PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roland Box (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roland Box has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Box
vs
Hardy

193 cm
19
221 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

186 cm
20
205 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Crashforce Nutrition

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roland Box!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, George Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardy swinging wildly here.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
George Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Box throws a looping overhand right but Hardy ducks down to avoid it.
Hardy throws a solid leg kick but Box takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hardy.
Hardy scores with a sloppy right hand. Box should have avoided that one.
Box scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nice defenses there by Hardy.
Box scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hardy misses with a combination
and Box counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Box scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Box thows a huge punch but Hardy dodges it nicely.
Box is taking a breather. Hardy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Box missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Box trying to control from half guard but Hardy is working away.
Hardy won't allow Box to pass to mount.
Box scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Box misses with a head shot. Hardy uses the momentum to regain guard.
Box advances position into side control!
Box controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Box works to advance to full mount. Hardy defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Box has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hardy's face.
Hardy is trying to stand up.
Hardy throwing hammer fists to the chest of Box. What's that going to do exactly?
Hardy is in a horrible position here. Box smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hardy tries to reverse the position but Box maintains control.

Box jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hardy is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hardy and Box has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Box cracks Hardy with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Box in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hardy is pushing Box's head away, looking to escape. Box manages to hold on to the position though.
Hardy is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Box working the head with strikes.
Box working the ground and pound from side control.
Hardy can't do much from the bottom here.
Box creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hardy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hardy is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Box with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Box is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hardy is looking for a sweep. Box is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hardy has hold of Box's hands but Box slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy tries to kick Box off but Box keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roland Box 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.

Hardy misses with a few strikes there.
Hardy takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Box moves out of range of the leg kick from Hardy.
Box avoids the head kick by Hardy.
George Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Box.
Box blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Hardy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Box has a takedown stuffed.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Box moves out of range easily.
Box throws a hook to the side of Hardy's head but Hardy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Box swings for the body but Hardy moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Box lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hardy doesn't seem phased though.
Box checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hardy slips under a jab.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hardy is breathing heavily.
Hardy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Box avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Hardy throws a nice looking combination but Box bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hardy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Box avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Hardy drops his hands momentarily and Box takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Box scores with a jab.
Box tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
Box cracks Hardy with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hardy tried to score with a low kick but Box checks it.
No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Box shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Box not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Box throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
Box is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hardy is trying to control but can't.
Nice strikes from Box there.
Box throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hardy misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Box moves nicely into side control.
Hardy is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Box wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.
Hardy struggling a bit here.
Check out the look on Box's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hardy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Box has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Box scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hardy to see if he's OK.
Box working the ground and pound from side control.

Hardy throws Box to one side and escapes!
Box comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hardy tries a low kick but Box avoids it.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Box is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardy can do to turn this around?
Box throws a nice looking combination but Hardy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Box listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A punch lands to the side of Hardy 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hardy misses with an attempted mid kick.
Box darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roland Box dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hardy misses with a body punch
and Hardy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Box blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Hardy throws a combination that misses
and Box counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Box lands a jab to the nose.
Nice shot lands for Box.
Roland Box is winning the standup battle so far.
Box lands a nice shot that snaps Hardy's head back.
Box looks to throw the jab but Hardy is out of range.
Box lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Box thuds a left hand into Hardy's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Box misses with the combination.
Box is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hardy takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Box shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Box showed some decent athleticism there.
Hardy is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Box scores with a couple of nice shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Box stalling away here and it's allowed Hardy to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Box prevents Hardy from getting back to his feet.
Hardy throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Box in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hardy wants to stand up but Box is controlling him.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Box.
Box with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Box blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Box tests Hardy's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hardy throws a combination that misses

and Box counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hardy won't be happy with that.
Hardy throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Box creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hardy prevents Box from moving into mount.
Hardy is trying to buck Box off.
Box looks up at the clock and then as Hardy takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Box smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Box in side control lands a decent elbow.
Box cracks Hardy with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Box cracks Hardy with a big right hand but Hardy just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Box wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Box prevents Hardy from escaping the position.
Box cracks Hardy with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hardy takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Box connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hardy some visible discomfort.
Box postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hardy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Box not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
George Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Box throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Box landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hardy wants to control but Box is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Box throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hardy tries to kick Box off but Box keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Box working the head and body with strikes.
Roland Box is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Box is keen to just control but Hardy is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roland Box showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Box 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roland Box!