PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and dan hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Rusty Cage. Daniel Smith has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smith
vs
hardy

182 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Forbidden Apple

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, dan hardy!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith is looking to clinch.
hardy scoring well with a low kick there.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged hardy in a clinch.
hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smith lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.

hardy pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
hardy is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
hardy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Smith stands up from hardy's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - hardy circles away.
hardy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith swinging wilding here.
hardy scores with a head kick.

Smith is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
hardy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Daniel Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of dan hardy.
hardy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but hardy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith tries to clinch but hardy is having none of it.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as hardy shoots in.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
hardy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
hardy looks gassed!
hardy misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.
Good body shot from Smith.
hardy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smith pushes hardy back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
hardy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from hardy.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
hardy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
hardy comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from hardy.

hardy drags the fight down to the ground.
hardy is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith gets to his feet. hardy looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
hardy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith tries to clinch but hardy is having none of it.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
hardy lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hardy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Daniel Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and hardy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
hardy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch

and hardy counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith working to try and regain half guard.

Smith bucks up and throws hardy to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and hardy counters with a head kick.
Smith wants to clinch
and hardy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith darts in trying to clinch

and hardy counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
hardy throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
hardy trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

hardy is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
hardy shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.

Smith gets a clinch.
hardy is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now hardy has his back to the cage.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dan hardy dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

hardy shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith wants to clinch but hardy slips to the side
and hardy counters with a body kick.
hardy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
hardy scores with a nice right hand.

hardy scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith is squirming around, avoiding hardy's attempts to control the action.

hardy stands up from mount. Strange move.
hardy circles away from the clinch attempt

and hardy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from hardy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
hardy tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually hardy drops back down to his feet.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
hardy wants to break free but Smith has control.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.

hardy pulls guard successfully.
hardy thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
hardy looking to control.

hardy has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
hardy looking for a sweep. Not yet hardy, not yet.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
hardy is trying to hold Smith in close to prevent damage but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.
hardy wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
hardy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for hardy!
hardy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Smith avoids the attempt from hardy to control.
hardy tries to control Smith's body but Smith pushes him off. hardy squirms to his side and now Smith has his back!
hardy tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith manages to capitalize on a mistake by hardy to take his back!
Smith is working the ground and pound. Can hardy escape?
hardy trying to control but not successfully.
hardy is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith is persistently looking for the submission but hardy is defending it well.
Smith is hanging on to hardy's back as he tries to escape.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

hardy circles away from the clinch attempt
and hardy counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and hardy counters with a straight right hand.
hardy fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Smith on the side of the head.
Smith tries to clinch but hardy moves away

and hardy counters by clinching up.
hardy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but hardy pushes him off.
Smith wants to clinch.
hardy is looking to clinch.
Smith tries to clinch up

and hardy counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.

Smith pushes hardy off and scrambles back to his feet.

Smith has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hardy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
hardy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
hardy takes an elbow to the forehead.
hardy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Daniel Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of dan hardy.
hardy has Smith pressed against the cage.
hardy lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by hardy.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of hardy backwards.
hardy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.

hardy has managed to clinch.
hardy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
hardy can't break the clinch.
hardy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
hardy wants to break free but Smith has control.
hardy jumps guard but Smith stands there with hardy around his waist. hardy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
hardy is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns hardy into the cage.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but hardy blocks it with crossed arms.
hardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
hardy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a body punch in the clinch.
hardy jumps guard but Smith stands there with hardy around his waist. hardy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith connects with a nasty looking knee right to hardy's face.

It looks like dan hardy has been cut.
hardy managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
hardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but hardy is blocking nicely.
hardy can't break the clinch.
A short left from Smith.
hardy has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.

hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from hardy.
hardy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Smith rushes hardy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Smith.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith lands a nice uppercut.
hardy has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
hardy avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. hardy has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith clinches but hardy breaks the clinch
and hardy counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hardy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smith's hands.
No luck for hardy with that takedown attempt.
hardy shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed hardy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith is looking to clinch but hardy is avoiding it.
hardy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Smith's head.
hardy keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith tries to clinch but hardy is having none of it.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Smith on the inside.
Daniel Smith has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Smith works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
hardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
hardy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
hardy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
hardy trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
hardy tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
hardy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
A short body shot lands from hardy as the two fighters clinch.

hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Daniel Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith tries to clinch up.

hardy has managed to clinch.

hardy pulls Smith into guard.
hardy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
hardy trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
hardy throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as hardy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... dan hardy!