left that Schmidt also avoids with ease.

Hardson clinches with his opponent.
Schmidt tries to circle away but Hardson has him pinned against the cage.
Schmidt misses with a knee to the head.
Hardson lands a hook that snaps the head of Schmidt backwards.

Schmidt decides to pull guard.
Schmidt keeping moving, preventing Hardson from controlling successfully.

Schmidt wriggles free and stands up.
Schmidt closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardson circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardson moves out of range of the body kick.
Schmidt checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schmidt closes the distance and clinches up with Hardson, looking for a takedown. Schmidt pushes Hardson against the cage but Hardson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernesto Schmidt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schmidt displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hardson.

Hardson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Schmidt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Schmidt scoring with punches to the head and body.
Schmidt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Schmidt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hardson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Schmidt.
Schmidt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Schmidt really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt throwing strikes but missing.
Schmidt throws a strike but Hardson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hardson trying to control but Schmidt is working from the bottom.
Hardson stops Schmidt from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardson trying to control but Schmidt is working from the bottom.
Schmidt throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hardson is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Hardson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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.
Schmidt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Schmidt 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.
Schmidt wants to get back to his feet but Hardson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Schmidt is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Schmidt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Schmidt decides to pull guard.
Hardson trying to control the position from guard on top but Schmidt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardson being controlled here momentarily.
Hardson is looking to stand up but Schmidt won't let him.
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 Ernesto Schmidt will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Schmidt's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hardson tries to clinch but Schmidt moves out of range.
Hardson connects with a jab.
Hardson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Schmidt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Schmidt but Schmidt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Schmidt was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hardson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Schmidt.
Hardson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hardson wants to clinch but Schmidt slips to the side
and Schmidt counters with a two punch combo.
A head kick from Schmidt lands but Hardson takes it in his stride.

Hardson has closed the distance and engaged Schmidt in a clinch.
A short right from Hardson on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardson leaning against his opponent.
Schmidt jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardson walks away with a smile on his face. Schmidt gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hardson tries to clinch but Schmidt is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt dives in and grabs Hardson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardson pushes down on Schmidt's head and hops out.
Hardson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Hardson looks to move away, Schmidt throws a big counter combo but Hardson just gets out of the way.
Hardson misses with a few strikes there.

Schmidt takes the fight into the clinch.

Schmidt successfully pulls guard.
Schmidt striking off his back but it's not causing Hardson any problems.
Schmidt trying to strike off his back.
Ernesto Schmidt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schmidt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Schmidt has his hands on Hardson's head, controlling the position.
Schmidt working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hardson is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Schmidt takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Schmidt swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardson.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hardson.
Hardson tries to bum rush Schmidt with a series of wild strikes but Schmidt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Hardson gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Schmidt shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Hardson pushes Schmidt off and gets back to his feet.
Hardson tests Schmidt's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Schmidt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Schmidt went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hardson avoids the head kick by Schmidt.
Hardson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Schmidt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Schmidt went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hardson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Schmidt counters with a solid body kick.
Hardson is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Schmidt shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hardson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Schmidt throws a strike aimed at the side of Hardson's head but Hardson avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardson parries the strikes from Schmidt easily there. Schmidt is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hardson to escape.
Hardson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Schmidt throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Schmidt working the ground and pound from side control.
Schmidt cracks Hardson with a big elbow.
Schmidt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Schmidt lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hardson down.
Schmidt in side control lands a decent elbow.
Schmidt lands some shots froms side control.
Schmidt lands a few punches from side control.
Hardson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Schmidt's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Schmidt throwing shots but Hardson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ston Hardson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Schmidt's cut.
That's time! Schmidt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Schmidt tries a head kick but it misses.
Hardson misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Hardson. Those never looked like landing.
Schmidt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardson.
Schmidt slips under a jab.
Schmidt went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Schmidt fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardson tries to clinch but Schmidt moves out of range.
Schmidt fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardson avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernesto Schmidt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Schmidt counters with a left and a right that stings Hardson.
Ston Hardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardson wants to clinch
and Schmidt counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Schmidt moves in looking to clinch but Hardson pushes him off.
Hardson with the counter takedown but Schmidt avoids it easily.
Hardson misses with a right hand
and Schmidt cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hardson tries for a takedown but Schmidt circles away easily
and Hardson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Schmidt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardson thuds his right hand into Schmidt's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A jab lands there for Hardson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hardson moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardson takes a shot to the head.

Schmidt has clasped his hands together around Hardson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hardson is trying to get back to half guard.
Hardson struggling a bit here.
Hardson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Schmidt wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Schmidt in side control, throwing shots but Hardson defends.
Schmidt throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Schmidt working the ground and pound from side control.
Schmidt scoring with punches and elbows.
Schmidt working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Schmidt misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Schmidt connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hardson some visible discomfort.
Hardson dodges the ground and pound from Schmidt.
Hardson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Schmidt.
Hardson is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schmidt lands a nice forearm strike.
Hardson wants to get back to his feet but Schmidt drags him back down.
Schmidt lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hardson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Schmidt lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hardson some visible discomfort.
Hardson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hardson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Schmidt working the ground and pound.
Schmidt lands a few punches from side control.
Schmidt working the head and body with strikes.
Schmidt working the body and head with strikes.
Schmidt looks up at the clock and then as Hardson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Schmidt smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hardson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schmidt lands an elbow.
An elbow from Schmidt crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ernesto Schmidt showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Schmidt has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ernesto Schmidt!