PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladmir Kuzlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kuzlov
vs
Hardy

193 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

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, Vladmir Kuzlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy tries to clinch but Kuzlov is having none of it.
Kuzlov tries to bum rush Hardy with a series of wild strikes but Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kuzlov misses with a few strikes there.
Kuzlov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuzlov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kuzlov tries to bum rush Hardy with a series of wild strikes but Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardy tries to clinch up.
A combination from Kuzlov does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kuzlov is having none of it.
Hardy has a takedown stuffed.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Kuzlov misses.
Kuzlov throws a series of punches but Hardy avoids them all with ease.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kuzlov is having none of it.
Hardy misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kuzlov counters with a series of strikes. Hardy will be more careful next time no doubt.

Hardy gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to throw a body punch but Kuzlov avoids it by throwing Hardy back against the cage.
Hardy wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hardy.
Hardy taking a breather.
Hardy tries to work over Kuzlov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hardy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hardy tries to throw a body punch but Kuzlov avoids it by throwing Hardy back against the cage.
Hardy is trying to push Kuzlov away but Kuzlov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hardy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hardy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Hardy.
Hardy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hardy missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuzlov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
A lazy left from Hardy finds it's target.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hardy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuzlov.
Chris Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy wants to clinch.
Kuzlov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuzlov swinging wildly here.
Hardy throws a leg kick
and Kuzlov counters with a two punch combo.
Kuzlov throws a right and a left that Hardy avoids nicely.
Kuzlov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Kuzlov. Those never looked like landing.
Kuzlov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardy is looking to clinch.
Kuzlov swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.
Hardy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuzlov avoids it really well and circles away.
Vladmir Kuzlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Hardy.
Kuzlov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hardy eats them both and turns towards Kuzlov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kuzlov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuzlov misses with a wild combination.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Kuzlov circles away.
Kuzlov keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy scores with a jab.
Kuzlov misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzlov fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuzlov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuzlov misses with a two punch combination.
Hardy throws a right hand that Kuzlov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuzlov also avoids with ease.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuzlov circles away.
Kuzlov misses with a series of wild punches.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuzlov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuzlov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hardy.
Kuzlov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuzlov is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hardy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hardy works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Hardy dominated that 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.

Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuzlov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuzlov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chris Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuzlov swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuzlov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kuzlov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hardy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kuzlov thinking.
Kuzlov misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Kuzlov. No joy for Hardy on that attempt.
Some wild striking there from Kuzlov.
Hardy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardy shoots in and drives through. Kuzlov sprawls well.
A punch combination from Kuzlov misses.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Kuzlov circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuzlov misses with a two punch combination.
Hardy misses with a straight left.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuzlov circles away.
Kuzlov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hardy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kuzlov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A left and a right from Kuzlov both land. Nice combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuzlov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuzlov swinging wildly here.
Kuzlov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kuzlov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuzlov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuzlov throws a right hand that Hardy ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardy also avoids with ease.
Kuzlov keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kuzlov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Kuzlov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kuzlov fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardy fails with a takedown attempt.
Vladmir Kuzlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Hardy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Kuzlov is avoiding it.
Hardy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuzlov keeps the fight on the outside.

Hardy has Kuzlov up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuzlov prevents a body shot from Hardy.
Kuzlov wants to get back to striking at distance but Hardy won't allow it.
Hardy throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuzlov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuzlov tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.
Hardy misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hardy creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kuzlov tries to break the clinch but Hardy is controlling the position.
Hardy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Kuzlov has double underhooks.
Hardy wants to stall.
Nice body punch from Hardy - that landed with a thud.
Hardy keeps control of Kuzlov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hardy tries to break the clinch but Kuzlov is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzlov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kuzlov wants to break free but Hardy has control.
Still in the clinch, Hardy scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hardy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Hardy breaks from the clinch.
Kuzlov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuzlov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuzlov swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.
Kuzlov throws a series of punches but Hardy avoids them all with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy thuds his right hand into Kuzlov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hardy with a jab.
Kuzlov stuffs the takedown attempt from Hardy. Hardy gets slowly back to his feet.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kuzlov throws a nice looking combination but Hardy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuzlov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hardy circles away quickly and effectively.
Kuzlov tries to bum rush Hardy with a series of wild strikes but Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuzlov.
Kuzlov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hardy.
Nice straight punches there by Hardy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hardy.
Hardy tries to clinch there but Kuzlov circles away.
Hardy wants to clinch.
Kuzlov swinging wildly here.
Kuzlov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy slips a jab and a cross from Kuzlov.
Hardy tries to clinch up.
Kuzlov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hardy eats them both and turns towards Kuzlov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardy tries to clinch up but Kuzlov circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hardy tests Kuzlov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hardy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuzlov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kuzlov misses with a few strikes there.
Nice sprawl there from Kuzlov as Hardy shoots in.
Kuzlov throws a nice looking combination but Hardy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzlov throws a right hand that Hardy ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardy also avoids with ease.
Hardy misses the shot to the body.
Kuzlov swats away the attempt to clinch by Hardy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hardy tries to clinch but Kuzlov moves out of range.
Kuzlov fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardy tries to clinch up.
Hardy missing with a left hand there. Kuzlov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kuzlov looks to land a combination but Hardy avoids it well.
Hardy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuzlov.
Hardy tries to clinch up but Kuzlov circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardy is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzlov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kuzlov fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuzlov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuzlov slips a jab from Hardy.
Kuzlov keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuzlov circles away.
Hardy just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuzlov avoids the body shot from Hardy.
Hardy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kuzlov's waist but Kuzlov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hardy off to one side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Kuzlov is avoiding it.
Kuzlov throws a nice looking combination but Hardy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A combination from Kuzlov does no damage.
Hardy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kuzlov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuzlov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chris Hardy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kuzlov slips under a jab from Hardy.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuzlov circles away.
Hardy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hardy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kuzlov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hardy moves in looking to clinch but Kuzlov pushes him off.
Vladmir Kuzlov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hardy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuzlov looks to land a combination but Hardy avoids it well.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy tries for a takedown but Kuzlov circles away easily
and Kuzlov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vladmir Kuzlov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vladmir Kuzlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Hardy.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuzlov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

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