PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Finn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ambitionz Az A Ridah. Finn is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Von Bondies - C'mon c'mon. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hardy
vs
Finn

178 cm
32
202 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

182 cm
40
197 lbs
37 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey Finn!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hardy misses the shot to the body.
Hardy throws a right hand that Finn ducks under and follows up with a left that Finn also avoids with ease.
Finn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Finn somewhat.
Finn shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Finn tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hardy defends well and Finn ends up having to push Hardy into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Andre Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Finn.
Hardy tries to break the clinch but Finn is controlling the position.
Hardy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hardy has a couple of punches blocked by Finn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hardy is looking to break free of the clinch but Finn has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hardy gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Finn manages to break the clinch.
Finn with a poor takedown
and Hardy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've been informed that Finn has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Hardy connects with a jab.
Hardy looks to land a combination but Finn avoids it well.
Nice uppercut lands for Hardy. That snapped Finn's head back.
Hardy fails to land with a series of punches.
Finn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hardy.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hardy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hardy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy blocks a jab.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Andre Hardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hardy fails to land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Finn. Hardy does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Finn misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot to the liver by Finn. Beautiful body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hardy is defended easily by Finn.
Hardy avoids the body shot from Finn.
Finn throws a looping overhand right but Hardy ducks down to avoid it.
Finn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hardy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Finn circles away quickly and effectively.
Hardy is trying hard to land a takedown here. Finn sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Finn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
Finn shoots for a takedown but Hardy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Finn is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hardy rather than just go for the knockout.
Finn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the cage. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Finn.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Finn avoids them all with ease.
Finn scores with a kick to the body.
Hardy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hardy tries to bum rush Finn with a series of wild strikes but Finn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Finn gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Finn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finn slips a jab and a cross from Hardy.
Hardy takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hardy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hardy misses with a series of wild punches.
Finn wants to clinch up but Hardy keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finn looks to land a right hand but Hardy moved out of range.
A jab from Finn finds it's way through Hardy's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Finn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Finn tests Hardy's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hardy misses with a double jab.
Hardy shoots in but no luck this time.
Hardy misses with a two punch combination.
Hardy dips to his left and cracks Finn with an uppercut!

Finn shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Finn engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hardy is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Soco na mãe - Stand Up Striking that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Finn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Finn looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Finn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hardy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Finn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Finn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finn throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finn wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Finn wants to pass the guard but Hardy is keeping the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finn won't allow Hardy to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A good leg kick by Finn.
Hardy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Finn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hardy's guard.
Finn wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
Finn is working Hardy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hardy is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Finn dives into side control.

Finn working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Finn laying and praying for a moment but Hardy takes advantage and regains half guard.
Finn working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardy taking some punishment here, with Finn in his half guard.
Finn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Finn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Finn is taking a breather. Hardy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Finn is keen to just control but Hardy is a slippery customer.
Hardy pushes Finn off looking to stand but Finn dives back in and keeps control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hardy wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Finn connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four 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.
Finn takes a swing at Hardy's ribcage but misses.
Hardy throws a combination that misses
and Finn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hardy scores with a nice right hand.
Finn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardy tries to avoid it but Finn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardy to the ground. Hardy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hardy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hardy takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hardy fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Finn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Hardy gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Finn to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Finn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hardy throws a series of punches but Finn avoids them all with ease.
Finn misses with a looping left.
Finn thumps Hardy with a low kick.
Hardy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Finn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hardy falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hardy.
Andre Hardy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hardy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice jab there from Finn.
Finn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hardy swats away the attempt to clinch by Finn.
Hardy takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Finn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
A big right from Finn misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finn shoots in and drives through. Hardy sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Finn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Finn looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hardy tries to get to full guard but Finn has control of the leg.
Finn trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Hardy trying to hold on to Finn's head to control him but Finn postures up.
Finn trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finn is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Finn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hardy wants to control but Finn is keeping busy.

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

Hardy drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Finn gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy prevents Finn from standing back up.
Hardy prevents Finn from improving his position.
Finn is looking to control Hardy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Finn avoid being mounted?
Finn is looking to improve his position.
Finn is positioning himself well to prevent Hardy advancing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Finn gets full guard.
Finn seems keen to control Hardy's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Finn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Finn misses with a looping right.
Hardy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finn shoots in and drives through. Hardy sprawls well.
Hardy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Finn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardy as he jumps to the side.
Andre Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Finn.
Hardy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Finn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Finn 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey Finn!
An out of breath Mickey Finn thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.