PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Harding (ranked 1353 p4p, 176 weight class) and Dimitri Vasleyiev (ranked 677 p4p, 100 weight class). Harding kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bitch School. Dimitri Vasleyiev has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Harding
vs
Vasleyiev

182 cm
37
172 lbs
20 - 12 - 1

178 cm
29
170 lbs
18 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Bullet Proof System

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 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonathan Harding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Dimitri Vasleyiev!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harding takes one on the button.
Vasleyiev with a nice cross.
A nice leg kick lands there from Harding.
Vasleyiev misses with a head kick.
Vasleyiev misses with a body kick.
Vasleyiev tries to land a body kick
letting Harding counter with a right hand.
Harding does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Harding avoids the head kick by Vasleyiev.
Harding slips under a jab.
Vasleyiev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Harding to score with a decent uppercut.
Harding misses with a hook. Vasleyiev ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Vasleyiev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Harding scores with a head kick. Vasleyiev tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Harding tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vasleyiev was well out of range. Poor timing from Harding.
Harding thows a left - swing and a miss!
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!
Vasleyiev misses with the combination.
Harding has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Talu's Boxing Club in the buildup to the fight.
Harding fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vasleyiev manages to avoid it.
Harding lands a glancing blow to the side of Vasleyiev's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasleyiev throws a sloppy head kick
and Harding counters with a solid body kick.
Harding throws a leg kick that is checked
and Vasleyiev counters with an outside leg kick.
Harding is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vasleyiev throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Decent striking displayed by Harding there.
Harding throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Harding throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Harding swings for the body but Vasleyiev moves out of range.
Vasleyiev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Harding.
Vasleyiev slips a jab from Harding.
Vasleyiev throws a leg kick which misses Harding's front leg but catches the back leg as Harding tries to avoid it.
Vasleyiev jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vasleyiev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Harding checks it well.
A slow jab from Harding misses its intended target.
Harding throws a front kick that sends Vasleyiev stumbling back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Harding tries to keep at a distance but Vasleyiev has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Harding.
Harding tries to work over Vasleyiev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vasleyiev stalling against the cage.

Vasleyiev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harding takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Harding throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vasleyiev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Harding throws an overhand right that lands on Vasleyiev's shoulder, as Vasleyiev tries to avoid the shot.
Vasleyiev slips a jab from Harding.
Vasleyiev swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Harding fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Vasleyiev is out of range.
Vasleyiev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Harding.
Harding cracks Vasleyiev with a good jab.
Harding misses with a wild body shot.
Harding looks to land a left hand but Vasleyiev moved out of range nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Harding misses the target.
Vasleyiev moves away from the strike by Harding.
Vasleyiev steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Vasleyiev misses.
Harding throws a solid leg kick but Vasleyiev takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Harding.
Vasleyiev is looking to clinch.
Vasleyiev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Vasleyiev.
Harding throws a shot to the body.
Vasleyiev throws a series of strikes that have Harding backpedaling.
Vasleyiev avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Harding lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vasleyiev swings for the body but Harding moves out of range.
Vasleyiev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Harding connects with a jab.
Harding takes a kick to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harding throws a leg kick which misses Vasleyiev's front leg but catches the back leg as Vasleyiev tries to avoid it.
Harding throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Vasleyiev moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasleyiev throws a hook but Harding avoids it easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vasleyiev!
A nice leg kick lands there from Harding.
Harding checks a low kick from Vasleyiev.
Harding throws a leg kick
and Vasleyiev counters with a straight right hand.
Vasleyiev looks for the body kick but Harding saw that one coming.
Vasleyiev looks to land a combination but Harding avoids it well.
An attempted straight right counter from Harding misses the target.
Harding throws a shot to the body.
Vasleyiev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Harding was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Harding takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vasleyiev fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Harding has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasleyiev slips under a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Vasleyiev.
Harding ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Vasleyiev throws the left hand but Harding avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jonathan Harding will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harding walks into a jab.
Harding moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Vasleyiev has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Harding dips to his left and cracks Vasleyiev with an uppercut!
Harding swings widly with a right hand
and Vasleyiev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Harding lands with a shot to the body.
Vasleyiev thuds his shin into the meat of Harding's side.
Vasleyiev swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Harding throws a body punch but Vasleyiev moves out of range.
Harding wants to land a leg kick but Vasleyiev is out of range.
Vasleyiev feints a counter leg kick.
Harding misses the shot to the body.
Harding connects with a nice looking jab.

Vasleyiev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Harding.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right hand to the body from Harding.
Harding can't find room to land a body shot as Vasleyiev controls the action.
Harding's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Vasleyiev throws a punch but it's blocked by Harding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasleyiev slowing the pace effectively.
Vasleyiev throws a head punch that misses.
Harding lands a hook that snaps the head of Vasleyiev backwards.
Vasleyiev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Harding goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Harding is working Vasleyiev over against the cage.
A body shot lands from Harding.
Vasleyiev blocks an uppercut.
Vasleyiev swings wildly with an uppercut but Harding uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harding tries a body shot but Vasleyiev blocks it.
Harding presses Vasleyiev against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vasleyiev.
Vasleyiev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Harding misses with a body punch.
Harding tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vasleyiev's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Vasleyiev fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Vasleyiev.
A nice right hand lands inside from Harding.
Harding scores with a shot to the side of Vasleyiev's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasleyiev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vasleyiev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasleyiev lands a nice uppercut.

