PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Hardy (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.

Silva
vs
Hardy

195 cm
19
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.
Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Silva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short left from Hardy.
Silva pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hardy works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.
Hardy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
Silva throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hardy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Silva walks into a stiff left hand from Hardy.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy working aggressively here.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hardy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Hardy tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva has Hardy pressed against the cage, preventing Hardy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Silva manages to break the clinch.

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

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardy avoids it really well and circles away.
Hardy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Hardy.
Hardy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva tries to avoid it but Hardy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva to the ground. Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Hardy tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy shoots in but Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardy tries to clinch up

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hardy just stands there and leans against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hardy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Hardy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hardy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hardy tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy wants to clinch.

Silva darts in and clinches Hardy up against the cage.
A short left from Hardy.
Hardy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hardy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silvas head.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Silva dodges an elbow strike from Hardy.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Hardy moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Silva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hardy finds it's way round the side to connect with Silva's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the cage. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hardy avoids the head kick by Silva.
Hardy lands with a cross.
Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hardy closes the distance and pushes Silva back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hardy has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hardy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hardy's efforts to push away.
Hardy lands with a short punch from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy misses with a body punch.
Hardy struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Hardy - that landed with a thud.
Hardy is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Hardy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardy wants to clinch.
Hardy is looking to clinch.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch but Silva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hardy darts in trying to clinch

and Silva counters by clinching up.
Silva lands an elbow that stopped Hardy in his tracks for a moment.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Silva takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Hardy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hardy avoids the head kick by Silva.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Hardy tries to clinch up
and Silva counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy looks to clinch

and Silva counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hardy looking to stall.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hardy just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hardy gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Silva wants to improve his position but Hardy is controlling well.
Hardy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hardy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Hardy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hardy tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Hardy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!
Hardy is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Silva wants to control but Hardy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Silva is staying active underneath Hardy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Hardy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chris Hardy hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Silva tries to clinch but Hardy is having none of it.

Hardy rushes Silva and presses him up against the cage.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hardy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hardy lands with a light punch inside.
Hardy digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
Hardy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Hardy.
Nice body punch from Hardy - that landed with a thud.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hardy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hardy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hardy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva is defending well for now.
A short right from Hardy on the inside.
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!
Hardy gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
Hardy presses Silva against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A shot in the inside from Hardy.
Hardy is trying to force a seperation but Silva has the dominant position.
Chris Hardy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Silva keeps control of Hardy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A right handed body shot lands from Hardy.
Hardy is working Silva over against the cage.
Hardy working hard to break the clinch.
Hardy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silvas head.
Silva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hardy's efforts to push away.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Hardy has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardy.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Silva on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Silva tries to clinch there but Hardy circles away.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Hardy.
Silva digs a good hook to Hardy's body.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Silva lands a glancing blow to the side of Hardy's head.
Hardy paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy is looking to clinch.
Hardy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hardy somewhat.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy throws a leg kick but Silva sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardy sprawls well. Hardy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardy wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Silva fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Chris Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hardy dips to his left and cracks Silva with an uppercut!
Silva tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A right handed body shot lands from Hardy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right from Hardy.
Silva jumps guard but Hardy turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hardy has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hardy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hardy tries to clinch up.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Chris Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
Hardy lands a slapping body shot.
Hardy cracks a nice hook into Silva's ribs.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hardy tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Hardy pulls Silva into guard.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hardy is working an open guard so Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
Hardy avoids the head kick by Silva.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardy wants to clinch.
Anderson Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy clobbers Silva with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hardy tries to clinch but Silva moves out of range.
Chris Hardy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Silva is looking to clinch but Hardy is avoiding it.
Hardy blocks a head kick by Silva.

Hardy has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva fails to pull guard.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hardy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

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