PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sharman Potamkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan 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.

Potamkin
vs
Hardy

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
187 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

S.W.A.T.

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sharman Potamkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dan Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potamkin steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Hardy. That one must have hurt.
Potamkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Hardy circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hardy, as that shot connected.
Hardy wants to clinch up but Potamkin keeps it at a distance.
Hardy tries to clinch but Potamkin is having none of it.
Hardy lands a front kick.
Potamkin is breathing heavily.
Potamkin moves out of range of the body kick from Hardy.
Sharman Potamkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Potamkin misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Potamkin or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardy which made him look bad.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hardy.
Potamkin misses with a hook
and Hardy counters with a low kick, right behind Potamkin 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potamkin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Potamkin avoids a kick to the body.
Potamkin fails with the takedown
and Hardy counters with a body kick.
Hardy digs a good body shot into Potamkin's ribs.
Hardy feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Potamkin's calf.
Hardy displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Sharman Potamkin has been cut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Hardy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Potamkin is stalling here.

Hardy breaks from the clinch.
Potamkin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy misses with a few strikes there.
Hardy circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hardy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Potamkin misses with a knee strike.

Hardy manages to break the clinch.
Potamkin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hardy finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sharman Potamkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potamkin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hardy counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hardy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Potamkin misses with a takedown attempt

and Hardy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardy breaks from the clinch.
Potamkin wants to clinch but Hardy slips to the side
and Hardy counters with a low kick, right behind Potamkin 's knee.
Potamkin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a nice leg kick.
Potamkin looks to throw a body kick
and Potamkin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Potamkin fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardy buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Hardy finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hardy lands a with a good body shot.
Potamkin throws an off balance right hand
and Hardy counters with a nice low kick that buckles Potamkin's knee momentarily.
Potamkin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Potamkin with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Hardy counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potamkin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hardy tests Potamkin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy scores with a shot to the body.
Hardy throws a right hand that Potamkin ducks under and follows up with a left that Potamkin also avoids with ease.
Potamkin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardy counters with a nice leg kick.
Hardy is looking to land body kicks.
Hardy closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Potamkin will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy digs a good hook to Potamkin's body.
Potamkin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Hardy has Potamkin up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sharman Potamkin's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Potamkin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hardy counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hardy.
Hardy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Potamkin leaning against his opponent.
Hardy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Potamkin pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Potamkin clinches but Hardy breaks the clinch
and Hardy counters with a nice body kick.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Potamkin. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Potamkin has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hardy.

Potamkin closes the distance and clinches.
Hardy wants to get back to striking at distance but Potamkin won't allow it.
Potamkin is trying to stall.
Nice elbow from Potamkin.
Potamkin tries to pull guard but Hardy holds him up against the cage and eventually Potamkin drops back down to his feet.

Potamkin breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy lands a body punch.
Potamkin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hardy has had enough of the clinch but Potamkin keeps him there for the moment.
Potamkin looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sharman Potamkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy looking for a takedown.
Potamkin can't break the clinch.
Hardy wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hardy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Potamkin rather than just go for the knockout.
Hardy scores with a three punch combo!
Hardy throws a series of punches but Potamkin avoids them all with ease.
Potamkin fails with the takedown.
Potamkin with a poor takedown
and Hardy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Hardy moves into range and clinches up with Potamkin.
Hardy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Potamkin keeps control of Hardy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Potamkin is stalling here.
Potamkin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potamkin tries to clinch up.
Potamkin throws a lazy head kick
and Hardy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Hardy.
Hardy misses with a wild combination.
A cross from Hardy lands.
Potamkin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hardy.
Hardy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Potamkin.
Hardy checks a leg kick nicely.
Potamkin misses with a series of wild punches.
Hardy wants to clinch up but Potamkin keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Potamkin counters with a big head kick but Hardy shrugs it off.
Potamkin slips a jab and a cross from Hardy.
Potamkin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hardy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Potamkin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Potamkin clinches up against the cage.
Potamkin looking to stall.
Hardy tries a knee to the head but Potamkin blocks it.

Hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Potamkin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hardy counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice takedown defense from Hardy. No joy for Potamkin on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potamkin has a takedown stuffed.
Potamkin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hardy tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Potamkin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hardy looking for a sweep. Not yet Hardy, not yet.
Potamkin wants to stand but Hardy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Hardy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Potamkin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potamkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Potamkin tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sharman Potamkin'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. This is the final round!

Hardy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hardy stuns Potamkin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hardy scores with a hook.
Good leg kick by Hardy there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hardy scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sharman Potamkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hardy drives through and clinches with Potamkin against the cage.
Nice body punch from Hardy - that landed with a thud.
Potamkin tries to stall but Hardy uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Potamkin keeps control of Hardy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Potamkin misses with a punch on the inside.

Hardy has hold of one of Potamkin's legs. Potamkin is fighting the takedown attempt but Hardy gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
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 content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Potamkin wants to get back to his feet but Hardy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hardy prevents Potamkin from getting back to his feet.
Hardy postures up.

Hardy stands up from Potamkin's guard - Hardy perhaps looking for a knockout.
Potamkin throws a combination that misses
and Hardy counters with a good low kick that Potamkin was not able to check.
Hardy tries to clinch

and Potamkin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Potamkin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hardy smiles and moves away.
Hardy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Potamkin.
Potamkin has a takedown stuffed.
A jab from Hardy does it's job there.
Potamkin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hardy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Potamkin tries for a takedown but Hardy circles away easily
and Hardy counters with a solid body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sharman Potamkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potamkin takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hardy connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hardy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Potamkin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hardy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Potamkin trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Potamkin!
Hardy throws a wild left hand from mount and Potamkin manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Potamkin trying to control from the bottom.
Hardy prevents Potamkin from improving his position.
Potamkin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hardy.

Potamkin actively working from the bottom here.
Hardy works his foot free and advances to mount.
Potamkin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Potamkin bucks up and throws Hardy to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Potamkin slips a jab and a cross from Hardy.
Hardy avoids the head kick by Potamkin.
Dan Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hardy connects with a nice looking jab.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hardy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hardy.
Potamkin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hardy but Hardy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Potamkin backs up against the cage.
Sharman Potamkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hardy darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Hardy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hardy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30

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