PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ross Hardy (ranked 5319 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Nunez (ranked 5554 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hardy
vs
Nunez

167 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ross Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Nunez!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy looks to land a right hand but Nunez moved out of range.
Nunez shoots for a takedown but Hardy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Hardy gets a clinch.
Nunez has Hardy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hardy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nunez jumps guard but Hardy stands there with Nunez around his waist. Nunez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ross Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Nunez.
Nunez blocks a body shot from Hardy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hardy manages to break the clinch.
Nunez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nunez.
Hardy went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nice takedown defense from Hardy. No joy for Nunez on that attempt.
Hardy throws a right hand that Nunez ducks under and follows up with a left that Nunez also avoids with ease.
Nunez blocks a jab.
Hardy misses with a series of wild punches.
Nunez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hardy tries to bum rush Nunez with a series of wild strikes but Nunez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Nunez gets caught flat footed, as Hardy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hardy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nunez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throwing strikes but missing.
Nunez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hardy's guard.

Hardy being controlled here, momentarily.
Hardy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hardy tries to get out of the position.
Nunez wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Nunez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hardy is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nunez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nunez throws an elbow that misses. Hardy uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nunez's guard. Nice move by Hardy!

Nunez wants to sweep here but Hardy controlling him for the moment.

Nunez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hardy defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nunez has Hardy pulled in close to control his posture.

Nunez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hardy stays in close to Nunez's body and controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Hardy dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A big right from Hardy misses.
Nunez has a takedown stuffed.
Hardy is looking to counter punch.
Nunez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hardy's waist but Hardy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nunez off to one side.
Hardy leaves Nunez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hardy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nunez sprawls and moves away.
Ross Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Nunez.

Hardy closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Hardy is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nunez is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nunez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Nunez is working to get back to half guard.
Hardy landing strikes from the mount and Nunez is in trouble!
Nunez is trying to escape the mount.
Hardy avoids the attempt from Nunez to control.
Hardy is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nunez tries to hold on but Hardy pushes him away.
Nunez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hardy landing shots from mount.
Hardy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nunez on the ground.
Hardy landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hardy lands with some strikes.
Hardy is landing with some decent strikes but Nunez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nunez is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy controlling from the full mount.
Nunez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nunez wants to control but Hardy is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nunez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nunez is trying to maintain the position but Hardy is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Well, if Hardy is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nunez gets full guard.

Hardy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nunez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hardy has managed to get both his arms back between Nunez's legs - danger averted.
Hardy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hardy's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Hardy dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nunez tries for a takedown but Hardy circles away easily
and Hardy counters with a one-two to the body.

Hardy shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hardy was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hardy is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Nunez will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Nunez is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nunez wants to control but Hardy postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nunez is being controlled here.
Nunez is trying to control Hardy's posture but Hardy avoids it.
Hardy scores with punches from side control.
Hardy working away.
Nunez is trying to improve his position.
Nunez is being controlled here.
Hardy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nunez can do to turn this around?
Nunez tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hardy presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Nunez is desperately trying to improve his position but Hardy has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy controlling the pace for now.
Hardy landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ross Hardy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hardy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hardy has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nunez's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunez can't escape the position.
Hardy takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hardy lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nunez wants to hold on but Hardy pushes him away.
Hardy controlling his opponent.
Hardy raining down hammerfists from mount.
Hardy lands a couple of good shots and Nunez has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Hardy throwing damaging strikes from the back! Nunez could be in trouble here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy controls the position.
Nunez trying to control the action but Hardy just sinks the hooks in.
Nunez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Nunez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ross Hardy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hardy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Ross Hardy!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Ross Hardy!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Ross Hardy!

Ross Hardy wins by unanimous decision!