PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brian Hardy (ranked 1675 p4p, 196 weight class) and Lasse Alatalo (ranked 1198 p4p, 146 weight class). Brian Hardy is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Hardy
vs
Alatalo

195 cm
34
187 lbs
28 - 14 - 1

177 cm
32
176 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 28 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lasse Alatalo!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alatalo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardy.
We've been hearing reports that Hardy has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A lazy left from Alatalo finds it's target.
Jab, jab by Hardy - just one landing.
Hardy throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Alatalo lands a really nice looking cross but Hardy seems unphased.
Alatalo dips to his left and cracks Hardy with an uppercut!
Alatalo scores with a jab to the body.
Hardy with a poor takedown
and Alatalo counters with a straight right hand.
Hardy avoids the body shot from Alatalo.
Good standup being displayed there by Alatalo as he connects with a hook.
Alatalo slaps away a takedown attempt from Hardy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alatalo connects with a right hand. Hardy shakes it off.
Hardy throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Alatalo has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Alatalo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alatalo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hardy misses with a double jab
enabling Alatalo to counter with a crisp jab.
Alatalo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hardy on the side of the head.
Hardy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alatalo defends well and Hardy ends up having to push Alatalo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alatalo looks to land a left hand but Hardy moved out of range nicely.
Hardy feinted with a counter takedown.
Hardy misses with a takedown
and Alatalo counters with a left to the body.
Hardy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Alatalo to score with a decent uppercut.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alatalo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
Hardy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hardy cracks Alatalo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Alatalo throws a right hand that misses
and Hardy counters with a straight right hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alatalo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lasse Alatalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alatalo defending well as Hardy loads up on a big left hand.
Alatalo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alatalo jabs at Hardy's body.
Hardy scores with a nice strike.
Hardy misses with a left hand
and Alatalo counters with a straight right hand.
Hardy misses with a hook
and Alatalo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hardy swings widly with a right hand
and Hardy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hardy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alatalo sprawls well initially but Hardy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Alatalo has one foot on Hardy's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Alatalo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hardy tries for a takedown but Alatalo circles away easily
and Alatalo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hardy lands a nice shot that snaps Alatalo's head back.
Alatalo throws a jab but it's blocked by Hardy.
Alatalo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alatalo missing with a left hand there. Hardy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy misses with a leg kick
and Alatalo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alatalo now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Alatalo needs to keep his hands up - Hardy had a free shot at his head there.
Alatalo might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A jab from Alatalo misses.
Alatalo slaps away a takedown attempt from Hardy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
It seemed like Alatalo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hardy missing with a left hand there. Alatalo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alatalo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Alatalo checks a low kick from Hardy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Alatalo! But no joy.
Hardy on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Hardy looking to score a takedown here. Alatalo is defending well but Hardy drives through and ends up in Alatalo's guard.
Alatalo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hardy is one step ahead there.
Alatalo controlling Hardy's posture.
Hardy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy trying to control but Alatalo is working from the bottom.
Alatalo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Alatalo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alatalo controlling the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hardy wants to control from the top but Alatalo keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hardy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasse Alatalo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A shot to the body from Alatalo misses
and Hardy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alatalo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alatalo misses the shot to the body.
Hardy is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Alatalo misses with a straight left.
Hardy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Brian Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alatalo misses the jab.
Alatalo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hardy slips a straight right by Alatalo.
Hardy connects with a good right hand that stumbles Alatalo. Alatalo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Alatalo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hardy.
Hardy throws a nice looking combination but Alatalo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alatalo misses with a hook. Hardy ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy misses the jab.
Alatalo throws the left hand but Hardy avoids the punch easily.
Hardy misses with an uppercut
and Alatalo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alatalo sizes up Hardy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alatalo misses with a hook. Hardy ducked under it nicely.
Alatalo lands with a nice body punch.
Hardy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Alatalo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alatalo slips under a jab.
Alatalo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hardy.
Hardy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alatalo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alatalo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jab by Hardy.
Alatalo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hardy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Alatalo thinking.
Alatalo digs a good hook to Hardy's body.
Alatalo slips under a jab from Hardy.
A shot to the liver by Alatalo. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy throws a hook to the side of Alatalo's head but Alatalo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Alatalo.
Hardy misses with an uppercut
and Hardy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alatalo. Hardy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alatalo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hardy throws a right hand that misses
and Alatalo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alatalo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardy moves away.
Alatalo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hardy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Alatalo lands a nice hook to Hardy's body. Hardy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hardy with a poor takedown
and Alatalo counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Hardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alatalo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardy moves away.
Hardy feinted with a counter takedown.
Hardy connects with the punch.
Hardy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alatalo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hardy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy prevents Alatalo from getting back to his feet.
Hardy postures up.
Alatalo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hardy is one step ahead there.
Alatalo is trying to control the position but Hardy postures up.
Alatalo keeping moving, preventing Hardy from controlling successfully.
Alatalo controls Hardy momentarily but Hardy frees himself.
Alatalo pulls Hardy in close to prevent any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Alatalo wants to stand but Hardy is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alatalo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardy moves away.
Alatalo misses with an uppercut.
Hardy dives in for a single leg takedown but Alatalo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Alatalo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hardy looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hardy misses with a takedown attempt
and Alatalo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alatalo dodges the punch combination from Hardy.
Hardy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Alatalo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy looks to throw the jab but Alatalo is out of range.
Hardy with a hook.
Hardy takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasse Alatalo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hardy walks into a stiff left hand from Alatalo.
Alatalo connects with a single shot there.
Alatalo cracks Hardy with a right hand to the side of the head.
Alatalo just misses with a punch to the body.
Hardy lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Alatalo moves out of range easily.
Hardy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alatalo counters with a straight right hand.

Hardy closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy in side control, throwing shots but Alatalo defends.
Alatalo is trying to get back to his feet.
Alatalo can't do much from the bottom here.
Hardy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alatalo keeps working.
Alatalo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hardy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hardy wants to control but Alatalo is keeping him busy.

Hardy is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alatalo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Alatalo can't do much from the bottom here.

Hardy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hardy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Alatalo regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hardy trying to control the pace.
Alatalo is looking to improve his position.
Alatalo is trying to maintain the position but Hardy is very close to passing his half guard.
Hardy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Alatalo's head.
Alatalo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Alatalo wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alatalo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardy moves away.
Hardy throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Alatalo to counter with a crisp jab.
Lasse Alatalo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alatalo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alatalo scores with a hook.
Alatalo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hardy swinging wildly here.
Alatalo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hardy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Alatalo scores with the left hand. Hardy knows he should have avoided that one.
Hardy has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alatalo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alatalo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alatalo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Alatalo takes a swing at Hardy's ribcage but misses.
Hardy shoots for a takedown but Alatalo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alatalo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alatalo jabs at Hardy's body.
Hardy shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Alatalo eats them both and turns towards Hardy to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Alatalo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alatalo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Hardy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Alatalo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alatalo moves away from the strike by Hardy.
Alatalo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Brian Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hardy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alatalo counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lasse Alatalo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alatalo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lasse Alatalo!
After the big win, Lasse Alatalo made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Aspire Clothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.