Vasleyiev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Harding uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vasleyiev.
Harding misses with a straight left.
Vasleyiev throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Harding connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Vasleyiev's hands.
Nice uppercut there from Harding.
Harding fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vasleyiev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vasleyiev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Harding.
Harding moves out of range of the body kick.
It looked like Harding was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Vasleyiev.
Harding throws a body punch but Vasleyiev moves out of range.
Vasleyiev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Harding.
A little jabbing left from Vasleyiev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Harding avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Vasleyiev misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding misses with a hook. Vasleyiev ducked under it nicely.
Vasleyiev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harding moves away.
Vasleyiev scores with a decent looking hook.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Harding.
Vasleyiev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Harding.
Vasleyiev thuds a left hand into Harding's body.
Harding misses with a wild body shot.
Vasleyiev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harding moves away.
Vasleyiev is looking to slow Harding down with leg kicks.
Jonathan Harding is winning the standup battle so far.
Harding slips a jab and a cross from Vasleyiev.
As Vasleyiev backs away, Harding returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Vasleyiev moves out of range as Harding throws a body kick.
Harding cracks Vasleyiev with an open hand slap.
Vasleyiev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Harding. Harding obviously looking to wear him down.
Harding fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vasleyiev manages to avoid it.
Harding fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vasleyiev manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasleyiev attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vasleyiev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vasleyiev on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Harding misses with an uppercut
and Vasleyiev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Harding bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Harding swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vasleyiev misses with an uppercut. Harding saw that one coming.
A clash of legs there as Vasleyiev blocks the low kick.
Vasleyiev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Harding throws a jab when Vasleyiev was well out of range.
Vasleyiev pivots, looking for a leg kick but Harding is out of range and Vasleyiev settles back down.
Vasleyiev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Harding counters with a stiff right hand.
Vasleyiev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Harding throws out the jab.
Harding throws an overhand right that lands on Vasleyiev's shoulder, as Vasleyiev tries to avoid the shot.
Vasleyiev throws a body kick that misses
and Harding counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Harding dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Harding throws a leg kick but Vasleyiev moved away.
Harding takes a swing at Vasleyiev's ribcage but misses.
Vasleyiev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Vasleyiev slips a straight right by Harding.
Vasleyiev looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Harding scores with a nice right hand.
Harding scores with a head kick.
A shot to the body from Harding misses
and Vasleyiev counters with a three punch combo that has Harding backing up. Harding nods at Vasleyiev to acknowledge the strikes.
Harding scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vasleyiev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Harding fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vasleyiev smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harding avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Harding slips a jab from Vasleyiev.
Nice straight punches there by Harding. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Harding.
Harding slips a jab from Vasleyiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Vasleyiev.
Harding checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Harding goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Harding tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Vasleyiev is able to avoid easily.
Vasleyiev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vasleyiev connects with a solid leg kick.
Harding throws a right hand that misses
and Vasleyiev counters with a body kick.
Vasleyiev misses with an attempted mid kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Vasleyiev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Vasleyiev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The fighters circling - Vasleyiev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Harding appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Harding ducks under a wild hook from Vasleyiev.
Harding steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vasleyiev.
Vasleyiev looks to land a right hand but Harding moved out of range.
Vasleyiev throws a leg kick
letting Harding counter with a right hand.
Jonathan Harding is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vasleyiev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harding missing with a left hand there. Vasleyiev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Harding throws a shot from downtown. Vasleyiev moves away and avoids it.
Vasleyiev throws a shot from downtown. Harding moves away and avoids it.
Harding throwing a counter right hand but Vasleyiev manages to avoid it.
Vasleyiev misses with a hook
and Harding counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harding lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Harding misses with a hook. Vasleyiev ducked under it nicely.
Vasleyiev thuds his right hand into Harding's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Harding throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Harding moves out of range of the leg kick from Vasleyiev.
Vasleyiev tries to land a leg kick but Harding saw it coming and moves away.
Harding tries a head kick but it misses.
Harding pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasleyiev throws an off balance right hand
and Harding counters with a slapping leg kick.
Harding scores with a jab to the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Harding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasleyiev connects with a nice looking jab.
Vasleyiev throws a hook but Harding blocks it.
Vasleyiev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Harding.
Harding chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Vasleyiev misses with a wild combination.
A counter left hand to the body from Harding misses its target.
Harding connects with a looping right hand.
Vasleyiev throws a right hand that Harding ducks under and follows up with a left that Harding also avoids with ease.
A left lands for Harding.
Vasleyiev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Harding misses with a hook
and Vasleyiev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheers as Harding lands an impressive looking overhand right. Vasleyiev doesn't seem phased though.
Vasleyiev misses with a double jab
and Harding cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dimitri Vasleyiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vasleyiev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bone on bone clash there as Harding blocks the leg kick.
Harding takes a swing at Vasleyiev's ribcage but misses.
Harding misses with a wild body shot.
Vasleyiev misses with a hook. Harding ducked under it nicely.
Vasleyiev walks into a left hand.
Harding scores with a head kick. Vasleyiev tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Vasleyiev misses with a double jab.
Vasleyiev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A telegraphed right hand from Vasleyiev misses the target.
Harding scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vasleyiev on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Harding walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Harding bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Vasleyiev's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathan Harding showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harding, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Harding!
During a confident post fight interview, Jonathan Harding thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.