PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zahir Harden (ranked 2858 p4p, 2909 weight class) and Fred Dillinger (ranked 379 p4p, 0 weight class). Fred Dillinger will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Harden
vs
Dillinger

188 cm
25
180
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
177
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zahir Harden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fred Dillinger !
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dillinger scores with a sloppy right hand. Harden should have avoided that one.
Harden is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dillinger sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Harden fails with the takedown.
Harden keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dillinger .
Dillinger connects with a nice looking jab.
Harden fails with the takedown
and Dillinger counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zahir Harden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harden needs to keep his hands up - Dillinger had a free shot at his head there.
Harden shoots in looking for a takedown. Dillinger tries to sprawl out of it but Harden keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dillinger manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Dillinger was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harden throws a sloppy head kick and Dillinger moves out of range easily.
Dillinger throws an overhand right that lands on Harden's shoulder, as Harden tries to avoid the shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Dillinger scores with a four punch combination!
Dillinger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dillinger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillinger listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Harden closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Harden slows the pace down.
Dillinger tries to bench press Harden off him but Harden keeps the position.
Dillinger is still trying to improve position.
Dillinger stops Harden from passing to mount.
Harden scores with a couple of short elbows.
Harden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dillinger keeps working.
A lull in the action here as Harden stalls from top position.
Dillinger is not content to let Harden control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Dillinger 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dillinger really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Harden. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dillinger looking for a sweep but Harden has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Harden is landing with some decent strikes but Dillinger is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Harden get's back to his feet.
Harden shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dillinger counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
A telegraphed right hand from Harden misses the target.
Dillinger misses with a straight left.
A head kick by Harden misses
and Dillinger counters with a series of strikes. Harden will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dillinger misses with a looping left.
Nice uppercut lands for Dillinger . That snapped Harden's head back.
Harden misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillinger works Harden's body with a nice hook.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Harden.
Harden takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Harden throws a lazy head kick
enabling Dillinger to counter with a crisp jab.

Harden clinches up against the cage.
Harden prevents Dillinger from breaking the clinch.
Dillinger tries to break free but Harden pushes him back against the cage.

Dillinger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harden finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dillinger connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The fighters circling - Dillinger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dillinger connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dillinger lands with a straight right. Harden didn't see that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dillinger throws a right hand that Harden ducks under and follows up with a left that Harden also avoids with ease.

Harden drives through and clinches with Dillinger against the cage.
Harden stalling.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Harden.
Dillinger has had enough of the clinch but Harden keeps him there for the moment.
Dillinger is trying to break the clinch but Harden is controlling him.

Harden manages to pull guard.

Harden has his foot on Dillinger 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dillinger works his way back into a safe position though.
Dillinger has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Harden is proving hard to escape from.

Dillinger wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Harden's closed guard. He's half up but Harden has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Harden pivots and extends the arm, Dillinger falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Harden! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zahir Harden!