PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lars Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Nathan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lars Hard had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Hard
vs
Nathan

175 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
189 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lars Hard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ray Nathan!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nathan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nathan showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nathan lands a nice short elbow.

Nathan is looking for a kimura but Hard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nathan to get the leverage.
Nathan working over Hard with some ground and pound. Hard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nathan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nathan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nathan working over Hard with some ground and pound. Hard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nathan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nathan lands strikes from half guard.
Hard is looking for a sweep. Nathan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hard wants to control but Nathan is keeping busy.
Nathan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hard tries to get to full guard but Nathan has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nathan connects with a nice short shot to Hard's temple.
Nathan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hard is refusing to be controlled, as Nathan sits in half guard.
Hard wants to get back to full guard.
Nathan controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nathan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nathan winds up and cracks Hard with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nathan distracts Hard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hard wants to sweep but no luck.
Nathan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nathan is fighting to break Hard's control of his arms but Hard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nathan postures up.
Nathan looking to sit in guard and control but Hard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nathan seems keen to control Hard's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nathan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hard is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Nathan.
Nathan manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nathan is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nathan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hard.
Nathan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hard.
Nathan is trying to get back to full guard.
Nathan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nathan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hard pulls his head out easily.
Hard working the head and body with strikes.
Nathan is concentrating on defense, preventing Hard from advancing position.
Hard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nathan keeps working.
Nathan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hard wants to control but Nathan is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Nathan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nathan misses with a right hand

and Hard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nathan tries to score a body lock takedown but Hard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Hard has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Nathan is trying to keep an underhook but Hard manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hard throws a strike but Nathan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Nathan is pulling down on Hard's head. It's preventing any offense from Hard, at least for the moment.
Hard throws a big elbow that misses.
Nathan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nathan has momentary wrist control but Hard slips an elbow through the middle.
Hard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nathan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hard 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hard wants to control from the top but Nathan keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nathan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nathan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hard passes Nathan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hard throwing shots but Nathan is blocking nicely.
Hard looks to land a strike but Nathan avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hard throws a strike but Nathan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nathan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hard wants to sweep but no luck.
Hard has momentary wrist control but Nathan slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard trying to control the position.
Nathan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nathan postures up in Hard's guard and throws a big left but Hard blocks it.
Nathan connects with a couple of short punches.
Nathan wants to control from the top but Hard keeps moving.
Nathan preventing the sweep.
Nathan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nathan postures up in Hard's guard and throws a big left but Hard blocks it.
Nathan stopping the sweep attempt from Hard.
Hard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nathan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nathan throws a big right hand that misses.
Nathan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nathan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nathan lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nathan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nathan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nathan trying to control but Hard is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hard has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hard there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nathan throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Hard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nathan prevents it.
Nathan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Nathan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hard slaps away a takedown attempt from Nathan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lars Hard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Nathan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nathan misses with an uppercut. Hard saw that one coming.
Hard wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hard fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ray Nathan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Hard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nathan misses with a right hand

and Hard moves into the clinch.
Hard wants a takedown.
Nathan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nathan wants a takedown.
Hard blocks the elbow strike.
Nathan is trying to drag Hard to the mat but Hard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lars Hard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Nathan.
Nathan wants a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nathan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nathan shoots in looking for a takedown. Hard tries to sprawl out of it but Nathan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nathan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hard sprawls well. Hard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nathan gets slowly back to his feet.
Hard wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nathan misses with a takedown attempt

and Hard moves into the clinch.
Nathan is pressed up against the cage. Hard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nathan down to the mat. Nathan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nathan throws a hook but Hard avoids it easily.
Hard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Hard closes the distance and clinches.
Nathan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hard has picked Nathan up - he's going for a ride! Hard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Lars Hard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nathan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hard.
Nathan has hold of Hard's hands but Hard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nathan is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Hard throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nathan to regain full guard.
Hard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nathan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nathan controlling the position.
Nathan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ray Nathan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard throwing strikes but missing.
Hard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nathan has his hands on Hard's head, controlling the position.
Hard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nathan or perhaps it was just good defense by Hard, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nathan is defended easily by Hard.
Hard is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nathan.
Hard walks into a jab.

Nathan 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.
Nathan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Hard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nathan 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ray Nathan!
Ray Nathan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.