PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nero Hardy (ranked 947 p4p, 2444 weight class) and Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos (ranked 126 p4p, 318 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.

Hardy
vs
Xanthopoulos

180 cm
26
174
13 - 6 - 0

183 cm
27
180
10 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
PWNAGE™

Conquer

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nero Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardy scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Xanthopoulos holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Xanthopoulos trying to hold on to Hardy's head to control him but Hardy postures up.
Xanthopoulos controlling the position well.
Hardy is keen to just control but Xanthopoulos is a slippery customer.
Xanthopoulos trying to hold on to Hardy's head to control him but Hardy postures up.
Xanthopoulos is controlling Hardy's trapped leg to prevent Hardy from advancing to side control.
Hardy wants to take a breather but Xanthopoulos is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are battling for position here. Xanthopoulos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Xanthopoulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos is trying to control the position but Hardy postures up.
Xanthopoulos pulls Hardy in close to prevent any damage.
Xanthopoulos trying to control the position.
Xanthopoulos wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.
Xanthopoulos keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Xanthopoulos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hardy's coaches at Catch Wrestling L.A. have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Hardy wants to control but Xanthopoulos is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hardy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hardy looking to control.

Hardy is looking for a triangle but Xanthopoulos pushes his legs off easily.

Hardy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Xanthopoulos has picked Hardy up and slammed him! Hardy can't keep hold of the triangle and Xanthopoulos manages to pass to side control!
Hardy is trying to improve his position.
Hardy manages to get back to half guard.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Xanthopoulos trying to pass the guard but Hardy defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos controlling the action here.
Hardy wants to control but Xanthopoulos is keeping busy.
Xanthopoulos sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hardy is doing well to control the position and prevent Xanthopoulos from advancing to side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Xanthopoulos closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Hardy wants to improve his position but instead Xanthopoulos has moved into half guard.

Hardy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Xanthopoulos pulls his head out easily.
Xanthopoulos looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hardy is trying to control but Xanthopoulos passes into side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hardy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Xanthopoulos to the mat! Xanthopoulos manages to get full guard.
Xanthopoulos managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Xanthopoulos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardy postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Xanthopoulos keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hardy takes a swing at Xanthopoulos's ribcage but misses.
Xanthopoulos changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hardy throws an overhand right that lands on Xanthopoulos's shoulder, as Xanthopoulos tries to avoid the shot.
Xanthopoulos is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Xanthopoulos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
My spies in Steel Penn Training Den inform me that Xanthopoulos has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hardy is trying to control Xanthopoulos's posture but Xanthopoulos avoids it.
Hardy sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos content to control rather than advance.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard.
Hardy preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hardy tries to get to full guard but Xanthopoulos has control of the leg.

Hardy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Xanthopoulos pulls his head out easily.
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardy trying to hold on to Xanthopoulos's head to control him but Xanthopoulos postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy gets full guard.
Hardy looking to control but Xanthopoulos passes into half guard.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hardy works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hardy looking for a sweep. Not yet Hardy, not yet.

Hardy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Xanthopoulos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Xanthopoulos passes into side control.
Xanthopoulos trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hardy lands a body shot.
A jab from Hardy does it's job there.
Nice uppercut there from Hardy.
A punch lands to the side of Xanthopoulos 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos has been cut.
Hardy misses with a wild body shot.
Hardy moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hardy scores with a punch to the head.
Hardy looks to score with a jab to the body but Xanthopoulos is just out of range.

Hardy gets caught napping as Xanthopoulos dives in and scores a takedown. Hardy manages to retain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Xanthopoulos's guard.

Hardy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hardy passes Xanthopoulos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos is looking for a sweep. Hardy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hardy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Xanthopoulos trying to control here.
Hardy slips a nice elbow through Xanthopoulos's hands, connecting with Xanthopoulos's forehead.
Hardy passes into side control, despite Xanthopoulos's attempt to control the position.
Hardy trying to control the action but Xanthopoulos is working from the bottom.

Hardy is trying to get an arm triangle but Xanthopoulos is defending well.
Xanthopoulos tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos manages to get back to half guard.
Xanthopoulos desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Xanthopoulos wants to improve his position but Hardy is controlling well.
Xanthopoulos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos is looking to improve his position.
Xanthopoulos is controlling Hardy's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Xanthopoulos is trying to maintain the position but Hardy is very close to passing his half guard.
Xanthopoulos is controlling Hardy's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Xanthopoulos is trying to maintain the position but Hardy is very close to passing his half guard.

Hardy is looking for a kimura but Xanthopoulos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hardy to get the leverage.
Nero Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hardy prevents Xanthopoulos from improving his position.
Xanthopoulos holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hardy in particular looking to stall.
Xanthopoulos wants to get back to full guard.
Xanthopoulos is still trying to improve position.
Xanthopoulos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Xanthopoulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Xanthopoulos 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Xanthopoulos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Xanthopoulos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hardy to the mat! Hardy manages to get full guard.

Hardy isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Xanthopoulos stacks Hardy on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Xanthopoulos!
Hardy tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nero Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Xanthopoulos 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
A very excited looking Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.