PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Briscoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Briscoe
vs
Hardy

175 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

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 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Briscoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Briscoe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Hardy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Briscoe sprawls well initially but Hardy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hardy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Briscoe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hardy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Briscoe keeps working.
Hardy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Briscoe's head.
Hardy uses his free foot to push down on Briscoe's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Briscoe.
Hardy looking to control and managing it successfully.

Hardy goes for an armbar but Briscoe turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Briscoe.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Briscoe decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Briscoe is breathing heavily.
Hardy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two 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.
Briscoe tries to clinch up but Hardy circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Briscoe as he jumps to the side.
Hardy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Briscoe is fending him off so far but Hardy persists. Nope, Briscoe circles away and we're back to standing.
Tom Briscoe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Hardy.
Hardy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Briscoe defends it nicely.
Dan Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Hardy.
Hardy blocks an uppercut.
Hardy is trying to break the clinch but Briscoe has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy tries to pull guard but Briscoe holds him up against the cage and eventually Hardy drops back down to his feet.
Hardy jumps guard but Briscoe stands there with Hardy around his waist. Hardy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hardy breaks from the clinch.
Hardy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hardy.
Hardy throws the kick towards the body but Briscoe avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hardy circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hardy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Briscoe thinking.
Hardy circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hardy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that round.
That's time! Briscoe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hardy shoots for a takedown but Briscoe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Briscoe misses with a hook. Hardy ducked under it nicely.
Briscoe wants to clinch up but Hardy keeps it at a distance.
Hardy scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Tom Briscoe has been cut.

Hardy moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Briscoe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Briscoe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hardy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hardy fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy can't break the clinch.
Briscoe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hardy is keeping busy.
Briscoe lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Briscoe.
Hardy has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Briscoe is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tom Briscoe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Hardy.
Briscoe misses with the head strike.

Hardy jumps guard.
Hardy trying to keep a closed guard but Briscoe is proving a slippery customer.
Hardy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Briscoe is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hardy trying to keep a closed guard but Briscoe is proving a slippery customer.

That's two 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.
Hardy wants to stand and escape but Briscoe is having none of it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardy is on top in guard.
Hardy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to get up but he can't break Briscoe's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Briscoe keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hardy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tom Briscoe's cut.
That's time! Briscoe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hardy tries to clinch but Briscoe moves out of range.
Hardy tries to clinch but Briscoe is having none of it.
Briscoe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown but Briscoe shows good takedown defense.

Hardy moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Hardy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Briscoe wants a takedown but no success here.

Hardy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hardy tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy wants to take a breather but Briscoe is having none of it.

Hardy is looking for a kimura here.
Briscoe is trying to stand back up but Hardy is controlling him

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.
Hardy trying to control the pace.
Briscoe is not content to let Hardy control the position.
Hardy tries to stand and escape but Briscoe is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardy is working for a kimura but Briscoe is defending it quite comfortably.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hardy has managed to clinch.
Briscoe gets underhooks to prevent Hardy's takedown attempt.
Hardy has Briscoe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Briscoe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tom Briscoe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Hardy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Briscoe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Hardy has clasped his hands together around Briscoe's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Briscoe is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hardy has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hardy wants to control but Briscoe is keeping him busy.
Briscoe is trying to buck Hardy off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy cracks Briscoe with a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

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