PBP Commentary

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

Harder
vs
Cerrone

170 cm
26
170 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Martin Harder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dominic Cerrone!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harder throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cerrone will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Harder throws a head kick that Cerrone semi-blocks.
Cerrone swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cerrone throws a right and a left that Harder avoids nicely.
Harder appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Harder closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Harder creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cerrone sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cerrone is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Harder asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cerrone is not content to let Harder control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Harder is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cerrone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone is not content to let Harder control the position.

That's two 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.

Harder working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cerrone is pushing Harder's head away, looking to escape. Harder manages to hold on to the position though.
Cerrone dodges the ground and pound from Harder.
Cerrone is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Harder tries for a kimura but Cerrone is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harder tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Harder is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cerrone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Harder trying to control the action but Cerrone is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cerrone swats away the attempt to clinch by Harder.
Cerrone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Harder drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cerrone sprawls and moves away.

Harder fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cerrone to the ground. Harder is now in Cerrone's guard.
Harder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harder trying to control but Cerrone is working from the bottom.
Cerrone wants to get back to his feet but Harder is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Harder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cerrone is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Harder dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cerrone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Harder drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cerrone sprawls and moves away.
Harder tries for a takedown but Cerrone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cerrone looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Harder tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cerrone paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Harder closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Harder goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cerrone has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Harder but great work by Cerrone.
Harder tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cerrone wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Martin Harder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cerrone working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cerrone looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Harder is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cerrone controlling the action here.

Cerrone is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Harder sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harder is looking for a sweep. Cerrone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Harder gets back to full guard.
Harder is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Harder is working for a submission of some sort.
Harder stops Cerrone from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Harder is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cerrone has managed to free his arm - good work.

Harder is trying to work for a kimura but Cerrone is defending well.
Harder looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cerrone tries to kick Harder off but Harder keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Harder works his way into full mount!
Harder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cerrone can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Harder.

Harder is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cerrone can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Harder punishing his opponent with strikes.
Harder is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Cerrone really wants to buck Harder off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harder tries to control but Cerrone wriggling away.
Harder is really struggling to control Cerrone but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Harder is working for a guillotine from mount but Cerrone frees his head quite easily.
Harder trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cerrone's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Harder cracks Cerrone with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Harder dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Harder tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cerrone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cerrone throws a series of punches but Harder moves out of range.
Cerrone misses with the combination.
Harder half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Harder bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Harder is putting a hurting on Cerrone here, landing some big shots from side control.
Cerrone pushes Harder away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Harder gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Harder trying to control the action but Cerrone is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harder is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cerrone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harder is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cerrone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cerrone is trying to get back to his feet.
Harder lands a nice forearm strike.
Harder trying to control the action but Cerrone is working from the bottom.
Harder throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

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.
Harder throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Harder looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cerrone is not content to let Harder control the position.
Cerrone is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harder trying to control the action but Cerrone is working from the bottom.
Cerrone is pushing Harder's head away, looking to escape. Harder manages to hold on to the position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Harder looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cerrone!

Harder swings around for an armbar but Cerrone sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Harder's guard.
Cerrone won't allow Harder to sweep him here.
Harder keeping moving, preventing Cerrone from controlling successfully.
Cerrone's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harder is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Harder is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cerrone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martin Harder is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cerrone postures up.

Cerrone stands up from Harder's guard - Cerrone perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cerrone misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Harder bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harder doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cerrone counters with a series of strikes. Harder will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cerrone lands with a nice combination. Harder backs away looking to recover.
Dominic Cerrone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Harder moves into the clinch.

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 Martin Harder.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harder, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Harder!