PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Twist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Hardy will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Twist
vs
Hardy

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Oliver Twist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dan Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Twist throws out a loose jab but Hardy uses good head movement to avoid it.

Twist scores a takedown into full mount!
Twist controlling from mount.
Twist scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hardy?
Hardy can't escape the position.
Twist avoids the attempt from Hardy to control.
Twist 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 is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Twist wants to control the pace but Hardy is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy gets back to half guard.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Twist missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hardy trying to control here.
Hardy is staying active underneath Twist, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Twist decides to stand up.
Hardy ducks under a wild hook from Twist.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Twist misses with a double jab.
Hardy scores with a nice body kick.
Twist is breathing heavily.
Hardy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hardy throws a head kick that Twist semi-blocks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Twist gets caught flat footed, as Hardy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Twist is keeping the position.

Hardy stands up from Twist's guard - Hardy perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hardy misses with a takedown

and Twist counters by clinching up.
Hardy tries for a takedown but Twist manages to get underhooks.

Hardy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Twist shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hardy striking from the bottom here.
Hardy throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hardy is trying to control the position but Twist postures up.

Twist gets to his feet - Hardy follows without any prompting.

Hardy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Twist to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Twist stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Oliver Twist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Hardy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Twist manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Twist 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.
Twist has a closed guard, preventing Hardy from standing up.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Twist is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Twist trying to keep a closed guard but Hardy is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardy lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hardy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Twist counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hardy!
Hardy tries to hold on but Twist postures up.
Hardy is squirming around, avoiding Twist's attempts to control the action.
Twist avoids the attempt from Hardy to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Twist prevents Hardy from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Twist controlling the position easily from mount.
Oliver Twist overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hardy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hardy is in a horrible position here. Twist smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hardy tries to hold on but Twist postures up.
Hardy wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hardy tries to hold on but Twist pushes him away.
Twist looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hardy taking shots to the head.
Twist with shots to the head and body - Hardy looks very uncomfortable down there.
Twist scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Twist content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is squirming around, avoiding Twist's attempts to control the action.
Hardy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Twist is landing with some decent strikes but Hardy is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hardy wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Hardy is looking to improve his position but Twist isn't that keen on the idea.
Twist controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Twist dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Hardy gets a clinch.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Twist drives through with a takedown into guard.
Twist wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Twist prevents Hardy from getting back to his feet.
Twist is stalling in the full guard.

Twist gets to his feet. Hardy looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Twist closes the distance but Hardy moves to the side

and Hardy counters by clinching up.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hardy.

Hardy decides to pull guard.
Twist trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hardy's guard.
Hardy is controlling Twist's posture.
Twist trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Hardy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Twist stands up from Hardy's guard - Twist perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hardy has his takedown stuffed

and Twist counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hardy is concentrating on defense, preventing Twist from advancing position.
Hardy trying to hold on to Twist's head to control him but Twist postures up.
Hardy regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Twist from controlling successfully.
Hardy trying to control the position.
Twist prevents Hardy from getting back to his feet.
Twist wants to get up but he can't break Hardy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Twist might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hardy is trying to control the position but Twist postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Twist darts in trying to clinch

and Hardy counters with a shoot takedown. Twist fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Twist pulls Hardy in close to his closed guard and prevents Hardy from doing any damage or advancing position.

Twist looking for a guillotine here but Hardy defends easily.
Hardy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Twist swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Oliver Twist.
I think Twist 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Oliver Twist!