PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Norcovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hardy
vs
Norcovic

195 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Norcovic!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy connects with a high kick.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Norcovic circles away.
Norcovic with a poor takedown

and Hardy counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardy.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Norcovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Norcovic is proving hard to escape from.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Norcovic is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy tries to strike from the bottom.
Hardy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy misses with a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy looking to control but Norcovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Hardy goes for an armbar but Norcovic turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Norcovic.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy is trying to keep Norcovic in close.

Norcovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Norcovic tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Hardy counter with a right hand.
Hardy misses with a takedown
and Norcovic counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hardy thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Norcovic misses

and Hardy counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hardy.
Hardy is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Norcovic pulls Hardy in to control the position.
Hardy trying to control but Norcovic is working from the bottom.
Norcovic working a defensive guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Norcovic 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.
Hardy has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dan Hardy just wasn't active enough.
Hardy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Norcovic's waist but Norcovic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hardy off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy shoots and misses

and Norcovic counters with a shoot takedown. Hardy fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hardy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hardy trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Norcovic got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hardy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Norcovic has managed to get both his arms back between Hardy's legs - danger averted.
Norcovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Norcovic from controlling successfully.
Norcovic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Norcovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardy tries to clinch but Norcovic moves out of range.
Hardy tries to clinch but Norcovic is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy swinging wildly here.
Hardy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hardy tries for a takedown but Norcovic circles away easily

and Norcovic counters with a takedown into side control.
Norcovic postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Norcovic tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hardy pushes Norcovic away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Norcovic gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hardy struggling a bit here.
Norcovic controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to escape but Norcovic is in control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Norcovic decides to stand back up. Norcovic steps back and let's Hardy get back to his feet.
Hardy misses with a takedown attempt
and Norcovic counters with a left and a right that stings Hardy.
Hardy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Norcovic looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Norcovic circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hardy clinches with his opponent.

Norcovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardy thumps Norcovic with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norcovic has his takedown stuffed

and Hardy counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Norcovic's guard now.
Hardy postures up in Norcovic's guard and throws a big left but Norcovic blocks it.

Hardy 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.

Norcovic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hardy defends well.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Norcovic keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norcovic wants to stand but Hardy is controlling the position.
Hardy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norcovic is keeping the position for now.
Hardy lands a couple of digs.
Norcovic looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Norcovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Norcovic keeps moving.
Norcovic is trying to keep Hardy in close.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Norcovic wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hardy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown but Norcovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Norcovic looking to score a takedown here. Hardy is defending well but Norcovic drives through and ends up in Hardy's guard.
Hardy looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Norcovic puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hardy wants to improve his position but Norcovic is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Norcovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Norcovic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardy avoids it really well and circles away.
Norcovic with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Hardy to counter with a crisp jab.
Hardy scores with a head kick. Norcovic tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hardy gets a takedown into half guard.
Hardy thows a huge punch but Norcovic dodges it nicely.
Hardy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norcovic trying to hold on to Hardy's head to control him but Hardy postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norcovic is refusing to be controlled, as Hardy sits in half guard.
Norcovic tries to kick Hardy off but Hardy keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Norcovic wants to control but Hardy is keeping busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hardy shoots in looking for a takedown but Norcovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hardy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

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.
Norcovic moves in looking to clinch but Hardy pushes him off.
Hardy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hardy doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Norcovic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norcovic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hardy's guard.

Hardy looking for a guillotine here but Norcovic defends easily.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norcovic wants to stand but Hardy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hardy manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Norcovic with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a series of strikes. Norcovic will be more careful next time no doubt.
Norcovic with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hardy counters with a single leg into guard. Norcovic didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norcovic has his feet on Hardy's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Norcovic scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Hardy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hardy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Norcovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Norcovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hardy 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

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