PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dalern Hardt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Better Muller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hardt
vs
Muller

180 cm
28
166 lbs
13 - 14 - 0

185 cm
32
184 lbs
13 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dalern Hardt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Better Muller!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muller dives in and grabs Hardt's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardt pushes down on Muller's head and hops out.
Muller finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hardt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Muller defends it nicely.
Muller tries to bum rush Hardt with a series of wild strikes but Hardt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Muller misses with a series of wild punches.
Hardt avoids a punch combination nicely.

Hardt drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Hardt wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Muller, who protects the arm well.
Muller is looking for a sweep.

Hardt thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Muller is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardt is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Muller is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hardt decides to stand back up. Hardt steps back and let's Muller get back to his feet.

Hardt has Muller up against the cage in a clinch.
Muller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Muller struggles to land a body shot inside as Hardt controls his hands.

Hardt pulls guard effortlessly.

Hardt escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Muller gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muller is working Hardt over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardt has momentary wrist control but Muller slips an elbow through the middle.
Muller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hardt has his foot on Muller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Muller works his way back into a safe position though.

Hardt looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hardt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Muller doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Muller manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Muller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Hardt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Muller defends it easily.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hardt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Muller wants to control from the top but Hardt keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Muller got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hardt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Muller has managed to get both his arms back between Hardt's legs - danger averted.

Hardt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Muller tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardt is retaining full guard.

Hardt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hardt trying to keep a closed guard but Muller is proving a slippery customer.
Hardt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Muller manages to get himself to full guard.
Hardt prevents Muller from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muller has his hands on Hardt's head, controlling the position.
Hardt looking to pass the guard.
Hardt slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hardt looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hardt working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardt creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Muller sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dalern Hardt dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Muller blocks a head kick by Hardt.

Muller tries to keep at a distance but Hardt has taken the fight into the clinch.

Muller manages to break the clinch.
Muller misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardt.
Muller fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hardt manages to avoid it.
Muller looks to land a combination but Hardt avoids it well.
Muller scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Dalern Hardt has been cut.
Hardt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Muller.
Muller lunges at Hardt with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hardt's hand.
Muller tries to bum rush Hardt with a series of wild strikes but Hardt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardt fails with a takedown attempt.

Hardt gets a takedown into half guard.
Muller is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardt is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Muller sees it coming and defends easily.
Muller is looking to get back to full guard here but Hardt has managed to pass to side control instead.

Hardt tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hardt has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Muller is trying to control Hardt's posture but Hardt avoids it.

Hardt thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Muller is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardt thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Muller manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Muller working Hardt over with strikes.
Hardt tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Hardt actively working from the bottom here.
Hardt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Muller.
Muller trying to control from half guard but Hardt is working away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardt wants to control but Muller is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hardt is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Muller pulls his head out easily.
Muller is looking to pass Hardt's guard but actually Hardt recovers to full guard.

Hardt has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Muller can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Muller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardt is keeping the position for now.
Dalern Hardt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Muller cracks Hardt with a solid left hand.

Hardt wriggles free and stands up.
Hardt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dalern Hardt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muller misses with an uppercut. Hardt saw that one coming.
Hardt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Muller defends it nicely.
Muller throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hardt shoots for a takedown but Muller saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dalern Hardt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muller keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hardt shoots in for a double leg but Muller sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Muller scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
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!
Muller missing with a left hand there. Hardt was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big right from Muller misses.
Muller lands with an uppercut that bounces Hardt off the cage and back into range.
Muller throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardt fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Better Muller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dalern Hardt's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hardt shoots in for a double leg but Muller sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hardt fails in his attempt to clinch.
Better Muller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardt changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Muller tries to avoid it but Hardt manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Muller to the ground. Muller escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Muller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from Muller. No joy for Hardt on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dalern Hardt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muller lands a nice shot to the body.
Muller misses with a two punch combination.
Muller jabs at Hardt's body.
Muller scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hardt looks for a takedown but Muller sprawls well.
Muller leaves Hardt with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardt takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Hardt is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muller misses with a two punch combination.
Oh Hardt is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Muller swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muller fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardt shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Muller sprawls well. Muller wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hardt gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardt seems to have got his legs back now.
Muller's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Muller duly obliges.
Hardt tries to clinch up.
A slow jab from Muller misses its intended target.
Muller cracks Hardt with a hook to the temple - Hardt is on wobbly legs here! Muller swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Hardt falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Muller wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Better Muller!