PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chang Harmon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruce Rock has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harmon
vs
Rock

194 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chang Harmon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bruce Rock!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rock shoots in but Harmon avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Harmon darts in and clinches Rock up against the cage.

Rock's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice uppercut there from Harmon.
Harmon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rock dives in for a single leg takedown but Harmon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rock taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Rock breaks from the clinch.
Rock darts in looking for a takedown but Harmon gets double underhooks and turns Rock into the cage.
Chang Harmon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Rock.
Rock can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Rock is fighting off a takedown attempt but Harmon is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rock to the mat. Rock regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rock can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Harmon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Harmon trying to control but Rock is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harmon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Harmon trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chang Harmon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Harmon drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Harmon wants to control from the top but Rock keeps moving.
Harmon is fighting to break Rock's control of his arms but Rock is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Harmon wants to control from the top but Rock keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chang Harmon wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Rock moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harmon tries a body shot but Rock blocks it.
Rock looking to throw knees to the head but Harmon is blocking nicely.

Rock pulls guard.
Harmon trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harmon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rock is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rock has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Rock is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Harmon trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Harmon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rock wants to take the fight to the mat but Harmon manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rock is trying to pull guard but Harmon turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rock is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harmon has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chang Harmon dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rock throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harmon's waist but Harmon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rock off to one side.

Rock tries to sprawl but Harmon drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Harmon decides to stand up.
Bruce Rock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Rock. Those never looked like landing.

Harmon clinches.

Rock gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Harmon wants to get back to full guard.
Harmon wants to get back to his feet.
Harmon is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rock is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Harmon defends it well.
Harmon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rock is working away from the top position though.
Harmon won't allow Rock to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rock is nestled in close to Harmon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Rock moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Harmon.
Rock tries to advance to mount but Harmon denies him.
Rock controls the position.
Rock is breathing heavily.
Harmon is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rock wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Harmon, who protects the arm well.
Harmon is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rock off and has taken his back!
Rock is really stuck here.
Rock trying to control but not successfully.
A lull in the action here.
Harmon slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A lull in the action here.
Rock is really stuck here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harmon is looking for the choke from the back position but Rock is controlling his hands well.
Rock is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rock manages to reverse the position and now he's in Harmon's guard. Nice work there by Rock.
Rock postures up.
Harmon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rock slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rock must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rock wants to control from the top but Harmon keeps moving.
Harmon trying to keep a closed guard but Rock is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rock.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harmon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rock did well to prevent Harmon getting side control.
Harmon has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harmon looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rock is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chang Harmon will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rock has Harmon up against the cage in a clinch.

Harmon is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rock is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Harmon to the mat. Harmon regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rock works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Harmon moves into full guard.
Rock is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Harmon wants to stand up but Rock is controlling him.
Rock engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rock takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harmon is looking to sweep but instead, Rock has passed into half guard.
Rock is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Harmon wants to get back to full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Rock stands up and beckons Harmon to join him on the feet.

Harmon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rock keeping moving, preventing Harmon from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock controlling Harmon's posture.
Harmon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Harmon stopping the sweep attempt from Rock.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chang Harmon wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rock tries for a takedown but Harmon circles away easily
and Rock takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rock looks for a takedown but Harmon sprawls well.
No joy there for Harmon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harmon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rock.
Chang Harmon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Rock.
Harmon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rock fails to land the takedown.

Harmon looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rock!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harmon trying to control the position but Rock is working away.
Rock tries to bench press Harmon off him but Harmon keeps the position.
Rock is not content to let Harmon control the position.
Bruce Rock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on Rock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Harmon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rock keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chang Harmon wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rock tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harmon swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chang Harmon.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harmon, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chang Harmon!