PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Johnsen (ranked 2439 p4p, 308 weight class) and Pierce Harper (ranked 3459 p4p, 397 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnsen
vs
Harper

185 cm
26
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

187 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Condemned

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronnie Johnsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pierce Harper!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnsen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Harper to the ground. Johnsen is now in Harper's guard.
Harper seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Harper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harper controlling the position.
Johnsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Our spies down at at London's Elite Grappler's PLUS inform us that Harper has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Harper keeping moving, preventing Johnsen from controlling successfully.
Harper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnsen is aware though and is defending well.
Harper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnsen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnsen throwing strikes from guard but Harper blocks nicely.
Johnsen stays in close to Harper's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnsen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Harper's guard.
Johnsen throwing shots but Harper is blocking nicely.
Harper is looking for a sweep. Johnsen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnsen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnsen wants to control but Harper is keeping him busy.
Harper trying to hold on to Johnsen's head to control him but Johnsen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnsen.
Johnsen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnsen throwing shots but Harper is blocking nicely.
Harper is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnsen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnsen's back!
Harper really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Johnsen.
Johnsen just trying to survive but Harper is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Harper tightening his grip on Johnsen, looking for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnsen wants to control his opponent's hands but Harper gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pierce Harper will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harper moves away.

Johnsen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnsen showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnsen wants to control but Harper is keeping him busy.
Harper tries to get to full guard but Johnsen has control of the leg.

Harper manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Johnsen keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Johnsen manages to break the clinch.
Johnsen lands with a shot to the body.

Harper feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnsen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnsen wants to sweep here but Harper controlling him for the moment.
Harper pushes down on Johnsen's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsen wants to sweep but Harper has passed to side control!
Johnsen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnsen keeps working.
Harper lands a nice forearm strike.

Harper decides to stand back up.

Johnsen dives in and scores a takedown into Harper's guard.

Harper scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Harper tries to clinch but Johnsen is having none of it.
Johnsen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnsen stuffs the takedown attempt from Harper. Harper gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnsen is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Harper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnsen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Harper.
Johnsen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Harper is looking to clinch but Johnsen is avoiding it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ronnie Johnsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierce Harper.

Harper moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnsen has Harper pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Johnsen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Harper tumbling to the mat - Johnsen dives into Harper's guard.
Johnsen with a nice head shot there.

Johnsen throws a sloppy strike and Harper has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Johnsen is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Harper!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pierce Harper!