PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Maria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maria comes to the cage accompanied by Kronos - Bloodtower. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maria
vs
Hardy

193 cm
35
229 lbs
33 - 14 - 0

182 cm
27
253 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joaquim Maria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dan Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling eachother endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Maria moves out of range easily.
Maria avoids the head kick by Hardy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria throws the kick towards the body but Hardy avoids it.
Hardy steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Maria. That one must have hurt.
A bone on bone clash there as Hardy blocks the leg kick.
Maria throws a right hand that misses
and Hardy counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maria misses with the body kick
letting Hardy counter with a right hand.
Hardy fails to land the takedown.
Hardy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maria.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy fails with the takedown.
Hardy misses with a double jab
and Maria counters with a head kick.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria misses with a hook.
Maria showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardy.
Maria shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A swing and a miss from Hardy.
Maria throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hardy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've been told by Maria's head coaches at Facebreaker Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Maria misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Hardy.
Hardy lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria tries a head kick but it misses.
Hardy lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Maria moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hardy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hardy throws a lazy right hand but Maria sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hardy tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hardy throws a right and a left that Maria avoids nicely.
Maria gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hardy counters with a three punch combo that has Maria backing up. Maria nods at Hardy to acknowledge the strikes.
Maria avoids the head kick by Hardy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Hardy misses its intended target.
Hardy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maria counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hardy misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Hardy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Maria lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Maria lands with a hook. Hardy tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Dan Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maria walks into a straight right hand from Hardy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria misses with a looping right.
Maria throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Maria throws a body kick that misses.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Maria avoids them all with ease.

Maria gets caught flat footed, as Hardy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Maria is trying to keep Hardy in close.
Maria is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Dan Hardy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Maria pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardy misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maria avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maria swings widly with a right hand
and Hardy counters with a head kick. That will keep Maria thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hardy misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joaquim Maria.
I think Maria 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joaquim Maria!
An out of breath Joaquim Maria thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.