PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karl Denke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Hardy will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Denke
vs
Hardy

175 cm
24
180 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

195 cm
29
187 lbs
25 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Nutrition
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karl Denke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Denke.
Denke looks to land a right hand but Hardy moved out of range.
Denke moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Denke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Hardy to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Karl Denke has been cut.
Hardy misses with a hook.
Denke looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hardy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hardy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Denke.
Denke moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Denke lunges at Hardy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hardy's hand.
Hardy walks into a stiff left hand from Denke.
Hardy misses with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy lands a nice shot that snaps Denke's head back.
Hardy lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Denke at a distance.
Hardy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Denke.
Hardy defending well as Denke loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Denke finds it's way through Hardy's defenses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Hardy 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.
Denke fails to land with a series of punches.
Karl Denke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Denke works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke misses with a double jab
and Hardy counters with a straight right hand.
Hardy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Denke lands with an overhand left.
Denke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hardy.
Denke doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Denke.
Hardy moves out of range of the strikes.
Denke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hardy throws a big shot that misses.
Denke defending well as Hardy loads up on a big left hand.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Denke avoids them all with ease.
Hardy drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Denke misses with a left hand
and Hardy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big right from Hardy misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denke needs to keep his hands up - Hardy had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hardy.
Denke throws a looping overhand right but Hardy ducks down to avoid it.
Hardy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It seemed like Hardy was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hardy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Denke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hardy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A little feinted left hand from Denke on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hardy moves out of range as Denke strikes.

Hardy gets tackled into the cage by Denke. Denke maintains the clinch.
Hardy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Denke.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A lazy left from Denke finds it's target.
Denke is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nice shot lands for Hardy.
Denke sizes up Hardy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denke dips to his left and cracks Hardy with an uppercut!
Hardy throws a big shot that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Denke misses its target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Denke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Denke throws a series of punches but Hardy moves out of range.
Denke fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hardy is out of range.
Hardy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Denke throws a series of punches but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy keeps the fight on the outside.
Hardy drops his hands momentarily and Denke takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Denke throws a hook but Hardy avoids it easily.
Hardy walks into a jab.
Denke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hardy.
A swing and a miss from Hardy.
Denke wants to clinch up but Hardy keeps it at a distance.
A little jabbing left from Hardy on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Denke works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Denke is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Denke instigates a clinch.
Hardy is trying to force a seperation but Denke has the dominant position.
Denke lands an elbow that stopped Hardy in his tracks for a moment.
Denke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Denke misses with an uppercut.
A little jabbing left from Hardy on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hardy on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hardy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Denke.
Hardy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hardy lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A big left from Hardy misses.
Denke connects with a looping right hand.

Hardy is rocked!
Hardy misses with a looping left.
Hardy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Denke.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hardy is still on wobbly legs! Can Denke finish him?
Denke fires a straight punch through the middle that cracks Hardy square on the jaw! Damn, Hardy is out cold on his feet and topples face first to the canvas! Wow, I haven't seen a knockout that brutal in a long time!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Karl Denke!
Karl Denke retains his welterweight title!
An out of breath Karl Denke thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.