PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jay Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dale Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Hardy

188 cm
24
193 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
24
200 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Dragon's Claw Nutrition

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dale Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Hardy is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy trying to control from the bottom.
Hardy keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.
Hardy tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Hardy tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Jay Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a right hand that Hardy ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardy also avoids with ease.
Hardy takes one to the chin there.
Hardy is looking to chop away at Johnson's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hardy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardy is keeping the position for now.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hardy dives on top into guard.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson seems keen to control Hardy's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Hardy is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hardy.
Johnson blocks a leg kick.
A nice combination there by Johnson.
Dale Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardy as he jumps to the side.
A nice combination there by Johnson.
Johnson motions for Hardy to come forward. Johnson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Johnson seems to be working for a kimura but Hardy defends the submission attempt.
Johnson prevents Hardy from improving his position.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hardy is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hardy is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Hardy trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Jay Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hardy pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Hardy connects with a knee to the head.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Hardy keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hardy trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hardy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Hardy scores a nice knee to the body.
Hardy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johnson's face.

It looks like Jay Johnson has been cut.
Johnson tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hardy takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hardy connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy landing knees to the body.
Hardy connects with a knee to the head.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hardy connects with a knee to the head.
Hardy has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hardy lands a knee to the head.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Hardy lands a nice knee to the body.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Hardy is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hardy has his back to the cage.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Hardy keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Hardy won't allow it.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Johnson tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Hardy misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Hardy misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Hardy keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardy looking to stall.
Hardy scores a nice knee to the body.
Hardy keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hardy is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hardy has his back to the cage.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Hardy won't allow it.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Johnson tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hardy.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johnson tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
Hardy landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hardy prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Hardy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Johnson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
Hardy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Hardy has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hardy is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
Hardy working Johnson over with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but Johnson blocks with his arms.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Hardy.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
Hardy keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Hardy has Johnson pressed against the cage.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Hardy is trying to stall.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Hardy lands a knee to the head.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Hardy tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnson avoids the damage to the body.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson wants to break free but Hardy has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dale Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jay Johnson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardy has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Hardy landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Hardy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Hardy.
Hardy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Hardy has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Hardy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Johnson tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
Hardy stalls.
Hardy has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Johnson tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Hardy won't allow it.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Hardy putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Johnson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hardy lands a knee to the body.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Johnson wants to break free but Hardy has control.
Hardy lands a knee to the head.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Hardy won't allow it.
Hardy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hardy connects with a knee to the head.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
A knee to the head by Hardy.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson wants to break free but Hardy has control.
Hardy prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Hardy crunches a lovely knee into Johnson's ribcage.
Hardy effectively controlling the action here.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Hardy lands a good knee to the midsection. Johnson won't want to take too many of those.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Hardy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hardy landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hardy is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hardy.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hardy stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.

Hardy moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Johnson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling him.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Hardy content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Hardy won't allow it.
Johnson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
Hardy landing knees to the head.
Hardy's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hardy keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hardy lands a nice knee to the body.
Hardy is trying to stall.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Johnson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Johnson tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardy has double underhooks.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Hardy scores with a knee to the head.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Johnson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Johnson tries to circle away but Hardy has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Hardy with a knee to the head.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hardy scores a nice knee to the body.
Hardy trying to control the position but instead, Johnson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hardy into the cage.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dale Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hardy 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

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