PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas De Ertu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hardy
vs
De Ertu

200 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
192 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicolas De Ertu!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy shoots and misses
and De Ertu counters with a one-two to the body.
Hardy tries for a takedown but De Ertu circles away easily

and De Ertu counters by moving into the clinch.
Hardy misses with a hook from the clinch.

De Ertu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

De Ertu scores with a takedown into Hardy's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
De Ertu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
De Ertu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Ertu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hardy seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
De Ertu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
De Ertu is looking to stand up but Hardy won't let him.
Hardy working a defensive guard here.
Hardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hardy is trying to control the position but De Ertu postures up.
Hardy keeping full guard, as De Ertu tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Ertu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from De Ertu does no damage.

De Ertu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hardy is looking to control De Ertu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardy avoid being mounted?
De Ertu content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to hold on to De Ertu's head to control him but De Ertu postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
De Ertu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
De Ertu passes to side control.
Hardy holds on to De Ertu's head and controls the position momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Ertu moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
De Ertu cracks Hardy with a big elbow.
Hardy is trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Ertu passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hardy!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas De Ertu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

De Ertu throws a series of punches but Hardy moves out of range.

De Ertu rushes Hardy and presses him up against the cage.
De Ertu blocks a punch to the side of the head.

De Ertu successfully pulls guard.

Hardy drops back, looking for a kneebar! De Ertu looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. De Ertu looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from De Ertu!
De Ertu wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Ertu happy to just control the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to bench press De Ertu off him but De Ertu keeps the position.
De Ertu blocks the strikes from Hardy.
Hardy can't do much from the bottom here.
Hardy is looking for a sweep.
Hardy is working hard here to advance position.
De Ertu tries to stand but Hardy is controlling his head.
Nicolas De Ertu has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
De Ertu raining down hammerfists from mount.
De Ertu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
De Ertu landing punches.
Hardy in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy wants to control but De Ertu is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hardy is looking to control De Ertu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardy avoid being mounted?
Hardy tries to get to full guard but De Ertu has control of the leg.
De Ertu tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hardy controls his leg.
Hardy trying to control here.
Still in half guard, De Ertu seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nicolas De Ertu hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
De Ertu stuffs the takedown attempt from Hardy. Hardy gets slowly back to his feet.

De Ertu closes the distance and pushes Hardy back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

De Ertu has hold of one of Hardy's legs. Hardy is fighting the takedown attempt but De Ertu gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
De Ertu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas De Ertu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hardy has his takedown stuffed
and De Ertu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hardy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and De Ertu counters with a lovely straight right hand!

De Ertu rushes Hardy and presses him up against the cage.

De Ertu gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
De Ertu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardy wants to control but De Ertu is keeping busy.
De Ertu wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with De Ertu in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Ertu wants to free his trapped foot but Hardy is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nicolas De Ertu was stalling too much, according to the referee.

De Ertu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hardy to the mat! Hardy manages to get full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hardy is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but De Ertu is keeping the position.
Hardy postures up in De Ertu's guard and throws a big left but De Ertu blocks it.

Hardy postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! De Ertu is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hardy, into his guard.
Hardy is trying to control the position but De Ertu postures up.
De Ertu postures up in Hardy's guard and throws a big left but Hardy blocks it.
Tom Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Ertu postures up.
Hardy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
De Ertu trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hardy manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Hardy preventing the sweep.
De Ertu striking off his back but it's not causing Hardy any problems.
Hardy trying to control but De Ertu is working from the bottom.
Hardy advances position into side control!
Hardy laying and praying for a moment but De Ertu takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy is looking for a kimura but De Ertu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hardy to get the leverage.

Hardy trying to work for an americana but De Ertu has managed to regain full guard.
Nicolas De Ertu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
De Ertu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
De Ertu wants to sweep but no luck.
De Ertu wants to stand up but Hardy is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy is looking to work some ground and pound but De Ertu has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now De Ertu is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas De Ertu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well De Ertu 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas De Ertu!
Nicolas De Ertu bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.