PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lyles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hardy
vs
Lyles

175 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Eric Lyles!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lyles gets caught flat footed, as Hardy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hardy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hardy looking to pass the guard.
Lyles can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hardy controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dan Hardy just wasn't active enough.
Lyles throws a combination. Hardy tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lyles throws a head kick that Hardy semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyles gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hardy counters by moving into the clinch.

Hardy has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lyles uses from the top position.
Hardy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hardy has a closed guard, preventing Lyles from standing up.
Hardy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hardy wants to stand but Lyles is controlling the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hardy holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dan Hardy has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lyles digs a good body shot into Hardy's ribs.

Hardy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lyles!
Hardy in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lyles sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hardy has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lyles!
Hardy with a couple of short strikes.

Hardy stands up from mount. Strange move.
A left and a right from Lyles both land. Nice combination.
Hardy tries to land a leg kick but Lyles saw it coming and moves away.
Lyles tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy blocks a head kick by Lyles.
Lyles looks winded!
A punch combination from Lyles misses.

Lyles gets caught napping as Hardy dives in and scores a takedown. Lyles manages to retain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hardy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that round.
That's time! Hardy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hardy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hardy shoots in but no luck this time.
Lyles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lyles smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lyles shoots in and drives through. Hardy sprawls well.
Hardy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lyles, right into the meat.
Lyles misses with a few strikes there.
Hardy tried to score with a low kick but Lyles checks it.
Eric Lyles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hardy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lyles, pushing him back against the cage.
Lyles tries to break free but Hardy pushes him back against the cage.

Lyles breaks the clinch.
Hardy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slow jab from Lyles misses its intended target.
Hardy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lyles paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lyles lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hardy circles away quickly and effectively.
Lyles rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hardy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lyles is breathing heavily.
Lyles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardy moves out of range as Lyles strikes.
Lyles tries to bum rush Hardy with a series of wild strikes but Hardy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Lyles, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Lyles tries to sprawl but Hardy drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Hardy seems content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Hardy wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hardy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lyles, pushing him back against the cage.

Hardy works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Dan Hardy wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lyles takes a swing at Hardy's ribcage but misses.
Hardy lands a right hook to the body.

Hardy gets the takedown into side control.
Hardy has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Hardy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy with shots to the head and body - Lyles looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hardy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hardy working Lyles over with strikes here.
Lyles is in a horrible position here. Hardy smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hardy cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hardy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hardy dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lyles with a poor takedown

and Hardy counters by clinching up.

Hardy gets control of Lyles's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hardy will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lyles would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hardy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hardy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Lyles is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Hardy has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Lyles is looking to defend but Hardy has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Lyles! Hardy pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Lyles taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Dan Hardy!