PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalervo Paukku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalervo Paukku will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hardy
vs
Paukku

186 cm
21
205 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

205 cm
20
210 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, George Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalervo Paukku!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paukku lands a nice looking body shot.
Paukku throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hardy counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Paukku!

Paukku somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Paukku rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hardy throws a left and a right that both miss
and Paukku counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Paukku is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hardy throws a half hearted mid kick.
Paukku throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Hardy.
Hardy turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Paukku avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Hardy throws a leg kick
and Paukku counters with a stiff right hand.
Hardy keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Paukku throws a hook but Hardy avoids it easily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hardy.
Hardy closes the distance and lands a one-two.
George Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paukku looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hardy looks to land a combination. Paukku sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Hardy lands a big head kick that sends Paukku tumbling to the mat! Hardy takes a step backwards and waves Paukku back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Kalervo Paukku has been cut.
Paukku throws a combination that misses
and Hardy counters with a low kick, right behind Paukku 's knee.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paukku showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hardy.
Paukku on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hardy just misses with a punch to the body.
Hardy throws a head kick but Paukku moves out of range.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Paukku moves out of range easily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hardy.
Hardy lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Paukku blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Hardy throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses.
Paukku avoids a punch combination nicely.
Paukku misses with a double jab.
Paukku falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hardy makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Paukku avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Paukku lands with a hook. Hardy tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A good leg kick by Hardy.
Paukku takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hardy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardy lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hardy connects with a high kick.
Hardy pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hardy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Paukku counters with a nice uppercut.
Paukku connects with a nice looking jab.
Hardy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Paukku to score with a decent uppercut.
Paukku connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hardy misses with a combination
and Hardy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Paukku swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Paukku has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hardy misses with a leg kick.
Hardy throws a head kick but Paukku moves out of range.
Paukku digs a good body shot into Hardy's ribs.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses.
Paukku misses with a few strikes there.
Paukku misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Paukku throws a lazy right hand but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Paukku looks to land a left hand but Hardy moved out of range nicely.
Paukku lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hardy at a distance.
Hardy falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Paukku counter with a right hand.
Paukku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hardy. Hardy circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A big left from Hardy misses.
Hardy misses with a head kick.
Hardy is looking to land body kicks.
No joy there for Paukku, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Paukku misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hardy drops his hands momentarily and Paukku takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy avoids the body shot from Paukku.
Hardy finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Hardy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kalervo Paukku's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paukku avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hardy takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hardy throws a leg kick but Paukku sees it coming and moves out of range.
Paukku moves out of range of the body kick from Hardy.
Hardy is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hardy with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hardy misses with a double jab
and Paukku counters with a three punch combo that has Hardy backing up. Hardy nods at Paukku to acknowledge the strikes.
Paukku connects with a body shot.
George Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Hardy.
Hardy misses with a kick to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Paukku. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Paukku is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Paukku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hardy circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paukku misses with a two punch combination.
Paukku will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hardy scores with a leg kick.
Hardy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Paukku.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Paukku in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Paukku misses with a two punch combination.
That kick from Hardy tenderised Paukku's leg. Paukku is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hardy blocks a leg kick.
Hardy plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Both fighters circling a little - Hardy finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
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 misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Paukku, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paukku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hardy moves out of range as Paukku strikes.
Hardy connects with a high kick.
Paukku swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hardy misses with a wild body shot.
Paukku moves out of range as Hardy throws a body kick.
Hardy throws a head kick that Paukku semi-blocks.
Paukku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hardy wants to land a leg kick but Paukku is out of range.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Paukku moves out of range easily.
Hardy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Paukku counters with a stiff right hand.
Paukku misses with a low kick.
Hardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paukku scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Paukku cracks a nice hook into Hardy's ribs.
Paukku scores with a nice right hand.
Hardy walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Paukku lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Paukku connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Paukku wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Paukku misses with a low kick.
Hardy fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Paukku checks it well.
Paukku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hardy manages to avoid it.
Hardy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Paukku.
Hardy takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a head kick but Paukku moves out of range.
Paukku throws a series of punches but Hardy moves out of range.
Hardy checks the leg kick nicely there.
Paukku blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Hardy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Paukku to counter with a crisp jab.
George Hardy is winning the standup battle so far.
Paukku works Hardy's body with a nice hook.
Paukku throws a combination. Hardy tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paukku fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hardy blocks a leg kick.
Paukku misses with a wild combination.
Paukku's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Paukku lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A left and a right from Hardy both land. Nice combination.
Paukku takes a kick to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kalervo Paukku will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kalervo Paukku's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hardy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A left and a right from Hardy both land. Nice combination.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Paukku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
Hardy misses with a double jab
and Paukku counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Paukku.
Paukku throws a nice looking combination but Hardy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Paukku.
A head kick misses from Hardy.
Paukku fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hardy misses with a head kick.
Paukku finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A jab from Paukku does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy misses with a double jab
and Paukku counters with a two punch combo.
Paukku lands with a good body shot.
Paukku connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hardy momentarily.
Hardy throws a combination that misses
and Paukku counters with a one-two to the body.
Paukku thuds a left hand into Hardy's body.
Paukku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hardy circles away quickly and effectively.
Paukku takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Paukku scores with a three punch combo!
Hardy tries to bum rush Paukku with a series of wild strikes but Paukku uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hardy misses with a combination
and Paukku counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hardy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Paukku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paukku swings for the body but Hardy moves out of range.
Paukku avoids a punch combination nicely.
Paukku swinging wildly here.
A combination from Hardy does no damage.
Paukku throws a series of punches but Hardy avoids them all with ease.
Hardy misses with a wild combination.
Paukku tries to bum rush Hardy with a series of wild strikes but Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hardy closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Paukku feints a jab promting Hardy to slip. Paukku then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hardy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paukku takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Paukku chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hardy can pounce on him.
Hardy feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Paukku's calf.
Paukku avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Paukku checks a leg kick.
Hardy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Paukku.
Hardy misses with a double jab.
Hardy walks into a straight right hand from Paukku.
Hardy fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Paukku blocks a head kick by Hardy.
Paukku fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hardy looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Paukku scores with a nice strike.
Paukku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paukku takes a swing at Hardy's ribcage but misses.
Hardy throws a sloppy head kick and Paukku moves out of range easily.
Hardy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Paukku counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Paukku avoids the head kick by Hardy.
Paukku fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Paukku ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hardy walks into a jab.
No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Paukku does no damage.
Paukku connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hardy slips a jab and a cross from Paukku.
Hardy throws a nice outside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Paukku.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalervo Paukku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Paukku 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... George Hardy!