PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Hardy will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stewart
vs
Hardy

183 cm
21
185 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
187 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don Stewart!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stewart changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardy tries to avoid it but Stewart manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardy to the ground. Hardy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hardy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Hardy tries to sprawl but Stewart drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hardy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stewart.

Stewart wants to work for an arm triangle but Hardy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hardy has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Stewart missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hardy pushes Stewart off looking to stand but Stewart dives back in and keeps control.

Hardy manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Stewart keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the ropes.

Hardy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hardy connects with a body shot.
Stewart ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardy moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hardy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stewart stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stewart walks into a jab.
Hardy stuns Stewart with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stewart tries for a takedown but Hardy circles away easily
and Hardy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Brian Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart misses with a lunging right hand
and Hardy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stewart has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hardy stuns Stewart with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Hardy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hardy.

Stewart closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hardy did well to prevent Stewart getting side control.

Hardy manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Stewart keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the ropes.

Hardy breaks the clinch.
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!
Stewart shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Stewart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stewart looks for a takedown but Hardy sprawls well.
It seemed like Hardy was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Stewart takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hardy misses with a looping left.
Stewart moves away from the strike by Hardy.
Hardy scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stewart thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stewart darts in looking for a takedown but Hardy gets double underhooks and turns Stewart into the ropes.
Stewart dives in and grabs Hardy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardy pushes down on Stewart's head and hops out.
Hardy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hardy! But no joy.
Stewart throws a big shot that misses.
Stewart misses with a body shot.
Stewart throws a hook but Hardy blocks it.
Despite the aggression on Hardy's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Stewart moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stewart.
Hardy throws a looping overhand right but Stewart ducks down to avoid it.
Stewart slips a straight right by Hardy.
Hardy is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Hardy scores with a body shot.
Hardy slaps away a takedown attempt from Stewart, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy stuffs the takedown.
Stewart takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hardy connects with a body shot that sends Stewart's belly button to the back.
Stewart misses with a wild body shot.
Stewart 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 Stewart off to one side.
Hardy connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stewart moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hardy is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Stewart had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Stewart takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stewart misses with a right hand
and Hardy counters with a stiff right hand.
Hardy catches Stewart with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stewart tries for a takedown but Hardy circles away easily
and Hardy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardy scores with a nice head shot.
Hardy slips a jab from Stewart.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy connects with a crisp jab.
Hardy lands with a straight right. Stewart didn't see that one coming.
Stewart throws a hook but Hardy blocks it.
Stewart shoots and misses
and Hardy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stewart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardy.
Hardy has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Stewart misses with a takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stewart drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stewart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stewart is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Hardy's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Hardy misses with a body shot.
Hardy takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hardy looks to score with a jab to the body but Stewart is just out of range.
Stewart needs to keep his hands up - Hardy had a free shot at his head there.
A punch combination from Hardy misses.
Hardy slips a straight right by Stewart.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Stewart misses with a hook.
Hardy with a nice cross.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Hardy swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Stewart just misses with a punch to the body.
Stewart takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hardy misses the jab.
Stewart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hardy throws a shot from downtown. Stewart moves away and avoids it.
Hardy scores with a one two! Stewart had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stewart 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 Stewart off to one side.
Stewart shoots for a double leg takedown but Hardy sprawls well. He's pushed Stewart's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stewart gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hardy slips under a jab.
Hardy throws a series of strikes that have Stewart backpedaling.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stewart misses with an uppercut
and Hardy counters with a left to the body.
Hardy takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stewart tries to move into range but Hardy moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hardy throws a jab when Stewart was well out of range.
Stewart throws the left hand but Hardy avoids the punch easily.

Stewart closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Hardy wants to stand but Stewart is controlling the position.
Stewart wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.

Hardy manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the ropes.
Stewart is looking for a takedown.

