PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Herschel Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergio Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herschel Hardy has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hardy
vs
Alvarez

156 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

181 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple 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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herschel Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sergio Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardy gets a clinch.
Hardy could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Hardy breaks from the clinch.

Alvarez moves into range and clinches up with Hardy.

Hardy breaks the clinch.
Hardy slips a jab and a cross from Alvarez.
Alvarez lands with a straight right. Hardy didn't see that one coming.
Alvarez throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hardy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A punch lands to the side of Hardy 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like Herschel Hardy has been cut.
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!
Hardy thumps Alvarez with a low kick.
Alvarez scores with a shot to the body.

Hardy gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Alvarez is trying to control but can't.
Hardy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alvarez on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Hardy is looking for a kimura here.
Alvarez is trying to control but can't.

Hardy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hardy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Alvarez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez manages to get to full guard.

Alvarez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hardy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hardy drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Alvarez dives on top into guard.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez throwing strikes from guard but Hardy blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardy has wrist control.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez being controlled here momentarily.
Alvarez advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hardy has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Alvarez but great work by Hardy.
Alvarez is looking to regain half guard here but Hardy keeps moving and retains side control.

Hardy stands up.

Alvarez moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy keeps control of Alvarez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Alvarez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Herschel Hardy's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alvarez throws a right and a left that Hardy avoids nicely.

Hardy dives in and scores a takedown into Alvarez's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hardy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hardy's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hardy is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Alvarez looking for a guillotine here but Hardy defends easily.
Alvarez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sergio Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hardy stands and steps away. Alvarez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hardy pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.

Hardy turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hardy happy to just control the position for now.
Hardy wants to stand but Alvarez is controlling his arm.
Alvarez is looking for a sweep.

Hardy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Alvarez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Alvarez's face as Hardy controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alvarez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez wants to control but Hardy postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Alvarez is trying to control Hardy's posture but Hardy avoids it.

Hardy is trying to get an arm triangle but Alvarez is defending well.
Hardy cracks Alvarez with a big right hand but Alvarez just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Alvarez struggling a bit here.

Hardy is trying to get an arm triangle but Alvarez is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is looking for a sweep.
Hardy tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The referee asks Hardy politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hardy prefers to stall for the moment though.
Hardy working away.
Alvarez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hardy is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hardy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herschel Hardy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Herschel Hardy's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Alvarez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hardy counters by clinching up.
Alvarez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hardy walks away with a smile on his face. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hardy.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Herschel Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alvarez looking to score a takedown here. Hardy is defending well but Alvarez drives through and ends up in Hardy's guard.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alvarez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.
Alvarez is still trying to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy has his hands on Alvarez's head, controlling the position.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Alvarez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hardy manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Alvarez has Hardy in his guard.
Hardy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardy decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Alvarez, up you get!
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Hardy moves out of range easily.
Alvarez misses with a head kick.

Alvarez gets tackled into the cage by Hardy. Hardy maintains the clinch.

Hardy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hardy, right into the meat.
Alvarez throws a combination that misses
and Hardy counters with a nice body kick.

Hardy has Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.

Hardy decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to sweep but no luck.
Hardy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hardy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Alvarez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hardy looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hardy looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hardy!
Alvarez is trying to control Hardy's posture but Hardy avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy slows the pace down.

Hardy is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alvarez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Alvarez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here as Hardy stalls from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez misses with a strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herschel Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hardy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herschel Hardy!
In defeat, Sergio Alvarez stepped up to the mic, saying 'I have lost tonight but I will guarantee for the fans, I will come out fighting much better and I won't leave you dissapointed in the next, I promise that'.