PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthieu Lizotte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthieu Lizotte will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hardy
vs
Lizotte

185 cm
26
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
20
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthieu Lizotte!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lizotte tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Lizotte misses.
Hardy tries to counter with a takedown but Lizotte is quick to defend against it.
Hardy avoids the body shot from Lizotte.
Lizotte throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hardy.
Hardy slips a jab and a cross from Lizotte.

Lizotte gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hardy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lizotte taking a breather.
Hardy misses with a punch to the body.
Lizotte misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Lizotte.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hardy has Lizotte pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hardy pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lizotte tumbling to the mat - Hardy dives into Lizotte's guard.
Hardy is looking to work some ground and pound but Lizotte has wrist control.
Hardy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hardy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hardy wants to pass the guard but Lizotte is keeping the position.
Hardy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hardy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lizotte fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lizotte lands a jab to the nose.

It looks like Marcus Hardy has been cut.
Lizotte throws a body shot but no joy.
Hardy attempts a counter takedown but Lizotte avoids it well and moves away.
Lizotte steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hardy.
Some wild striking there from Lizotte.
Hardy misses with a body shot.
Hardy punishes Lizotte's body with a nice straight punch.
Hardy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hardy tries to counter with a takedown but Lizotte is quick to defend against it.
Hardy misses with a wild body shot.
Lizotte tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hardy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Lizotte closes the distance and pushes Hardy back into the cage.
Lizotte tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hardy's elbow.
Hardy tries to work over Lizotte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lizotte has a couple of punches blocked by Hardy.
Hardy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hardy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lizotte fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lizotte misses with a wild body shot.
Hardy changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Lizotte cracks Hardy with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Hardy looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Lizotte finish him?

Lizotte lands a big right hand that sends Hardy crashing to the mat! Lizotte stays standing though and waves Hardy back to his feet!

Hardy is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lizotte tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hardy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Oh Hardy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Lizotte moves into the clinch successfully.
Lizotte trying to stall but Hardy improves his position.
Hardy seems to have got his legs back now.

Hardy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hardy not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hardy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lizotte trying to control but Hardy postures up.
Hardy is controlling the pace.
Hardy throwing shots but Lizotte is blocking nicely.
Hardy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lizotte knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Lizotte dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Hardy's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lizotte wants to clinch

and Hardy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hardy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hardy is looking to work some ground and pound but Lizotte has wrist control.
Lizotte controls Hardy momentarily but Hardy frees himself.
Hardy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hardy landing with the ground and pound.
Hardy sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lizotte keeping full guard, as Hardy tries to pass.
Hardy content to stall in guard here.
Hardy chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hardy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hardy wants to control from the top but Lizotte keeps moving.
Hardy with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardy landing with the ground and pound.
Hardy scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lizotte working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardy.
Hardy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lizotte works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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

Lizotte cracks Hardy with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Hardy looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Lizotte finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lizotte is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hardy rather than just go for the knockout.

Lizotte sends Hardy crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Lizotte is motioning to the referee to let Hardy up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Marcus Hardy's cut is getting worse.
Hardy definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lizotte looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hardy dives in and grabs Lizotte's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lizotte pushes down on Hardy's head and hops out.

Lizotte moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lizotte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lizotte prevents a body shot from Hardy.
Hardy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hardy prevents a body shot from Lizotte.
Lizotte blocks a body shot from Hardy.
Lizotte lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lizotte leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lizotte lands a left hand.

Marcus Hardy's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Lizotte has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hardy misses with a body punch.
Hardy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lizotte fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Matthieu Lizotte seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lizotte tries to clinch but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lizotte tries to clinch up.

Lizotte lands a big right hand that sends Hardy crashing to the mat! Lizotte stays standing though and waves Hardy back to his feet!

Lizotte clinches with his opponent.
Lizotte lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Jeez, Marcus Hardy's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Lizotte's coach down at Combat Fitness was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lizotte's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Lizotte pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lizotte misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lizotte has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hardy as Lizotte tries to tie him up.
Lizotte can't find room to land a body shot as Hardy controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Lizotte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcus Hardy's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hardy tries to clinch but Lizotte is having none of it.
Nice defenses there by Hardy.
Hardy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lizotte sprawls and moves away.
Hardy staying out of range there.
Lizotte swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hardy tries to counter with a takedown but Lizotte is quick to defend against it.
Lizotte lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lizotte fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hardy glances at the clock... BAM! Lizotte nails him with a big right hand! A momentary lapse in concentration sends Hardy crashing to the mat! The referee steps in and this one is over! Damn, Hardy is out of it, he thinks the ref is his opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Matthieu Lizotte!