PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Conrad Clarke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall 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.

Clarke
vs
Hardy

225 cm
19
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conrad Clarke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marshall Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy looks for a takedown but Clarke sprawls well.

Clarke moves into the clinch.
Hardy keeps control of Clarke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Clarke is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hardy to keep the fight standing.

Hardy pulls guard.
Clarke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hardy holds on and takes a little breather.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.
Clarke throwing strikes from guard but Hardy blocks nicely.

Clarke decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hardy, up you get!
Clarke shoots for a takedown but Hardy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke shoots in for a double leg but Hardy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conrad Clarke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hardy.

Hardy closes the distance and pushes Clarke back into the cage.

Hardy decides to pull guard.
Clarke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hardy is pulling down on Clarke's head. It's preventing any offense from Clarke, at least for the moment.
Hardy wants to control the position but Clarke says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Clarke wants to pass the guard but Hardy is defending well.
Hardy trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy works his way to full guard. Good work.
Clarke tries to stand but Hardy is controlling from the bottom.
Clarke really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Clarke tries to pass.
Clarke trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clarke!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Clarke because Hardy loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hardy punching from mount but Clarke doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Clarke tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Clarke is trying to stand.
Hardy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Clarke is looking to escape.

Hardy goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Clarke is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clarke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Clarke content to stall in guard here.
Hardy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy is trying to control. Clarke wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Hardy dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hardy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Clarke circles away.
Hardy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hardy wants it to stay on the feet.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Clarke moves out of range easily.
Hardy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Clarke pinned against the cage. Clarke gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hardy shoots in and drives through. Clarke sprawls well.
Conrad Clarke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Hardy.
Hardy misses with a double jab
and Clarke counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Clarke moves into the clinch.
Hardy is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Clarke is keeping busy.

Clarke has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hardy uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Clarke holds on and takes a little breather.
Hardy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Clarke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Clarke keeps moving.
Clarke wants to stand up but Hardy is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy wants to get up but he can't break Clarke's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Clarke wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Clarke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Marshall Hardy wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Hardy as Clarke shoots in.
Clarke misses with a series of wild punches.
No luck for Hardy with that takedown attempt.
Hardy is breathing heavily.

Hardy gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Clarke has a takedown stuffed.
Hardy is looking to clinch but Clarke is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy goes for a double leg but Clarke avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Clarke continues to drive forward.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hardy shoots in but Clarke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hardy is defended easily by Clarke.
Hardy swats away the attempt to clinch by Clarke.
Clarke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Clarke.
Clarke misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy avoids the head kick by Clarke.
Clarke is looking to score with low kicks.
Clarke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardy misses with a double jab

and Clarke holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Clarke tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Clarke's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy has Clarke pressed against the cage, preventing Clarke from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Clarke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hardy avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Conrad Clarke will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hardy shoots in but no luck this time.
Hardy doesn't manage to clinch there - Clarke circles away.
Clarke fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Clarke misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Clarke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hardy lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hardy delivers a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hardy drives through and clinches with Clarke against the cage.
Clarke trying to stall but Hardy improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke missing with knees to the body.
Clarke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Clarke wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Clarke slowing the pace effectively.
Clarke prevents the takedown attempt.
Conrad Clarke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Hardy.
Clarke jumps guard but Hardy stands there with Clarke around his waist. Clarke gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hardy controlling the action here for a moment.
Clarke tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Clarke is defending well.
Hardy prevents the takedown attempt.
Clarke can't get the takedown.
Clarke looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Clarke shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Clarke moves out of range easily.
Hardy keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Clarke.

Hardy forces Clarke back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Hardy pulls guard successfully.
Hardy looking for a sweep. Not yet Hardy, not yet.

Clarke decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hardy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Clarke.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch but Clarke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clarke shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Hardy dives in and grabs Clarke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Clarke pushes down on Hardy's head and hops out.
Clarke misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Clarke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Clarke wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Clarke defends it nicely.
Clarke shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

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

Hardy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Clarke shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clarke stuffs the takedown.
Clarke tries to clinch up but Hardy circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marshall 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

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