PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Nabokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Hardy acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Nabokov
vs
Hardy

188 cm
27
213 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Voodoo Nutrition

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Nabokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nabokov shoots for a double leg takedown but Hardy sprawls well. He's pushed Nabokov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nabokov closes the distance but Hardy moves to the side

and Hardy counters with a takedown into side control.

Hardy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nabokov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hardy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nabokov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nabokov is trying to get back to half guard.
Nabokov gets back to half guard.
Nabokov wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nabokov is working hard here to advance position.
Hardy working Nabokov over with strikes.
Nabokov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hardy lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy thows a huge punch but Nabokov dodges it nicely.
Nabokov is positioning himself well to prevent Hardy advancing to mount.
Nabokov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hardy trying to control the position from guard on top but Nabokov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nabokov wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.
Hardy looking to pass the guard.
Nabokov wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.
Nabokov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nabokov is on top in guard.

Nabokov is in close to Hardy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nabokov is in close to Hardy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nabokov throwing strikes but missing.
Nabokov preventing the sweep.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nabokov.
Hardy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hardy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nabokov.
Hardy trying to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hardy can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nabokov trying to control but Hardy is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nabokov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hardy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hardy's back!
Nabokov is landing with strikes from the back.
Will Nabokov go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Hardy avoids the strikes from Nabokov.
Nabokov is punishing Hardy with some ground and pound.
Hardy grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Hardy manages to reverse the position and now he's in Nabokov's guard. Nice work there by Hardy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nabokov keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Nabokov controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nabokov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hardy told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Hardy stopping the sweep attempt from Nabokov.
Nabokov has Hardy pulled in close to control his posture.
Further stalling from Nabokov.
Nabokov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hardy is looking to work some ground and pound but Nabokov has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vladimir Nabokov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nabokov scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Marcus Hardy has been cut.

Nabokov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Nabokov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hardy's head.
Nabokov works over Hardy with some ground and pound from guard.
Nabokov scoring with punches to the head and body.

Hardy is rocked!
Nabokov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hardy looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Vladimir Nabokov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hardy trying to keep a closed guard but Nabokov is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nabokov working some strikes from top position.
Nabokov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hardy is looking to sweep but instead, Nabokov has passed into half guard.
Nabokov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hardy trying to control but Nabokov postures up.
Nabokov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nabokov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nabokov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hardy is still in real trouble! Can Nabokov finish him?
Nabokov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hardy's head.
Hardy seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabokov is nestled in close to Hardy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nabokov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nabokov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard.
Nabokov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nabokov lands strikes from half guard.
Hardy is trying to get back to full guard.
Hardy is trying to maintain the position but Nabokov is very close to passing his half guard.
Nabokov thows a huge punch but Hardy dodges it nicely.
Nabokov 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Nabokov throwing shots but Hardy is blocking nicely.
Nabokov lands with a punch from half guard.
Nabokov is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Hardy is hurt! He's hurt bad - Nabokov fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Hardy from any more punishment! Congratulations to Nabokov! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vladimir Nabokov!
Vladimir Nabokov really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Voodoo Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.