PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Hardly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomi comes to the cage accompanied by Slaap lekker!. Hardly has chosen Eminem- Not Afraid as his entrance music. Dan Hardly is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Gomi
vs
Hardly

175 cm
32
167 lbs
25 - 13 - 1

180 cm
33
165 lbs
27 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158-Q155

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Hardly!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardly moves away.

Gomi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gomi trying to pass the guard but Hardly defending well.
Hardly is trying to get back to full guard.
Gomi trying to control from half guard but Hardly is working away.
Hardly is trying to stand up here but Gomi is controlling him well.
Hardly gets back to full guard.
Gomi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gomi trying to control but Hardly is working from the bottom.
Gomi is really struggling to control Hardly but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi preventing the sweep.
Hardly preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hardly is looking to stand up but Gomi isn't so interested in that idea.
Gomi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Hardly throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gomi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gomi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gomi wants to pass the guard but Hardly is keeping the position.
Gomi trying to control but Hardly is working from the bottom.
Hardly not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardly looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gomi wants to control from the top but Hardly keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kenny Gomi.
Good shot there by Hardly.
Gomi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardly sprawls well. Hardly wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gomi gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardly throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hardly throws a quick inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Gomi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardly which made him look bad.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardly displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gomi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardly throws a chopping leg kick but Gomi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi shoots in looking for a takedown but Hardly manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gomi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hardly lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gomi wants to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Hardly.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Hardly.

Gomi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hardly is not content to let Gomi control the position.
Hardly trying to control but Gomi postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi is looking to take a break and control but Hardly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gomi throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hardly to regain full guard.
Hardly trying to control the position.
Gomi won't allow Hardly to get back to his feet.
Gomi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gomi looking to sit in guard and control but Hardly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardly tries to free his leg and advance position but Gomi is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomi wants to hit a switch here but Hardly passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gomi there!
Gomi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kenny Gomi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hardly looks to throw the jab but Gomi is out of range.
Gomi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardly pinned against the cage. Hardly gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Gomi rushes Hardly and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hardly.

Gomi has clasped his hands together around Hardly's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gomi trying to control the position but Hardly is working away.
Hardly is trying to control Gomi's posture but Gomi avoids it.
Kenny Gomi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gomi scoring with punches from side control.
Gomi trying to control the action but Hardly is working from the bottom.
Hardly tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardly is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gomi asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Hardly is looking for a sweep.
Hardly is trying to buck Gomi off.
Hardly is looking to get back to his feet here but Gomi is keeping cool and he's managed to take Hardly's back.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Gomi.

Gomi working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Hardly turns into Gomi and is now in his guard.

Hardly stands up from Gomi's guard - Hardly perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardly jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gomi shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hardly moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardly misses with a wild body shot.
Hardly throws a sloppy head kick and Gomi moves out of range easily.
Nice sprawl there from Hardly as Gomi shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gomi.
Hardly tries to close the distance and clinch but Gomi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hardly dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gomi. That did some damage!
Hardly lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardly scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gomi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gomi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hardly's waist but Hardly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gomi off to one side.
Hardly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gomi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hardly sprawls well. Hardly wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gomi gets slowly back to his feet.
Gomi cracks the inside of Hardly's front leg.
Hardly connects with a high kick.
Gomi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hardly.
A thudding body kick lands there by Hardly!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hardly lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gomi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gomi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gomi wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardly looks to score with a jab to the body but Gomi is just out of range.
Hardly pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gomi has his takedown stuffed
and Hardly counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Gomi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hardly lands a slapping body shot.

Gomi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gomi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hardly can't escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hardly is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gomi controlling his opponent.
Hardly takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Hardly will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hardly connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gomi's hands.
Hardly tries to land a front kick but Gomi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hardly misses the shot to the body.
Hardly misses with a head kick.
Gomi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hardly is fending him off so far but Gomi persists. Nope, Hardly circles away and we're back to standing.
Gomi dodges the punch combination from Hardly.
Gomi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardly swivels and escapes.
Gomi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardly tries to avoid it but Gomi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardly to the ground. Hardly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardly circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gomi tries for a takedown but Hardly circles away easily
and Hardly counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hardly scores with a hook to the body. Gomi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gomi checks a low kick from Hardly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardly scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Hardly as Gomi shoots in.
Hardly feints and then cracks Gomi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gomi down.
Hardly keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gomi has managed to clinch.

