PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mazio Arnold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mazio Arnold has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Harper
vs
Arnold

187 cm
24
120 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

165 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brandon Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mazio Arnold!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arnold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Harper forces Arnold back against the cage and clinches.

Harper lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Well, if Harper is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Harper decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Harper gets a takedown into half guard.
Harper is thwarting Arnold's attempts to control the position.
Harper sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold is trying to maintain the position but Harper is very close to passing his half guard.
Arnold might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Harper haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Harper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
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 lack of action by Mazio Arnold.
Arnold looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harper is fending him off so far but Arnold persists. Nope, Harper circles away and we're back to standing.
Harper leaves Arnold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Harper leaves Arnold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Brandon Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mazio Arnold.
Arnold shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Arnold throws a head kick that misses

and Harper counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold missing with knees to the body.
Harper really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Arnold looks winded!

Harper works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Harper slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Arnold working for a triangle but Harper defends it easily.
Harper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Arnold throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold wants to stand and escape but Harper is having none of it.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Harper thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Harper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Arnold avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Arnold is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Harper is controlling him.
Harper throws an elbow that misses. Arnold uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Harper's guard. Nice move by Arnold!
Arnold wants to pass the guard but Harper is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harper holds on and takes a little breather.
Arnold is looking to stand up but Harper won't let him.
Harper controlling Arnold's posture.

We're going to have a standup here because Brandon Harper wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Harper shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Arnold has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Harper is working away from the top position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arnold looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Harper dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Arnold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arnold closes the distance looking to clinch
and Harper counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Arnold tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Harper defends well and Arnold ends up having to push Harper into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Harper manages to break the clinch.

Harper clinches up against the cage.
Arnold is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Harper is defending well for now.
Arnold is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Harper is defending well for now.
Arnold lands a nice knee to the body.
Harper on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Harper gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Arnold regains guard.

Arnold working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Harper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Harper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Arnold for as long as he can get away with.
Arnold trying to keep a closed guard but Harper is proving a slippery customer.

Harper gets to his feet. Arnold looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Arnold throws a head kick that misses.
Harper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Arnold.
Mazio Arnold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arnold is breathing heavily.

Harper shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Harper perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper stops Arnold from getting back to his feet.
Harper slows the pace down in half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Brandon Harper wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
No luck for Arnold with that takedown attempt.
Brandon Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mazio Arnold.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Arnold.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Harper shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harper wants to work for an arm triangle but Arnold is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Harper with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Arnold is trying to stand back up but Harper is controlling him
Harper sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold trying to control from the bottom.

Harper is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Harper controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Arnold has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Harper. Oh but Arnold has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Harper goes limp - he's gone! Arnold jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Mazio Arnold!
After the fight, Mazio Arnold was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.