PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Harada (ranked 1160 p4p, 150 weight class) and Jorginho Marcelo (ranked 1460 p4p, 176 weight class). Marcelo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by CSS - Alala. Jorginho Marcelo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harada
vs
Marcelo

169 cm
24
171 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Harada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorginho Marcelo!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Harada misses.
A jab from Marcelo misses.
We've been told by Harada's head coaches at 3Band MMA ($800/week) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Harada bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Harada takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Marcelo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Harada scores with a body shot.
Harada avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Harada connects with a nice looking jab.
Harada throws a low kick, looking for Marcelo's leg but Marcelo calmly moves out of range.
Harada connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Marcelo's hands.
Harada throws a shot to the body.
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!
Harada thows a left - swing and a miss!
Harada throws the left hand but Marcelo avoids the punch easily.

Harada sends Marcelo crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Harada is motioning to the referee to let Marcelo up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Marcelo is rocked!

It looks like Jorginho Marcelo has been cut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Marcelo has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Harada keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marcelo.
Marcelo misses with a straight left.
Harada appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harada avoids it really well and circles away.
No joy there for Harada, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marcelo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Harada scores with a jab.
Harada tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marcelo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marcelo checks a low kick from Harada.

Harada drops Marcelo with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Marcelo looks back up at him and smiles so Harada waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Marcelo is still on wobbly legs! Can Harada finish him?
Marcelo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Harada has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harada breaks the clinch.

Harada has closed the distance and engaged Marcelo in a clinch.
A short left from Harada.
Marcelo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haradas head.
Harada makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Marcelo is looking to take this one to the mat.

Marcelo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Marcelo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Marcelo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Marcelo controlling the position from side mount.
Marcelo seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harada stops Marcelo from passing to mount.

Marcelo is trying to get an arm triangle but Harada is defending well.
Marcelo controlling the position from side mount.
Harada gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

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.

Marcelo has control of Harada's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Harada regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Marcelo working for a submission but Harada is keeping him at bay.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marcelo is stalling here but it's allowed Harada to get half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Harada dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jorginho Marcelo's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Harada drops Marcelo with a beautiful combination! Marcelo stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Harada is looking for the KO!

Marcelo is rocked!

Harada closes the distance and clinches.
Harada prevents Marcelo from breaking the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Marcelo fails to land.

Harada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marcelo lands a nice looking body shot.
Marcelo loads up on a big right hand but Harada slips the punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marcelo keeps the fight on the outside.
Marcelo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harada moves away.
Harada is looking to counter punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Harada misses the target.

Harada closes the distance and pushes Marcelo back into the cage.
Marcelo is looking to control Harada's arms but Harada gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marcelo has his back to the cage.
Marcelo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Marcelo has a couple of punches blocked by Harada.

Marcelo breaks the clinch.
Harada throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Akira Harada is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada is looking to clinch.
Harada throws a good cross that connects.
Harada throws a series of punches but Marcelo moves out of range.
Marcelo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A telegraphed right hand from Harada misses the target.
Marcelo shoots for a double leg takedown but Harada sprawls well. He's pushed Marcelo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marcelo throws a jab when Harada was well out of range.

Harada drops Marcelo with a beautiful combination! Marcelo stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Harada is looking for the KO!
Marcelo is still on wobbly legs! Can Harada finish him?

That has opened up Jorginho Marcelo's cut even more.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Harada has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marcelo wants to take the fight to the mat but Harada manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marcelo.
Harada lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Marcelo throws a head punch that misses.
Marcelo wants to take the fight to the mat but Harada manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Akira Harada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorginho Marcelo.
Marcelo jumps guard but Harada stands there with Marcelo around his waist. Marcelo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Marcelo seems to have recovered his senses.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harada feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Marcelo sprawling to the canvas! Marcelo rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Harada finish him?!
Harada tries to clinch up.
And Marcelo tries to counter it with a takedown but Harada pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Harada darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Marcelo's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Harada before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Akira Harada!
An out of breath and clearly excited Akira Harada thanked OLIMPO for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).