PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Kovalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Hardy has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hardy
vs
Kovalov

185 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

170 cm
23
196 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Deadly Clothing

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dan Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Kovalov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kovalov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kovalov showed some decent athleticism there.
Hardy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hardy.
Kovalov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hardy has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kovalov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Kovalov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hardy takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hardy regains half guard.
Kovalov drops an elbow to the side of Hardy's head.
Kovalov winds up and cracks Hardy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kovalov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kovalov trying to control from half guard but Hardy is working away.
Hardy is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Hardy flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kovalov in particular looking to stall.
Kovalov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kovalov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hardy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kovalov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hardy trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hardy scores with a decent looking hook.

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 tries to clinch there but Kovalov circles away.
Hardy walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kovalov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hardy feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kovalov's calf.
Hardy misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovalov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardy.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kovalov is having none of it.
Hardy staying out of range there.
Hardy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hardy.
Hardy scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Antonio Kovalov has been cut.
Hardy waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Kovalov.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hardy moves in looking to clinch but Kovalov pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy missing with a left hand there. Kovalov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hardy, right into the meat.

Hardy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kovalov!
Hardy throwing strikes here but Kovalov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hardy looking to control but Kovalov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kovalov is bucking up trying to escape but Hardy cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hardy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hardy throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kovalov because Hardy loaded up on that one.
Hardy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kovalov is looking to escape.
Kovalov wants to hold on but Hardy pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands with some strikes.
Kovalov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hardy. What's that going to do exactly?
Hardy scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kovalov?
The referee warns Kovalov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardy avoids the attempt from Kovalov to control.
Kovalov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hardy fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kovalov is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Kovalov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kovalov missing with a left hand there. Hardy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Kovalov shoots in and bounces Hardy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dan Hardy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hardy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hardy breaks from Kovalov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hardy lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kovalov is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovalov wants to hold on but Hardy pushes him away.
Hardy looking to control but Kovalov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovalov is looking to improve his position but Hardy isn't that keen on the idea.
Hardy trying to control but Kovalov is having none of it.
Kovalov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hardy. What's that going to do exactly?
Hardy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kovalov tries to hold on but Hardy postures up.
Kovalov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hardy avoids the attempt from Kovalov to control.
Hardy lands a big shot there that rocks Kovalov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hardy wants to control the pace but Kovalov is squirming around nicely.

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.
Kovalov tries to hold on but Hardy postures up.
Kovalov is looking to improve his position but Hardy isn't that keen on the idea.
Hardy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hardy breaks from Kovalov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hardy connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kovalov taking shots to the head.
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.
Hardy controlling the pace for now.
Hardy scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kovalov?
Hardy wants to control the pace but Kovalov is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov can't escape the position.
Hardy working the ground and pound effectively.
Kovalov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hardy controlling from mount.
Kovalov tries to lock up and control but Hardy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hardy postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kovalov looks a forlorn figure.
Kovalov wants to control but Hardy is having none of it.
Kovalov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hardy. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy looking to ground and pound but Kovalov is blocking nicely.
Kovalov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hardy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kovalov tries to hold on but Hardy postures up.

Hardy is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kovalov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kovalov!

Hardy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kovalov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kovalov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kovalov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hardy looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kovalov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Kovalov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardy lands a nice shot that snaps Kovalov's head back.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Kovalov is avoiding it.
Kovalov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardy connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kovalov momentarily.

Hardy gets caught flat footed, as Kovalov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.

Hardy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hardy uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hardy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovalov.
Hardy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kovalov avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries for a takedown but Kovalov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hardy throws a leg kick but Kovalov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kovalov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dan Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kovalov scores a takedown into full mount!
Kovalov working Hardy over with strikes here.
Kovalov breaks from Hardy's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kovalov landing shots from mount.
Kovalov tries to control but Hardy wriggling away.
Kovalov prevents Hardy from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovalov trying to control but Hardy is having none of it.
Kovalov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kovalov controlling his opponent.
Kovalov landing shots from mount.
Kovalov working the ground and pound effectively.
Hardy regains half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy wants to improve his position but Kovalov is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is working hard here to advance position.
Kovalov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.

Hardy looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hardy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Kovalov.
Hardy is refusing to be controlled, as Kovalov sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hardy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kovalov circles away quickly and effectively.
Kovalov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
Kovalov tries for a takedown but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hardy scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kovalov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kovalov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hardy's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kovalov manages to get himself to full guard.
Hardy with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Kovalov keeps moving.
Kovalov can't keep his opponent in guard - Hardy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Kovalov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Dan Hardy!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Dan Hardy!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Dan Hardy!

Dan Hardy wins by unanimous decision!