PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wladyslaw Raginis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Raginis
vs
Hardy

182 cm
27
265 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

182 cm
28
253 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wladyslaw Raginis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dan Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raginis looks to land a left hand but Hardy moved out of range nicely.

Raginis drives through with a takedown into Hardy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hardy looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Raginis throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy pulls Raginis in to control the position.
Hardy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hardy keeping full guard, as Raginis tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raginis throws an elbow that misses. Hardy uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Raginis's guard. Nice move by Hardy!

Hardy stopping the sweep attempt from Raginis.
Raginis is pulling down on Hardy's head. It's preventing any offense from Hardy, at least for the moment.
Raginis wants to sweep but no luck.
Hardy has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Russian Top Team Elite Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hardy controlling from the top position.
Raginis seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Raginis has an active guard here but Hardy has managed to pass into half guard.
Raginis trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Raginis misses with a straight left.
Hardy thinks about the counter body kick.
Hardy connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Wladyslaw Raginis has been cut.
Hardy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Raginis's head backwards.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hardy or perhaps it was just good defense by Raginis, which made it look bad.
Raginis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hardy.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Raginis shoots in but no luck this time.
Hardy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raginis throws a head kick that misses.
Hardy takes a swing at Raginis's ribcage but misses.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raginis connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Raginis moves out of range easily.
Hardy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
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!
Raginis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
Hardy throws a body shot but no joy.
Raginis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hardy manages to avoid it.
A lazy left from Hardy finds it's target.
Hardy lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Raginis at a distance.
Hardy throws a push kick but Raginis slaps the foot to one side.
Hardy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hardy moves away from the strike by Raginis.
Raginis throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hardy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy blocks the body kick.
Raginis steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Hardy. That one must have hurt.
Raginis throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hardy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Raginis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Hardy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wladyslaw Raginis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A looping hook to the body misses from Raginis. Hardy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hardy shoots for a double leg takedown but Raginis sprawls well. He's pushed Hardy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hardy blocks a jab.
Hardy is trying hard to land a takedown here. Raginis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Raginis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hardy is trying to control Raginis's posture but Raginis avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raginis in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hardy keeps working.
Raginis is trying to ground and pound but Hardy uses the momentary lack of control by Raginis to regain half guard.
Hardy is trying to control but can't.
Raginis working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Raginis throwing shots but Hardy is blocking nicely.
Hardy trying to control here.

Hardy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Raginis pulls his head out easily.
Hardy is looking to control Raginis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hardy avoid being mounted?
Raginis thows a huge punch but Hardy dodges it nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Raginis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Raginis throws a solid leg kick but Hardy takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Raginis.
A nice side step and Hardy releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Raginis throws a sloppy head kick
and Hardy counters with a three punch combo that has Raginis backing up. Raginis nods at Hardy to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis misses with a head kick.
Hardy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Raginis rather than just go for the knockout.
Hardy lands a nice looking body shot.
Hardy scores with a kick to the midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy scores with a nice body kick.
Hardy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Raginis circles away quickly and effectively.

Nice combo by Hardy! Oh, that's hurt him - Raginis falls to the canvas and Hardy follows him into side control.
Wladyslaw Raginis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raginis is trying to improve his position.
Hardy is looking to take a break and control but Raginis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hardy taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raginis is trying to get back to half guard.
Hardy moves into full mount!
Raginis can't escape the position.
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 Wladyslaw Raginis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hardy with a nice cross.
Raginis walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Dan Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dan Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raginis. Hardy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hardy takes a swing at Raginis's ribcage but misses.
Raginis looks to score with a jab to the body but Hardy is just out of range.
Raginis punishes Hardy's body with a nice straight punch.
Hardy slips under a jab.
Raginis takes a kick to the side of the head.

Wladyslaw Raginis's cut is getting worse.
Hardy swinging wildly here.
Hardy throws a nice looking combination but Raginis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Raginis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hardy napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardy defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis scoring with punches and elbows.
Raginis is chipping away with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Hardy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Raginis misses with the ground and pound.
Hardy struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy dodges the ground and pound from Raginis.
Raginis wants to control but Hardy is keeping him busy.
Wladyslaw Raginis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Hardy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raginis working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Raginis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hardy, who protects the arm well.
Hardy manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Raginis trying to control from the bottom.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Raginis is defending well.
Raginis is staying active underneath Hardy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy controlling the action here.
Raginis is looking to control Hardy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Raginis avoid being mounted?

Raginis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hardy takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Raginis avoids them all with ease.
Raginis takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A jab from Raginis misses.
Hardy avoids the body shot from Raginis.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Raginis crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hardy - the referee stops the clock and Raginis gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hardy. Raginis manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Raginis does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Hardy throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Raginis was covering up waiting for the punch and Hardy finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Raginis working for a triangle but Hardy defends it easily.

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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Hardy!
Dan Hardy seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.