PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malietoa Tanumafili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Hardwick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardwick has chosen Elephant Man - Pon Di River as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tanumafili
vs
Hardwick

183 cm
23
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
220 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Malietoa Tanumafili !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jason Hardwick!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardwick throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tanumafili throws a combination. Hardwick tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hardwick shoots in but no luck this time.
Hardwick dodges the punch combination from Tanumafili .
Tanumafili lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tanumafili .
Tanumafili fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardwick walks into a straight right hand from Tanumafili .
Tanumafili fails to land with a series of punches.
Tanumafili throws a right hand that Hardwick ducks under and follows up with a left that Hardwick also avoids with ease.
Tanumafili fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hardwick manages to avoid it.
Hardwick swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tanumafili swinging wildly here.
Hardwick scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanumafili works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanumafili with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hardwick to score with a decent uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Tanumafili .
Malietoa Tanumafili is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tanumafili looks to land a right hand but Hardwick moved out of range.
A punch combination from Tanumafili misses.
Tanumafili throws a low kick but Hardwick moves out of range easily.
Hardwick lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tanumafili circles away quickly and effectively.
Tanumafili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hardwick paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hardwick swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tanumafili counters with a nice uppercut.
Horrible takedown by Hardwick or perhaps it was just good defense by Tanumafili which made him look bad.
Hardwick throws a body punch but Tanumafili moves out of range.
A shot to the body from Hardwick misses
and Tanumafili makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanumafili scores with a three punch combo!
Malietoa Tanumafili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanumafili throws a leg kick but Hardwick checks it.
Tanumafili throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hardwick.
Tanumafili fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardwick shoots in for a takedown but Tanumafili shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Malietoa Tanumafili has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Hardwick.
Nice cross by Tanumafili .
Tanumafili looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tanumafili misses with a wild combination.
Hardwick takes a swing at Tanumafili 's ribcage but misses.
Hardwick jabs Tanumafili to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tanumafili throws a front kick aimed at Hardwick's knee but Hardwick avoids it well.
Nice defenses there by Tanumafili .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanumafili misses with a two punch combination.
Hardwick throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardwick shoots in and drives through. Tanumafili sprawls well.
Tanumafili misses with a combination
and Tanumafili takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hardwick misses with a body shot.
Hardwick scores with a jab to the head.
Hardwick looks to score with a jab to the body but Tanumafili is just out of range.
Tanumafili wants to clinch.
Hardwick throws a push kick but Tanumafili slaps the foot to one side.
Hardwick uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tanumafili has time to react.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanumafili fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardwick throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tanumafili will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hardwick dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tanumafili moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook 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!
Tanumafili misses with a combination
and Hardwick counters with a straight right hand.
A combination from Tanumafili does no damage.
Tanumafili throws a right hand that misses

and Hardwick counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tanumafili is breathing heavily.
Tanumafili keeping moving, preventing Hardwick from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Hardwick dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tanumafili rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardwick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Malietoa Tanumafili is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanumafili keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardwick.
Tanumafili misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Tanumafili .
Hardwick swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tanumafili takes one on the button.
Hardwick looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hardwick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tanumafili avoids it really well and circles away.
Hardwick throws an off balance right hand
enabling Tanumafili to counter with a crisp jab.
A punch combination from Tanumafili misses.
Tanumafili lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hardwick backs up against the cage.
Tanumafili cracks Hardwick with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardwick throws a right hand that misses
and Tanumafili counters with a two punch combo.
Hardwick keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Tanumafili . Those never looked like landing.
Hardwick throws a nice looking combination but Tanumafili bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tanumafili throws a leg kick
and Hardwick counters with a straight right hand.
Tanumafili misses with a head kick.
Hardwick takes a swing at Tanumafili 's ribcage but misses.
Hardwick fails to land the takedown.
Hardwick is breathing heavily.
Tanumafili slips under a jab from Hardwick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hardwick.
Hardwick scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tanumafili throws a combination that misses
and Hardwick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hardwick needs to keep his hands up - Tanumafili had a free shot at his head there.
Hardwick shoots in for a takedown but Tanumafili shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Malietoa Tanumafili has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Hardwick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardwick ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tanumafili moves away.
Tanumafili scores with a nice body kick.
Tanumafili closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hardwick has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tanumafili fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hardwick on the side of the head.
Tanumafili swinging wildly here.
Tanumafili displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tanumafili walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tanumafili misses with a combination
and Hardwick counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanumafili throws a series of punches but Hardwick moves out of range.
Malietoa Tanumafili is winning the standup battle so far.
Hardwick throws an overhand right that lands on Tanumafili 's shoulder, as Tanumafili tries to avoid the shot.
Hardwick gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A combination from Tanumafili does no damage.
Tanumafili swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanumafili lands a jab.
Tanumafili avoids the body shot from Hardwick.
Tanumafili throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hardwick counters with a stiff right hand.
Tanumafili misses with a wild combination.
Hardwick looks to score with a jab to the body but Tanumafili is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hardwick.
Tanumafili is not content to let Hardwick control the position.
Tanumafili manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardwick looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tanumafili with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hardwick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanumafili keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Malietoa Tanumafili will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hardwick walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tanumafili cracks Hardwick with a good jab.
Tanumafili tries a low kick but Hardwick avoids it.
Tanumafili scores with a jab.
Hardwick ducks under a wild hook from Tanumafili .
Tanumafili throws a series of punches but Hardwick moves out of range.
Hardwick throws a body punch but Tanumafili moves out of range.
Tanumafili swinging wildly here.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tanumafili .
Hardwick shoots in for a takedown but Tanumafili shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hardwick looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanumafili misses with a few strikes there.
Hardwick on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A leg kick checked by Hardwick.
Tanumafili pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hardwick back to the cage. Tanumafili follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Tanumafili tries a low kick but Hardwick avoids it.
Hardwick misses with a two punch combination.
Hardwick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A swing and a miss from Tanumafili .
Hardwick jabs Tanumafili right on the nose. Tanumafili blinks but takes it well.
Tanumafili scores with a hook.
Hardwick misses with a series of wild punches.
Tanumafili swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hardwick scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick tries to land a front kick but Tanumafili steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tanumafili stuffs the takedown.
Hardwick throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tanumafili throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanumafili avoids a kick to the body.
A jab from Hardwick misses.
Tanumafili does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Good standup being displayed there by Tanumafili as he connects with a hook.
Tanumafili fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hardwick walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tanumafili uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hardwick has time to react.
Tanumafili clobbers Hardwick with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Tanumafili . Those never looked like landing.
Hardwick has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tanumafili 's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Tanumafili duly obliges.

Hardwick 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.

Tanumafili pushes Hardwick off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hardwick shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tanumafili swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanumafili throws a head kick but Hardwick moves out of range.
Hardwick looks to land a right hand but Tanumafili moved out of range.
Tanumafili lands a two punch combo.
Tanumafili tries to clinch but Hardwick moves out of range.
Hardwick shoots for a takedown but Tanumafili saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Malietoa Tanumafili has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Hardwick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardwick shoots and misses
and Tanumafili counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanumafili looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tanumafili lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Tanumafili pushes Hardwick up against the cage in a clinch.
Hardwick prevents Tanumafili from breaking the clinch.
Hardwick misses with some punches.

Tanumafili escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tanumafili lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Tanumafili will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardwick throws a jab when Tanumafili was well out of range.
Hardwick slips under a jab from Tanumafili .

And that's the end of the fight!
Malietoa Tanumafili showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tanumafili has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Malietoa Tanumafili !