Hardy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stewart looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hardy stuffs the takedown attempt from Stewart. Stewart gets slowly back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Stewart throws a body shot but no joy.
Stewart shoots and misses
and Hardy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hardy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stewart's head backwards.
Hardy lands a body shot.
Hardy lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stewart at a distance.
Hardy lands with a nice body punch.
Hardy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stewart attempts a counter takedown but Hardy avoids it well and moves away.
The fighters circling - Hardy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stewart fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hardy avoids it really well and circles away.
Hardy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hardy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stewart half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hardy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Stewart misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Stewart misses.
Hardy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Stewart looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hardy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stewart pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hardy misses with a wild combination.
Stewart gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hardy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hardy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stewart throws a jab but it's blocked by Hardy.
Stewart looks for a takedown but Hardy sprawls well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stewart. Hardy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stewart has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hardy finds it's way round the side to connect with Stewart's head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hardy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stewart circles away quickly and effectively.
Hardy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stewart stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stewart shoots in and drives through. Hardy sprawls well.
Stewart ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stewart slips a jab from Hardy.
Hardy connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stewart. Stewart circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hardy throws a hook but Stewart blocks it.
Stewart misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardy.
Hardy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stewart.
Hardy ducks under a wild hook from Stewart.
Hardy scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stewart fails with the takedown.
Hardy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Hardy dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Good standup being displayed there by Hardy as he connects with a hook.
Stewart misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Stewart has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stewart there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hardy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stewart.
Stewart throws a poor cross that misses
and Hardy counters with a nice uppercut.
Stewart throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hardy looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hardy throws a big shot that misses.
Stewart misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stewart avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hardy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A swing and a miss from Stewart.
Hardy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hardy throws a series of punches but Stewart moves out of range.

Stewart changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hardy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart prevents Hardy from escaping the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Stewart.
Hardy tries to escape but Stewart is in control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Hardy bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Hardy digs a good body shot into Stewart's ribs.
Stewart misses the jab.
Stewart takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Stewart throws a lazy uppercut
and Hardy counters with a nice uppercut.
Stewart tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hardy was well out of range. Poor timing from Stewart.
Stewart lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hardy at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a hook to the side of Stewart's head but Stewart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stewart with a poor takedown
and Stewart takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Stewart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hardy misses with the combination.
Stewart attempts a counter takedown but Hardy avoids it well and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A telegraphed right hand from Stewart misses the target.
Hardy with a nice cross.
Hardy scores with a jab to the head.
Stewart shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hardy counters with a stiff right hand.
Stewart shoots in but Hardy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardy changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stewart waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hardy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy leaves Stewart with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Brian Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stewart will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hardy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hardy lands with a hook. Stewart tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hardy lands a nice hook to Stewart's body. Stewart takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stewart shoots in and drives through. Hardy sprawls well.
Hardy connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stewart misses with a hook to the body
enabling Hardy to counter with a crisp jab.
Stewart throws a looping overhand right but Hardy ducks down to avoid it.
Hardy tests Stewart's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stewart has his takedown stuffed
and Hardy counters with a straight right hand.
Hardy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart slips under a jab from Hardy.
Stewart is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hardy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stewart moves out of range as Hardy strikes.
Hardy misses with a straight right.
Stewart lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hardy.
Stewart ducks under a wild hook from Hardy.
Stewart throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stewart closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hardy circles away.
Hardy stuffs the takedown attempt from Stewart. Stewart gets slowly back to his feet.
Stewart takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Stewart takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stewart misses with a hook
and Hardy counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hardy scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Stewart closes the distance and clinches up with Hardy, looking for a takedown. Stewart pushes Hardy against the ropes but Hardy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hardy moves into range and connects with a jab.
Stewart with a poor takedown
and Hardy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Good exchange - Hardy coming out on top.
A slow jab from Stewart misses its intended target.
A jab lands there for Hardy.
Stewart takes a swing at Hardy's ribcage but misses.
Stewart will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stewart misses with an uppercut. Hardy saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hardy! But no joy.
Hardy scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stewart tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hardy swivels and escapes.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hardy takes a swing at Stewart's ribcage but misses.
Nice defenses there by Stewart.
Hardy misses with a two punch combination.
A cross from Hardy lands.
Stewart slips under a jab from Hardy.
Stewart misses with a hook to the body
and Hardy counters with a stiff right hand.
Stewart misses with a takedown attempt
and Hardy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stewart gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stewart tries for a takedown but Hardy circles away easily
and Hardy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A combination from Hardy does no damage.
Stewart slips a straight right by Hardy.
Stewart shoots in but Hardy avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Hardy catches Stewart right on the button with a cross.
Hardy misses with a hook.
Hardy looks to land a left hand but Stewart moved out of range nicely.
Stewart walks into a stiff left hand from Hardy.
Hardy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stewart.
Hardy misses with an uppercut.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardy as he jumps to the side.
Stewart misses with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Hardy as Stewart shoots in.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hardy as he avoids it easily.
Stewart takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Stewart lands a jab to Hardy's midsection.
Hardy blocks a jab.
Hardy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stewart stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hardy scores with a punch to the head.
Hardy throws a body shot but no joy.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hardy as he jumps to the side.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy scores with a body shot.
Hardy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stewart.
Hardy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A swing and a miss from Hardy.
Hardy scores with a jab to the jaw.