Hardly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gomi shoots in but no luck this time.
Hardly fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gomi is out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gomi.
A good leg kick by Hardly.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hardly.
Gomi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardly throws a head kick that half lands.
Hardly looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A punch lands to the side of Gomi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hardly waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gomi.
A head kick misses from Hardly.
Hardly misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hardly takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gomi tries for a takedown but Hardly circles away easily
and Hardly counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nice cross by Hardly.
Dan Hardly seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hardly throws an off balance right hand
and Gomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hardly throws a sloppy head kick and Gomi moves out of range easily.
Dan Hardly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi fails with a takedown attempt.
Gomi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hardly is looking to land body kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hardly scores with a one two! Gomi had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gomi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hardly connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gomi scrambles back to his feet.
Nice shot by Gomi.
Gomi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hardly. That's going to slow Gomi down.

Gomi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardly manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi postures up.
Hardly has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gomi throws a big elbow that misses.
Gomi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardly is keeping the position for now.
Hardly wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hardly pulls Gomi in close to his closed guard and prevents Gomi from doing any damage or advancing position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dan Hardly wasn't active enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gomi is defended easily by Hardly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardly really dominated that round.
That's time! Gomi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gomi shoots in for a double leg but Hardly sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hardly connects with a leg kick. Gomi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hardly lands a head shot.
Gomi dives in and grabs Hardly's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardly pushes down on Gomi's head and hops out.
Hardly catches Gomi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hardly with a nice cross.
Hardly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hardly moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hardly.
Hardly throws a quick inside leg kick.
Good exchange - Hardly coming out on top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardly misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardly misses with a wild body shot.
Good leg kick by Hardly there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gomi scores with a hook to the body. Hardly takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hardly cracks Gomi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gomi has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Gomi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hardly connects with a solid leg kick.
Gomi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardly counters with a good low kick that Gomi was not able to check.
Hardly jabs Gomi right on the nose. Gomi blinks but takes it well.
Hardly misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gomi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hardly won't allow Gomi to pass to mount.
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!
Hardly tries to get to full guard but Gomi has control of the leg.

Hardly pushes Gomi off and gets back to his feet.
Hardly defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gomi.
Hardly lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hardly misses with a low kick.
Hardly tries a head kick but it misses.
Gomi doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardly circles away.
Hardly throws a sloppy head kick and Gomi moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by Gomi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardly which made him look bad.
Gomi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hardly.
Gomi misses with a looping right.
Hardly misses with a left hand
and Gomi counters with a series of strikes. Hardly will be more careful next time no doubt.
Good standup being displayed there by Hardly as he connects with a hook.
Hardly defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gomi.
Hardly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gomi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardly as he avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Hardly.
Hardly connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hardly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardly has managed to clinch.
Gomi taking a breather.
Hardly tries a body shot but Gomi blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hardly creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hardly has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gomi after a bit of a struggle.
Hardly tries to pull guard but Gomi holds him up against the cage and eventually Hardly drops back down to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardly walks away with a smile on his face. Gomi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gomi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardly tries to avoid it but Gomi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardly to the ground. Hardly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hardly misses with a jab, cross combination.

Hardly gets caught flat footed, as Gomi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gomi throwing strikes but missing.
Hardly preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardly dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Gomi doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardly circles away.
Hardly circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hardly connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hardly lands a slapping body shot.
Gomi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hardly's calf.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hardly lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gomi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gomi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Gomi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hardly gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Gomi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hardly hang on?
Gomi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hardly?
Gomi landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardly can't escape the position.
Gomi with shots to the head and body - Hardly looks very uncomfortable down there.
Gomi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gomi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gomi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hardly can't escape the position.
Gomi is landing with some decent strikes but Hardly is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Hardly is rocked!
Gomi lands a big shot to the head and Hardly winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Kenny Gomi!
An out of breath Kenny Gomi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.