PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Hara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hara comes to the cage accompanied by Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple man. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rodrigo Santos enters the cage!

Hara
vs
Santos

185 cm
26
197 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

178 cm
20
195 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Hara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodrigo Santos!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hara misses with a series of wild punches.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown. Hara tries to sprawl out of it but Santos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hara manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Santos gets caught flat footed, as Hara shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hara sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hara slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Santos regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos manages to get to full guard.
Hara postures up and lands a big shot to Santos's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Santos looking for subs off his back but Hara has passed one foot through into half guard.
Santos moves into full guard.
Hara scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hara is looking to work some ground and pound but Santos has wrist control.
Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hara controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hara is one step ahead there.
Hara is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hara thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Santos being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Josh Hara.
Hara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hara stuffs the takedown.
Hara scores with a jab. Santos acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hara throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
Josh Hara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Santos.
Santos wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Santos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hara to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Hara got a little sloppy there for a moment and Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hara has managed to get both his arms back between Santos's legs - danger averted.
Santos looks gassed!
Hara is in close to Santos's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hara preventing the sweep.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Hara from controlling successfully.
Hara seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
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!
Hara looking to pass the guard.
Hara postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hara stands up over Santos, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hara trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hara tries to clinch there but Santos circles away.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Hara, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Hara against the cage but Hara circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hara tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.
Santos thows a body shot but no joy.

Santos pushes Hara up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos looking for a takedown.
Josh Hara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Santos.
Hara gets underhooks to prevent Santos's takedown attempt.
Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hara gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Hara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hara looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Santos is staying active underneath Hara, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Hara content to control rather than advance.
Hara lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hara looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Santos has hold of Hara's hands but Hara slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hara looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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. Hara connects with a nice short shot to Santos's temple.
Hara is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Santos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hara controls from within his opponent's guard.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Hara from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Josh Hara.
Hara looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
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!
Hara stuffs the takedown.
Hara takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hara wants to clinch up but Santos keeps it at a distance.
Hara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hara is looking to clinch.
Hara sizes up Santos with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hara takes the fight into the clinch.

Hara works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Santos has his foot on Hara's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hara works his way back into a safe position though.
Hara lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hara throws a big right hand that misses.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hara can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hara forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hara moves nicely into side control.
Santos takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hara scores with a couple of short elbows.
Santos is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hara is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Santos's shoulder. That is not cool.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hara wants to control but Santos is keeping him busy.
Hara looks up at the clock and then as Santos takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hara smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hara dominated that second round.
That's time! Hara's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd cheers as Hara lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santos doesn't seem phased though.
Hara doesn't manage to clinch there - Santos circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Hara 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Josh Hara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hara gets a clinch.
Hara scores with a shoulder strike.

It looks like Rodrigo Santos has been cut.
Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hara manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Hara with that takedown attempt.
Hara moves out of range of the leg kick from Santos.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hara takes the fight into the clinch.
Santos goes for a takedown attempt but Hara pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hara checks the leg kick.

Hara darts in and clinches Santos up against the cage.

Hara has hold of one of Santos's legs. Santos is fighting the takedown attempt but Hara gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Hara works over Santos with some ground and pound from guard.
Hara stands up over Santos, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hara wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Josh Hara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hara controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Hara gets to his feet. Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hara tries to clinch up
and Santos counters with a stiff right hand.
Rodrigo Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hara.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hara scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Santos to see if he's OK.
Santos struggling a bit here.
Hara cracks Santos with a big right hand but Santos just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hara controls the position.
Hara wants to control but Santos is keeping him busy.
Santos is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is not content to let Hara control the position.
Santos looking for a sweep but Hara has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Santos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hara with shots to the head and body - Santos looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hara lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hara controlling from mount.
Hara is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to hold on but Hara pushes him away.
Hara landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hara trying to control but Santos is having none of it.
Hara controlling the position easily from mount.
Santos is squirming around, avoiding Hara's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hara landing shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Hara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hara has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Hara!
In his post fight interview, Josh Hara gave a big smile as he said 'Rodrigo is a good grappler but I really wanted to show my striking skills!I had hard training sessions in K-1 Academy in Tokio and it was very useful for me! And thank to my manager,thank to OFC, thank to King, thank to Tristar gym thank to everybody!'.