PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Cervoni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Cervoni has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hard
vs
Cervoni

185 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

225 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Hard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Cervoni!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hard misses with the combination.
Hard wants to clinch.
Cervoni tries to clinch up but Hard circles away and keeps his distance.
Cervoni fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hard throws a right hand that Cervoni ducks under and follows up with a left that Cervoni also avoids with ease.
Hard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Cervoni looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hard is trying to stand back up but Cervoni is controlling him
Hard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hard tries to get out of the position.
Cervoni is looking to advance position but Hard won't allow it.
Cervoni content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hard wants to get back to his feet.
Hard is not content to let Cervoni control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hard wants to get back to his feet.
Cervoni passes to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cervoni working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hard tries to escape but Cervoni is in control.
Cervoni is looking to take a break and control but Hard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hard is trying to get back to his feet.
Hard is breathing heavily.
Cervoni working the head with strikes.
The referee asks Cervoni politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cervoni prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cervoni postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Cervoni decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Cervoni shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hard's guard.
Cervoni is pushing down on Hard's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hard is fighting to maintain full guard but Cervoni has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cervoni is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hard pushes Cervoni off looking to stand but Cervoni dives back in and keeps control.
Cervoni trying to control the action but Hard is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hard tries to clinch

and Cervoni counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hard wants to stand but Cervoni is controlling the position.
Cervoni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hard wants to stand up but Cervoni is controlling him.
Cervoni trying to control the position from guard on top but Hard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hard wants to stand up but Cervoni is controlling him.
Cervoni landing with the ground and pound.
Hard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hard wants to stand but Cervoni is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cervoni passes Hard's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hard looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cervoni closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hard circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Hard scores with a four punch combination!
Cervoni shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hard but Hard pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Hard moves into range and clinches up with Cervoni.
Cervoni tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hard smiles and moves away.
Dan Hard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Cervoni.
Hard lands the left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cervoni dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hard tries to clinch up.
Hard wants to clinch up but Cervoni keeps it at a distance.
Cervoni fails with the takedown.
Hard tries to clinch up.
Hard tries to clinch up but Cervoni circles away and keeps his distance.
Hard moves in looking to clinch but Cervoni pushes him off.
Cervoni fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hard moves into the clinch.
Cervoni tries to pull guard but Hard won't allow it.
Dan Hard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Cervoni.

Hard breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cervoni shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hard but Hard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hard is looking to clinch but Cervoni is avoiding it.

Hard closes the distance and clinches.

Hard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cervoni throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hard's waist but Hard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cervoni off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hard scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cervoni swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hard misses with the combination.
Hard keeps the fight on the outside.

Hard drives through and clinches with Cervoni against the cage.
Hard wants to get back to striking at distance but Cervoni won't allow it.

Hard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Cervoni closes the distance and pushes Hard back into the cage.

Cervoni breaks from the clinch.
Hard tries to clinch but Cervoni moves away

and Cervoni counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cervoni manages to break the clinch.
Cervoni tries to clinch but Hard is having none of it.
Cervoni fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard scores with a sloppy right hand. Cervoni should have avoided that one.

Hard gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hard manages to break the clinch.
Dan Hard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Hard does no damage.
Hard tries to clinch up but Cervoni circles away and keeps his distance.

Cervoni forces Hard back against the cage and clinches.
Cervoni tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hard wants to get back to striking at distance but Cervoni won't allow it.

Hard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cervoni tries to clinch there but Hard circles away.
Cervoni shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hard as he jumps to the side.
Hard stuffs the takedown attempt from Cervoni. Cervoni gets slowly back to his feet.
Hard misses with a double jab
and Cervoni counters with a series of strikes. Hard will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cervoni looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hard is fending him off so far but Cervoni persists. Nope, Hard circles away and we're back to standing.

Hard pushes Cervoni up against the cage in a clinch.

Hard manages to break the clinch.
Hard throws a shot from downtown. Cervoni moves away and avoids it.
Cervoni scores with a jab.

Cervoni drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cervoni trying to control the position from guard on top but Hard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hard wants to stand up but Cervoni is controlling him.
Cervoni is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hard wants to get back to his feet but Cervoni is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cervoni advances position into side control!

Cervoni tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cervoni has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cervoni wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hard keeps working.
Cervoni might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hard kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cervoni prevents Hard from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hard dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cervoni slips a jab and a cross from Hard.
Hard scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cervoni throws a shot to the body.
Cervoni closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hard counters with a left to the body.

Cervoni pushes Hard up against the cage in a clinch.
Cervoni lands with a left to the head.
Cervoni keeps control of Hard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hard can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hard as Cervoni tries to tie him up.

Hard breaks the clinch.
No luck for Cervoni with that takedown attempt.
Hard throws a hook but Cervoni blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cervoni will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cervoni shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hard as he avoids it easily.
Dan Hard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Cervoni.
Cervoni fails with a takedown attempt.
Hard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hard lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cervoni is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hard.

Cervoni gets a clinch.
Cervoni changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hard looks to clinch

and Cervoni counters with a shoot takedown. Hard fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnny Cervoni has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard is wriggling around but Cervoni manages to pass to half guard.
Cervoni is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hard!
Hard is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Cervoni unloading with bombs!
Cervoni can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hard is looking to escape.
Cervoni is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard'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.
Cervoni takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Cervoni gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Cervoni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
No luck for Cervoni with that takedown attempt.
Hard lands a really nice looking cross but Cervoni seems unphased.
Cervoni changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hard tries to avoid it but Cervoni manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hard to the ground. Hard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cervoni takes the fight into the clinch.

Hard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hard has closed the distance and engaged Cervoni in a clinch.

Hard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cervoni fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hard tries to clinch up but Cervoni circles away and keeps his distance.
Cervoni closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hard circles away.
Cervoni circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hard swinging wilding here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cervoni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cervoni 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Cervoni!