PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Kowalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hardy's choice of entrance music: For those we left behind - fade. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kowalski
vs
Hardy

190 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 2

190 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

[EVO] Koffin Inc. *Laundry Available*

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 2 - 1 - 2, fighting out of London, Shawn Kowalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kowalski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kowalski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hardy.
Hardy throws a leg kick which misses Kowalski's front leg but catches the back leg as Kowalski tries to avoid it.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Kowalski circles away.
Hardy checks a leg kick.
Hardy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hardy misses with a two punch combination.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kowalski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kowalski is looking to clinch but Hardy is avoiding it.
Hardy wants to clinch
and Kowalski counters with a nice uppercut.

Hardy moves into the clinch successfully.
Hardy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kowalski tightens his grip and picks Hardy up, before dumping him to the ground. Hardy manages to land in guard.
Hardy 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 is trying to keep Kowalski in close.
Kowalski stops Hardy from standing up.
Hardy wants to sweep but no luck.

Kowalski decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kowalski lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Steven Hardy has been cut.
Kowalski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kowalski keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy throws a head kick that half lands.
Kowalski slips a jab and a cross from Hardy.
Kowalski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kowalski tries for a takedown but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kowalski is having none of it.
Kowalski's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kowalski duly obliges.
Kowalski keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy feints and then cracks Kowalski's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kowalski down.
Kowalski scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hardy in his tracks.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hardy.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kowalski is having none of it.
Kowalski stalks Hardy and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hardy's face. Hardy staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steven Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kowalski scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Kowalski forces Hardy back against the cage and clinches.
Hardy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kowalski is defending well for now.
Hardy trying to land knees to the body.
Kowalski trying to control the position but instead, Hardy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kowalski into the cage.
Hardy misses with a knee to the head.
Kowalski working hard to break the clinch.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but Kowalski is blocking nicely.
Hardy throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy breaks the clinch.

Hardy clinches up with Kowalski and pushes him back against the cage.

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

Hardy drives through and clinches with Kowalski against the cage.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
Hardy fails to pull guard.
Hardy looking to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardy just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kowalski's brow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardy tries to circle away but Kowalski has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Kowalski blocks it.
Hardy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kowalski blocks it with crossed arms.
Hardy looks gassed!
Hardy stalling in the clinch but Kowalski improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Hardy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steven Hardy's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kowalski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hardy throws a head kick but Kowalski moves out of range.

Hardy moves into range and clinches up with Kowalski.
Kowalski fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hardy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Kowalski moves out of range.
Hardy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shawn Kowalski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kowalski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy misses with a body kick.
Kowalski fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kowalski moves away
and Kowalski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kowalski swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kowalski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kowalski looks to land a body kick but Hardy moved away.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hardy darts in and clinches Kowalski up against the cage.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hardy tries to pull guard but Kowalski won't allow it.
Hardy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but Kowalski is blocking nicely.
Kowalski tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Kowalski blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kowalski to keep the fight standing.
Hardy is breathing heavily.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hardy taking a breather.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Kowalski blocks it.
Kowalski takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kowalski lands a nice uppercut.
Kowalski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hardy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kowalski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hardy misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kowalski.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hardy keeps control of Kowalski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kowalski lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hardy backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Kowalski's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kowalski.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Kowalski blocks it.
Kowalski is trying to force a seperation but Hardy has the dominant position.
Kowalski lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hardy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kowalski after a bit of a struggle.
A short uppercut from Kowalski.
Hardy is trying to drag Kowalski to the mat but Kowalski just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kowalski is trying to break free.
Kowalski lands a right hand.
Hardy managing to block the knees to the body from Kowalski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowalski wants to break free but Hardy has control.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Kowalski blocks it.
Kowalski tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.

Kowalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hardy moves in looking to clinch but Kowalski pushes him off.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Hardy gets tackled into the cage by Kowalski. Kowalski maintains the clinch.
Kowalski wants to break free but Hardy has control.
Steven Hardy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kowalski tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Kowalski wants a takedown.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Kowalski drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steven Hardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steven Hardy's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kowalski fails with the takedown.
Hardy is looking to clinch.
Hardy tries to clinch up
and Kowalski counters with a one-two to the body.

Hardy forces Kowalski back against the cage and clinches.
Hardy lands a knee to the body.
Hardy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kowalski lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hardy trying to stall but Kowalski improves his position.

Kowalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kowalski checks the leg kick nicely there.
Steven Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hardy throws a nice looking combination but Kowalski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hardy tries to clinch up but Kowalski circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch but Kowalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Hardy clinches.
Hardy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kowalski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hardy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kowalski has had enough of the clinch but Hardy keeps him there for the moment.
Kowalski takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kowalski is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hardy is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kowalski tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Kowalski drops back down to his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hardy just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kowalski's brow.
Hardy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kowalski blocks it with crossed arms.
Kowalski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hardy misses with a knee strike.
Kowalski lands with a short shot to the head.
Hardy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hardy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kowalski blocks it with crossed arms.
Kowalski wants to break the clinch but can't.
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!
Kowalski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hardy to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Kowalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardy breaks the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Kowalski.
Kowalski throws a right hand that Hardy ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardy also avoids with ease.
Kowalski doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardy circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Kowalski scores with a four punch combination!

Kowalski closes the distance and clinches.
Hardy takes a shot to the head.
Hardy is trying to break the clinch but Kowalski is controlling him.
Hardy has Kowalski pressed against the cage, preventing Kowalski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kowalski lands an uppercut.
Hardy looking to throw knees to the head but Kowalski is blocking nicely.
Hardy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hardy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kowalski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy avoids a wild elbow strike from Kowalski.
Hardy with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Kowalski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kowalski is looking to land body kicks.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Kowalski circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy throws a front kick aimed at Kowalski's knee but Kowalski avoids it well.
Hardy wants to slow Kowalski down by chopping away at his legs.
Hardy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kowalski circles away quickly and effectively.
Kowalski lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kowalski.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kowalski.
Kowalski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steven Hardy.
I've got Hardy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Hardy!
A relieved looking Steven Hardy thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.