PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antoni Hardonk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardonk comes to the cage accompanied by Requiem for a dream. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hardonk
vs
Struve

193 cm
25
249 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

211 cm
25
243 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antoni Hardonk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stefan Struve!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Struve shoots in for a takedown but Hardonk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Struve keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Struve or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardonk which made him look bad.

Hardonk shoots in and bounces Struve off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hardonk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hardonk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Struve working for a triangle but Hardonk defends it easily.
Hardonk scoring with some ground and pound.
Hardonk is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hardonk 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.
Hardonk won't allow Struve to get back to his feet.
Hardonk chips away with some ground and pound.
Hardonk landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardonk tries to free his leg and advance position but Struve is retaining full guard.

Struve is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Struve looks gassed!
Hardonk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Struve's guard.
Struve utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Struve 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.

Hardonk stands up and waves to Struve to follow him.

Hardonk closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hardonk will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Struve up against the cage.
Hardonk lands an elbow just above Struve 's eye.

It looks like Stefan Struve has been cut.
Struve tries to pull guard but Hardonk holds him up against the cage and eventually Struve drops back down to his feet.
Antoni Hardonk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Struve.
Struve jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardonk walks away with a smile on his face. Struve gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Struve misses with a takedown attempt

and Hardonk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hardonk landing some decent shots from guard.
Struve not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hardonk stands and steps away. Struve gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A head kick from Hardonk lands but Struve takes it in his stride.

Hardonk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hardonk connects with a nice short shot to Struve's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve taking some punishment here, with Hardonk in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hardonk connects with a nice short shot to Struve's temple.
Hardonk seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Struve does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hardonk lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Struve taking some punishment here, with Hardonk in his half guard.
Struve wants to control but Hardonk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hardonk keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hardonk connects with a nice short shot to Struve's temple.
Struve trying to control but Hardonk postures up.
Hardonk uses his free foot to push down on Struve's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Struve.
Hardonk unloading with bombs!
Hardonk lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Struve is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Struve is in a horrible position here. Hardonk smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Struve tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hardonk landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antoni Hardonk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stefan Struve's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hardonk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hardonk working Struve over with strikes.
Struve is staying active underneath Hardonk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hardonk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hardonk landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hardonk working over Struve with some ground and pound. Struve looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hardonk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Struve defending well though.
Struve trying to control but Hardonk postures up.
Antoni Hardonk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Struve throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hardonk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hardonk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardonk gets a clinch.
Struve drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hardonk pulls his leg out and moves away.
Struve has his takedown stuffed

and Hardonk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Struve's guard now.
Hardonk stands up over Struve, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hardonk tries to free his leg and advance position but Struve is retaining full guard.
Struve controls Hardonk momentarily but Hardonk frees himself.
Struve wants to get back to his feet but Hardonk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hardonk works over Struve with some ground and pound from guard.
Hardonk postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Struve trying to keep a closed guard but Hardonk is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardonk won't allow Struve to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hardonk wants to clinch.
Struve misses with a takedown
and Hardonk counters with a nice low kick that buckles Struve's knee momentarily.
Antoni Hardonk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Struve.

Hardonk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Struve!
Struve is looking to get to half guard.

Hardonk is working for a guillotine from mount but Struve frees his head quite easily.
Struve is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardonk is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Struve to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Struve shrugs it off.
Struve tries to hold on but Hardonk pushes him away.
Struve is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hardonk landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardonk controlling the position easily from mount.
Hardonk lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hardonk lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Struve tries to hold on but Hardonk pushes him away.
Hardonk lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struve is trying to escape the mount.
Hardonk looking to control but Struve is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hardonk lands a big elbow.
Hardonk prevents Struve from getting the reversal.
Hardonk lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Struve is trying to escape the mount.
Hardonk lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Struve is trying to escape the mount.
Struve sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antoni Hardonk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stefan Struve's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hardonk closes the distance and clinches.

Hardonk gets control of Struve's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hardonk will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hardonk 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.
Hardonk keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Struve looking to sit in guard and control but Hardonk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hardonk wants to control from the top but Struve keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardonk wants to pass the guard but Struve is keeping the position.

Struve working for a triangle but Hardonk defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardonk working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Hardonk gets to his feet - Struve follows without any prompting.
Struve falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hardonk counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hardonk gets underhooks to prevent Struve's takedown attempt.
Hardonk tries for a takedown. No joy.
Struve drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hardonk gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Struve is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hardonk can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve jumps guard but Hardonk stands there with Struve around his waist. Struve gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Antoni Hardonk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Struve.
Struve working hard to break the clinch.
Hardonk gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hardonk tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Struve tries for a takedown but Hardonk manages to get underhooks.
Hardonk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Struve prevents it.
Struve can't break the clinch.

Hardonk has picked Struve up - he's going for a ride! Hardonk dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Struve trying to control here.
Hardonk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Struve can do to turn this around?
Hardonk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Struve wants to get back to full guard but Hardonk has passed into side control.
Struve tries to hold on but Hardonk pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hardonk sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hardonk in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Struve is trying to escape the mount.
Hardonk lands a nice shot to the head.
Struve is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Struve taking shots to the head.

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.
The referee warns Struve that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Stefan Struve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Struve tries to hold on but Hardonk pushes him away.
Antoni Hardonk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Struve might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hardonk kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hardonk wants to control the pace but Struve is squirming around nicely.
Hardonk landing strikes from the mount.
Hardonk wants to control the pace but Struve is squirming around nicely.
Hardonk lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Struve tries to hold on but Hardonk pushes him away.
Hardonk lands a big elbow.
Struve is squirming around, avoiding Hardonk's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antoni Hardonk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hardonk 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antoni Hardonk!