PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Harpik (ranked 3084 p4p, 269 weight class) and Itzhak Weinstein (ranked 2932 p4p, 258 weight class). Stefan Harpik could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Itzhak Weinstein's chin.

Harpik
vs
Weinstein

200 cm
26
270 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

205 cm
21
270 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stefan Harpik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Itzhak Weinstein!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Chris Dean and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harpik looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Weinstein is fending him off so far but Harpik persists. Nope, Weinstein circles away and we're back to standing.
Harpik shoots for a double leg takedown but Weinstein sprawls well. He's pushed Harpik's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Weinstein is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Harpik with a body shot.
Harpik fails with the takedown
and Weinstein counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Harpik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harpik shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Weinstein but Weinstein pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Harpik backing away here, and Weinstein unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Harpik changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Weinstein looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ground and pound from Harpik seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Harpik looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Weinstein is avoiding damage well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weinstein taking a bit of punishment here - Harpik scoring with strikes.
Harpik misses with the ground and pound.
Weinstein wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We've been hearing that Harpik has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Harpik in side control, throwing shots but Weinstein defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harpik in side control lands a decent elbow.
Weinstein struggling a bit here.
Harpik tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Harpik cracks Weinstein with a big right hand but Weinstein just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Harpik staying calm.
The strikes coming from Harpik are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Weinstein is looking to regain half guard here but Harpik keeps moving and retains side control.
Harpik creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Weinstein is looking for a sweep.
Harpik misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harpik lands a decent elbow from side control.
Weinstein really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Harpik. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Harpik tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Harpik tries to score with some ground and pound. Weinstein controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Harpik working the head and body with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Harpik.
The strikes coming from Harpik are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Weinstein looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Harpik grinds an elbow into Weinstein's temple.
Harpik scores with a couple of short elbows.
Weinstein is not content to let Harpik control the position.
Harpik landing a few strikes.
Harpik tries to score with some ground and pound. Weinstein controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Weinstein manages to work his way to half guard, despite Harpik's best efforts.
Harpik with the ground and pound but Weinstein uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Harpik with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harpik cracks Weinstein with a solid left hand.
Harpik loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harpik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harpik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harpik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harpik trying to control but Weinstein is working from the bottom.
Weinstein being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harpik accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harpik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harpik trying to control the position from guard on top but Weinstein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harpik is really struggling to control Weinstein but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Harpik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Weinstein is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Harpik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harpik cracks Weinstein with a solid left hand.
Harpik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Weinstein is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harpik throws a big elbow that misses.
Harpik throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harpik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Weinstein swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harpik scoring with punches to the head and body.
Harpik keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Weinstein's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Harpik dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Weinstein leaves Harpik with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Harpik closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Weinstein quickly recovers to half guard.
Harpik throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Weinstein is refusing to be controlled, as Harpik sits in half guard.
Ground and pound from Harpik.
Harpik landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Harpik is keen to just control but Weinstein is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harpik working Weinstein over with strikes.
Weinstein is trying to get back to full guard.
Harpik sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Weinstein defending well though.
Harpik misses with a head shot. Weinstein uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harpik postures up and lands a big shot to Weinstein's brow.
Weinstein managing to control the position.
Harpik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Harpik throws a big right hand that misses.
Weinstein keeping moving, preventing Harpik from controlling successfully.
Harpik has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Harpik tries to free his leg and advance position but Weinstein is retaining full guard.
Harpik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harpik content to stall in guard here.
Harpik trying to control but Weinstein is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Weinstein is controlling Harpik's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harpik accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harpik lands a couple of digs.
Harpik loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harpik trying to control but Weinstein is working from the bottom.
Weinstein avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Harpik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Weinstein can do anything to dispel that myth.
Harpik throws an elbow that misses. Weinstein uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Harpik's guard. Nice move by Weinstein!

Harpik lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Harpik throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weinstein avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Harpik with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harpik throws a big elbow that misses.
Harpik preventing the sweep.
Harpik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harpik throws a big elbow that misses.
Weinstein trying to keep a closed guard but Harpik is proving a slippery customer.
Harpik throws an elbow that misses. Weinstein uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Harpik's guard. Nice move by Weinstein!

Harpik looking for a sweep. Not yet Harpik, not yet.
Harpik seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Harpik is trying to keep Weinstein in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weinstein stopping the sweep attempt from Harpik.
Weinstein trying to control but Harpik is working from the bottom.
Harpik wants to sweep here but Weinstein controlling him for the moment.
Harpik is trying to keep Weinstein in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weinstein would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Harpik fails with the takedown.
Weinstein is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Harpik with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Harpik dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Harpik doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Weinstein counters with a head kick that drops Harpik to the mat! Harpik scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Itzhak Weinstein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Weinstein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harpik with a poor takedown

and Weinstein counters with a crisp right hand that drops Harpik! Weinstein lets Harpik back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Harpik is rocked!

It looks like Stefan Harpik has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harpik with a lazy takedown attempt
and Weinstein counters with a thumping low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Harpik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harpik shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Weinstein counters with a stiff jab, followed by a cross and an uppercut! That's too much punishment for Harpik to take - he tumbles to the canvas, blood pouring from his nose, barely conscious. That's the end of the fight! Great knockout by Weinstein!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Itzhak Weinstein!
Itzhak Weinstein decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.