PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zero Knight (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.

Hardy
vs
Knight

187 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dan Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zero Knight!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the cage. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hardy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knight, pushing him back against the cage.
Knight tries to score a body lock takedown but Hardy shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Hardy has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Knight clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Knight defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Knight stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knight postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Knight drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Knight jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Knight trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Knight should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Hardy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Knight defends well.

Knight drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Knight jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hardy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knight is one step ahead there.

Knight drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Knight jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Knight drops back looking for a leg! Hardy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hardy manages to kick Knight off! Knight jumps back into Hardy's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knight drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Knight jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Knight slips nicely into half guard.
Knight wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Hardy holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Hardy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Knight is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Knight wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight blocks the strikes from Hardy.
Hardy is doing well to control the position and prevent Knight from advancing to side control.

Knight is working for a submission of some sort.
Knight looks winded!

Knight is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hardy sees it coming and defends easily.

Knight is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is looking to control Knight's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardy avoid being mounted?
Knight blocks the strikes from Hardy.
Hardy trying to control here.
Hardy is holding on to half guard well.

Hardy is defending against the submission attempts here by Knight.
Knight looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hardy looks to land a combination. Knight sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Zero Knight has been cut.

Hardy clinches up against the cage.

Hardy pulls guard effortlessly.
Hardy wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Knight drops back looking for a leg! Hardy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hardy manages to kick Knight off! Knight jumps back into Hardy's guard.
Knight looking to pass the guard.
Knight advances to half guard.
Hardy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Knight on the ground.
Hardy wants to sweep but Knight has passed to side control!

Knight working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Knight wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hardy, who protects the arm well.
Knight is breathing heavily.

Knight thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knight is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hardy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Knight wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Hardy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Knight has just dragged him back down to the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Knight is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hardy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hardy is looking to regain half guard here but Knight keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Knight is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hardy is surviving well by controlling Knight's body position as best he can.
Zero Knight has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hardy tries to hold on but Knight pushes him away.

Knight is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hardy to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hardy shrugs it off.
Hardy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Knight avoids the attempt from Hardy to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Knight can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hardy is looking to escape.
Hardy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hardy tries to hold on but Knight postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Knight looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy wants to control but Knight is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zero Knight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zero Knight's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Knight fails with the takedown.
Knight fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hardy moves into the clinch.
Knight is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hardy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hardy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hardy has had enough of the clinch but Knight keeps him there for the moment.
Hardy is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hardy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Knight has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knight changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hardy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dan Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zero Knight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy looks to land a body kick but Knight moved away.
Hardy tries a head kick but it misses.

Hardy scores with a takedown into Knight's guard.
Knight takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hardy throws a strike but Knight rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Knight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight postures up.

Knight drops back looking for a leg! Hardy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hardy manages to kick Knight off! Knight jumps back into Hardy's guard.
Knight tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.
Knight advances position into side control!
Who's going to make the next move?
Hardy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Knight wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight advances to mount.
Hardy is desperately trying to improve his position but Knight has a good base and remains in mount.

Knight is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Hardy is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zero Knight!