PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keith Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Marciano
vs
Hardy

180 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keith Marciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marciano shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Marciano was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hardy squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Hardy is trying to stand but he's just given Marciano his back.
Hardy is trying to stand back up.
Marciano controlling from the back.

Marciano patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
A bit of a pause in the action here. Marciano controlling the positon.

Hardy is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Marciano off. It looks like it's working - Marciano slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Hardy displaying calm under pressure there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano wants to clinch.
Hardy misses with a left hand

and Marciano counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hardy!
Hardy has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marciano slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Hardy is trying to stand back up.
Hardy looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano controlling from the back.
Marciano seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hardy for as long as he can get away with.
Hardy holding both Marciano 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Hardy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano controlling from the back.
Hardy is trying to stand back up.

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.
Marciano slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Hardy is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Marciano gets his way!
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
Marciano is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Marciano dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hardy walks into a straight right hand from Marciano.
Hardy misses with a hook

and Marciano counters by clinching up.
Marciano tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.

Marciano clinches with his opponent.
Hardy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hardy is trying to force a seperation but Marciano has the dominant position.
Hardy is trying to force a seperation but Marciano has the dominant position.
Marciano wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marciano.
Hardy tries to circle away but Marciano has him pinned against the cage.
Marciano tries a body shot but Hardy blocks it.
Hardy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Marciano has double underhooks.
Marciano lands a nice uppercut.

Hardy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hardy misses with a hook

and Marciano counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hardy!
Hardy is breathing heavily.

Marciano get's back to his feet.
Hardy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hardy throws a poor cross that misses

and Marciano decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hardy's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano content to stall in guard here.
Hardy wants to stand but Marciano is controlling the position.

Hardy has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Marciano off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hardy throws an off balance right hand

and Marciano counters with a takedown into side control.
Marciano happy to just control the position for now.
Marciano's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Keith Marciano just wasn't active enough.

Marciano gets the takedown into side control.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet but Marciano drags him back down.
Marciano is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hardy's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Hardy is trying to get back to his feet but Marciano has full control of the position and if anything, Hardy has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Marciano has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Hardy's body.
Hardy has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Keith Marciano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Keith Marciano wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Marciano shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hardy's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Marciano dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hardy swings widly with a right hand

and Marciano counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hardy is in trouble now - Marciano has advanced to mount!
Marciano controlling the pace for now.
Marciano won't let Hardy get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Marciano mounts Hardy! Really nice guard pass there!
Marciano tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hardy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Marciano takes Hardy's back.
Marciano slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Hardy is trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marciano working for a choke but Hardy is defending well.
Marciano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardy can do to turn this around?
Hardy has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Marciano really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Hardy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Keith Marciano wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Marciano wants to clinch up but Hardy keeps it at a distance.
Marciano fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardy misses with a left hand

and Marciano counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Marciano decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hardy, up you get!
Hardy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Marciano counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Marciano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hardy's guard.
Still in half guard, Marciano seems content to control.
Hardy scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Marciano manages to mount him!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marciano controlling his opponent.
Nick Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keith Marciano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Marciano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marciano 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:26
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Marciano!