PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Angus Hardnys (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nico Agosto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hardnys
vs
Agosto

169 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Angus Hardnys!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nico Agosto!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardnys looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Agosto is fending him off so far but Hardnys persists. Nope, Agosto circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hardnys is defended easily by Agosto.

Hardnys moves into the clinch.
Hardnys is trying to drag Agosto to the mat but Agosto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angus Hardnys. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hardnys breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardnys throws a right and a left that both miss.
Agosto looks to land a right hand but Hardnys moved out of range.
Hardnys half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hardnys wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Agosto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Agosto stuffs the takedown attempt from Hardnys. Hardnys gets slowly back to his feet.
A jab lands there for Agosto.
Agosto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardnys moves away.
Agosto circles away from the clinch attempt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Agosto has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Hardnys has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hardnys tries to clinch but Agosto moves away
and Agosto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Agosto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hardnys at a distance.
Nico Agosto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hardnys closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardnys is looking for a takedown.
Agosto can't break the clinch.
Agosto can't find room to land a body shot as Hardnys controls the action.
Agosto has had enough of the clinch but Hardnys keeps him there for the moment.
Hardnys's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A right hook to the body lands for Hardnys.

Hardnys breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hardnys tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Agosto swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardnys fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardnys has his takedown stuffed
letting Agosto counter with a right hand.
Agosto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hardnys is out of range.
Agosto lands a really nice looking cross but Hardnys seems unphased.
A low kick from Agosto misses
and Hardnys counters with a series of strikes. Agosto will be more careful next time no doubt.
Agosto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Agosto with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hardnys lands a head kick. Agosto smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Agosto lands with a shot to the body.
Agosto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Agosto looks winded!
Hardnys takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hardnys clinches.

Hardnys successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Agosto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardnys works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Agosto trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardnys is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hardnys looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Agosto seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nico Agosto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Agosto.
Hardnys fails to land the takedown.
Agosto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hardnys is looking for a counter combo.
Hardnys takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hardnys tries to clinch but Agosto moves out of range.
Hardnys misses with a head kick.

Hardnys gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Agosto is looking to break free of the clinch but Hardnys has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hardnys gets control of Agosto's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hardnys will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Agosto is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardnys has wrist control.

Hardnys had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Agosto defends it easily.
Agosto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Agosto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hardnys. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Agosto would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Hardnys kicks Agosto off and gets to his feet.
Hardnys could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hardnys looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Agosto! But no joy.
Agosto looks for a takedown but Hardnys sprawls well.
Hardnys throws a big counter combination but Agosto scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Agosto lands with an uppercut that bounces Hardnys off the cage and back into range.
Hardnys uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Agosto.
Hardnys fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nico Agosto seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Agosto throws a head kick that misses.
Agosto is breathing heavily.
Agosto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Donk. Agosto catches Hardnys right on the button with a cross.
Agosto takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hardnys tries to clinch up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Agosto. Hardnys does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hardnys keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Agosto with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Agosto.
Hardnys appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hardnys fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Hardnys darts in and clinches Agosto up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardnys manages to break the clinch.
Hardnys moves out of range as Agosto strikes.

Hardnys has managed to clinch.
Hardnys wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angus Hardnys. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardnys is pushing Agosto up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hardnys holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hardnys seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Agosto prevents a body shot from Hardnys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Agosto is trying to push Hardnys away but Hardnys has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Agosto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Agosto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hardnys.
Agosto is trying to force a seperation but Hardnys has the dominant position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hardnys as Agosto tries to tie him up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardnys misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Angus Hardnys will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hardnys shoots for a takedown but Agosto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Agosto throws a body shot but no joy.

Hardnys clinches up against the cage.
Hardnys scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Nico Agosto has been cut.
Agosto can't break the clinch.
Hardnys has Agosto pressed against the cage, preventing Agosto from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hardnys doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hardnys is working for takedown but Agosto is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardnys content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Hardnys breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardnys shoots for a double leg takedown but Agosto sprawls well. He's pushed Hardnys's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angus Hardnys. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardnys looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Agosto checks a leg kick.
Hardnys on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Agosto works Hardnys's body with a nice hook.
Nice shot lands for Agosto.
Agosto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hardnys darts in trying to clinch
and Agosto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Hardnys drives through and clinches with Agosto against the cage.
Agosto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hardnys has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Agosto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hardnys jumps guard but Agosto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Agosto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hardnys is trying to pull guard but Agosto has him pressed against the cage.
Hardnys prevents a body shot from Agosto.
Hardnys prevents a body shot from Agosto.
Hardnys has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Agosto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Agosto misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hardnys manages to pull guard.
Agosto is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Agosto stands up and waves to Hardnys to follow him.
Nice takedown defense from Hardnys. No joy for Agosto on that attempt.
Hardnys checks a leg kick.
Hardnys shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Agosto as he jumps to the side.
Agosto misses with a head kick.
Hardnys tries to clinch but Agosto moves out of range.
Hardnys with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Agosto to score with a decent uppercut.
Hardnys blocks the body kick.
Agosto stuffs the takedown attempt from Hardnys. Hardnys gets slowly back to his feet.
Agosto lands with a straight right. Hardnys didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Agosto misses with a double jab.
Hardnys fails with a takedown attempt.
Agosto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Agosto does no damage.
Hardnys blocks a head kick by Agosto.
Hardnys fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardnys gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nico Agosto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Agosto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nico Agosto!