PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alan Imanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Imanov comes to the cage accompanied by Pressure. Alan Imanov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Imanov
vs
Hardy

182 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
169 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alan Imanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imanov tries a head kick but it misses.
Hardy looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Imanov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Imanov instigates a clinch.
Hardy takes an elbow to the temple.
A right hand to the body from Imanov.
Imanov misses with some punches.
Imanov lands a good knee to the midsection. Hardy won't want to take too many of those.
Hardy takes an elbow to the temple.
Hardy avoids a wild elbow strike from Imanov.

Imanov manages to break the clinch.
Imanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.
Hardy defending well as Imanov loads up on a big left hand.
Imanov tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.

Imanov shoots in and gets a takedown into Hardy's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Imanov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hardy, up you get!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Imanov avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Imanov.

Imanov moves into the clinch.

Imanov pulls guard successfully.

Imanov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Imanov crunches a lovely knee into Hardy's ribcage.

Imanov manages to break the clinch.

Imanov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imanov throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Imanov stands up from Hardy's guard - Imanov perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imanov thows a body kick. Hardy tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Imanov looks to land a combination but Hardy avoids it well.
Imanov tries to clinch but Hardy is having none of it.
A nice combination there by Hardy.
Imanov misses with a combination

and Hardy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Imanov's guard.
Hardy wants to stand but Imanov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Imanov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hardy uses it to pass to side control.
Imanov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Imanov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hardy tries to stand but can't do so whilst Imanov controls his leg.

Imanov kicks off Hardy and gets to his feet.
Imanov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hardy's waist but Hardy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Imanov off to one side.
Imanov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardy tries to avoid it but Imanov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardy to the ground. Hardy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Imanov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy tries to land a front kick but Imanov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Imanov scores with a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Hardy wants to stand up but Imanov is controlling him.

Imanov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Alan Imanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy fails to land the takedown.
Imanov lands a high kick!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardy keeps the fight on the outside.
Imanov throws a sloppy head kick and Hardy moves out of range easily.

Imanov drives through with a takedown into Hardy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Imanov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Imanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Imanov tries to bum rush Hardy with a series of wild strikes but Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Imanov throws a head kick but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy shoots in looking for a takedown but Imanov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hardy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Imanov rushes Hardy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Imanov manages to break the clinch.

Imanov feints and as Hardy raises his hands in defense, Imanov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Imanov gets to his feet. Hardy looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Imanov throws the left hand but Hardy avoids the punch easily.
Imanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hardy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Imanov misses with a takedown attempt - Hardy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Imanov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardy sprawls well. Hardy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Imanov gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy avoids the head kick by Imanov.
A head kick misses from Imanov.
Hardy shoots for a double leg takedown but Imanov sprawls well. He's pushed Hardy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Imanov lands a head kick. Hardy smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Imanov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hardy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hardy regains half guard, as Imanov was trying to land strikes.
Imanov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Imanov is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Imanov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hardy sees it coming and defends easily.
Imanov wants to free his trapped foot but Hardy is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Imanov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Hardy to get to his feet.
Hardy works over Imanov's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Imanov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Imanov lands a nice elbow.
Imanov misses with an elbow strike.
Hardy blocks an elbow strike from Imanov.
Imanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardy can do to turn this around?
Imanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Hardy.
Hardy letting Imanov take a breather here.
Imanov tries to pull guard but Hardy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alan Imanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Imanov to keep the fight standing.
Imanov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Imanov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanov working aggressively here.
Hardy blocks an elbow strike.
Imanov dodges an elbow strike from Hardy.
Imanov scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Imanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hardy moves into range and clinches up with Imanov.

Imanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Imanov throws a head kick but Hardy moves out of range.
Imanov throws a head kick but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hardy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Imanov shoots in looking for a takedown but Hardy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Imanov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Imanov dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Hardy or perhaps it was just good defense by Imanov which made him look bad.
Imanov misses with a series of wild punches.

Imanov gets the takedown into side control.
The ground and pound from Imanov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Imanov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hardy to his feet.
Hardy throws a one two combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy tries to clinch

and Imanov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Imanov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hardy kicks Imanov off and gets to his feet.
Imanov checks a leg kick.
Hardy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanov is looking to clinch.
Hardy lands a body shot.
Imanov tries to clinch there but Hardy circles away.
Imanov tries to clinch there but Hardy circles away.
Hardy avoids the head kick by Imanov.
Hardy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Imanov moves into the clinch.
Imanov lands a damaging elbow.
Imanov looking to throw knees to the head but Hardy is blocking nicely.
Hardy blocks an elbow strike from Imanov.
Imanov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hardy's defenses.
Imanov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Imanov throws an elbow but it misses.
Imanov looking to throw knees to the head but Hardy is blocking nicely.
Imanov'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.
Imanov throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Imanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Imanov dodges the punch combination from Hardy.
Imanov pushes Hardy away with a front kick.
Alan Imanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Imanov has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Imanov trying to land knees to the body.
Imanov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hardy goes for a takedown attempt but Imanov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Imanov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hardy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alan Imanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Hardy.
Imanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Imanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hardy can't break the clinch.
Imanov trying to control the position but instead, Hardy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Imanov into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Imanov blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Alan Imanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Imanov lands a left hand.
Imanov crunches a lovely knee into Hardy's ribcage.
Imanov lands an elbow inside.
Imanov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy being controlled against the cage.
Imanov unloads a knee to the mid-section.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alan Imanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Imanov 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alan Imanov!
Alan Imanov took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.