Stewart scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hardy pushes Stewart off looking to stand but Stewart dives back in and keeps control.
Stewart not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stewart working Hardy over with strikes.
Hardy taking some punishment here, with Stewart in his half guard.
Stewart trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Stewart scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hardy is trying to stand back up but Stewart is controlling him
Stewart winds up and cracks Hardy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stewart trying to control the action but Hardy is working from the bottom.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Hardy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Hardy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hardy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stewart.
Stewart attempts a counter takedown but Hardy avoids it well and moves away.
Stewart shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the ropes. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hardy lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hardy moves out of range of the strikes.
Hardy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hardy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stewart has his takedown stuffed
and Hardy counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stewart misses with a wild body shot.
Stewart throws a lazy right hand but Hardy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stewart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hardy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stewart somewhat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hardy! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Stewart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stewart circles away quickly and effectively.
Hardy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stewart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stewart slips under a jab from Hardy.
Hardy throws a right hand that Stewart ducks under and follows up with a left that Stewart also avoids with ease.
Hardy slips a straight right by Stewart.
Stewart fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stewart steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hardy.

Stewart closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hardy did well to prevent Stewart getting side control.
Stewart missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to stand back up but Stewart is controlling him

Stewart is looking for a kimura but Hardy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stewart to get the leverage.
Stewart prevents Hardy from standing back up.
Hardy is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stewart scores with a couple of nice shots.
Stewart prevents Hardy from standing back up.
Hardy is staying active underneath Stewart, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Don Stewart overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stewart throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hardy is looking to escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy throws a lazy right hand but Stewart sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hardy stuffs the takedown attempt from Stewart. Stewart gets slowly back to his feet.
Hardy misses with an uppercut. Stewart saw that one coming.
Stewart has a takedown stuffed.

Stewart dives in and scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.
Stewart with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stewart throwing strikes from guard but Hardy blocks nicely.
Stewart trying to control the position from guard on top but Hardy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stewart with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hardy manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hardy throws a one two combo.

Stewart fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hardy sprawls well initially but Stewart persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stewart sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardy defending well though.
Stewart is trying to control the action in half guard but Hardy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stewart missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stewart throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stewart prevents Hardy from standing back up.

Hardy is defending against the submission attempts here by Stewart.
Hardy is looking to escape.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Stewart lands strikes from half guard.
Stewart looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hardy is trying to stand.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hardy looks to throw the jab but Stewart is out of range.
Stewart has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hardy finds it's way round the side to connect with Stewart's head.
Stewart with a poor takedown
and Hardy counters with a stiff right hand.
Hardy missing with a left hand there. Stewart was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Stewart shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hardy pinned against the ropes. Hardy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Stewart shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hardy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Stewart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stewart accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stewart trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Don Stewart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hardy keeping moving, preventing Stewart from controlling successfully.
Hardy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hardy is looking to stand up but Stewart isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice straight punches there by Hardy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hardy.
Stewart throws an off balance right hand
and Hardy counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Stewart shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stewart showed some decent athleticism there.
Hardy tries to kick Stewart off but Stewart keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Stewart is trying to work for a kimura but Hardy is defending well.
Hardy has hold of Stewart's hands but Stewart slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stewart scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hardy tries to kick Stewart off but Stewart keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Stewart is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hardy has managed to free his arm - good work.

Stewart seems to be working for a kimura but Hardy defends the submission attempt.
Hardy is trying to stand up here but Stewart is controlling him well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Stewart sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardy defending well though.
Hardy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stewart.
Hardy taking some punishment here, with Stewart in his half guard.
Stewart throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Stewart is trying to work for a kimura but Hardy is defending well.
Stewart throwing shots but Hardy is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stewart.
Hardy scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Stewart manages to mount him!
Brian Hardy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Hardy.
I've got Hardy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Brian Hardy!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Brian Hardy!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Brian Hardy!

Brian Hardy wins by unanimous decision!
Brian Hardy is the new welterweight champion!