PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Hunter (ranked 4570 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Harris (ranked 4566 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunter kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is This is America. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hunter
vs
Harris

183 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Axel Harris!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter shoots in for a takedown but Harris shows good takedown defense.
Harris misses with an attempted mid kick.

Hunter decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Harris makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hunter moves out of range of the body kick from Harris.

Hunter shoots in and bounces Harris off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Harris wriggles free and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harris sprawls well. Harris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
Harris shoots in looking for a takedown. Hunter tries to sprawl out of it but Harris keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hunter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Harris.
Hunter shoots in for a double leg but Harris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Harris enables Hunter to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Harris manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Harris pulls Hunter in close to his closed guard and prevents Hunter from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hunter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harris keeping full guard, as Hunter tries to pass.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Hunter from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter postures up and lands a big shot to Harris's brow.
Hunter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hunter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hunter prevents Harris from getting back to his feet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hunter's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hunter avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hunter thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Harris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter is looking to work some ground and pound but Harris has wrist control.
Hunter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hunter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Harris displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hunter.

Harris clinches up with Hunter and pushes him back against the cage.

Harris manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hunter lands a couple of elbows.
Harris avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hunter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harris keeping full guard, as Hunter tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harris has his foot on Hunter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hunter works his way back into a safe position though.
Harris has his hands on Hunter's head, controlling the position.
Harris manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hunter manages to get himself to full guard.

Hunter can't keep his opponent in guard - Harris advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hunter is trying to maintain the position but Harris is very close to passing his half guard.
Harris is trying to control the action in half guard but Hunter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Axel Harris dominated that round.
That's time! Hunter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Harris tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hunter swivels and escapes.

Harris instigates a clinch.
Harris holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hunter is looking to take this one to the mat.

Harris breaks the clinch.
Hunter tries to clinch but Harris moves out of range.
Harris leaves Hunter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris tries to land a front kick but Hunter steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hunter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Harris.
Harris just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Harris enables Hunter to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Harris manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hunter throws a strike but Harris rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Harris wants to control from the top but Hunter keeps moving.
Hunter controls Harris momentarily but Harris frees himself.
Harris wants to pass the guard but Hunter is keeping the position.
Hunter keeping moving, preventing Harris from controlling successfully.
Harris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harris missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris preventing the sweep.
Harris slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Harris trying to control but Hunter is working from the bottom.
Harris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hunter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harris sprawls well. Harris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hunter fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Harris to the ground. Hunter is now in Harris's guard.
Hunter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harris is keeping the position for now.

Harris has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hunter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harris pulls Hunter in close to his closed guard and prevents Hunter from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter scoring with some ground and pound.
Harris is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hunter is controlling him.
Hunter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunter being controlled here momentarily.
Harris is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Axel Harris will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hunter tries for a takedown but Harris sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Harris clinches with his opponent.
Hunter tries to break the clinch but Harris is controlling the position.
Harris's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Harris pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hunter darts in and clinches Harris up against the cage.

Harris wants the takedown. Hunter is fighting it off but Harris persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hunter's guard against the cage.
Hunter controls Harris momentarily but Harris frees himself.
Hunter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harris stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hunter dives in and grabs Harris's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harris pushes down on Hunter's head and hops out.
Harris throws a head kick but Hunter moves out of range.
Harris stuffs the takedown attempt from Hunter. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunter fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harris sprawls well. Harris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
Harris feints a counter leg kick.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harris but Harris pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hunter sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Harris somewhat.
Hunter with a lazy takedown attempt

and Harris counters by clinching up.

Harris gets control of Hunter's arms and successfully pulls guard. Harris will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Harris is pulling down on Hunter's head to control his posture.
Harris is trying to control the position but Hunter postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris can't keep his opponent in guard - Hunter advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Harris manages to get to full guard.
Harris tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hunter trying to control the position from guard on top but Harris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harris can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hunter with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hunter postures up.
Hunter throwing strikes from guard but Harris blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hunter sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Harris pulls Hunter in close to his closed guard and prevents Hunter from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hunter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Axel Harris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harris tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harris looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Hunter closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hunter lands in his opponent's guard.

Harris has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Hunter has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Axel Harris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harris has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Axel Harris!