PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Harden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Truculent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Truculent comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eye of the Tiger kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! James Harden has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Harden
vs
Truculent

176 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Harden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Truculent!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harden fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Harden lands with a cross.
Harden scores with a one two! Truculent had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Truculent shoots for a double leg takedown but Harden sprawls well. He's pushed Truculent's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Harden throws a right and a left that both miss.
James Harden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harden throws a series of strikes that have Truculent backpedaling.
Harden jabs Truculent right on the nose. Truculent blinks but takes it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Harden.

Truculent drives through with a takedown into guard.

Harden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Harden has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Truculent can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Harden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Truculent working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Truculent in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Truculent is pushing down on Harden's leg trying to pass to half guard. Harden is fighting to maintain full guard but Truculent has managed to sneak the leg through.
Harden throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Harden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Truculent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden is looking for a sweep. Truculent is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Harden is breathing heavily.
Truculent missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harden wants to control but Truculent is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Truculent shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Truculent thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Harden to regain full guard.
Truculent throwing strikes but missing.
Harden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Harden looking for a guillotine here but Truculent defends easily.
Harden keeping moving, preventing Truculent from controlling successfully.
Harden striking off his back but it's not causing Truculent any problems.
Truculent trying to control the position from guard on top but Harden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Truculent loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Truculent with a flurry of punches that miss.
Truculent throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Truculent working some strikes from top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Harden works over Truculent's head and body with a nice combination.

Truculent decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Harden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Truculent wants to control but Harden is keeping him busy.
Truculent thows a huge punch but Harden dodges it nicely.
Truculent missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Harden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Truculent scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Truculent throwing shots but Harden is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Truculent wants to take a breather but Harden is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Truculent closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Harden tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Truculent wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Truculent throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Truculent is looking to take a break and control but Harden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Truculent looks up at the clock and then as Harden takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Truculent smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Truculent tries to score with some ground and pound. Harden controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Harden is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Truculent off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on Truculent's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Harden tries to keep control of the position but Truculent is staying busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Truculent covering up well under a series of strikes from Harden.

Harden is looking for the choke from the back position but Truculent is controlling his hands well.

Harden working for the choke.
Truculent turns into Harden and is now in his guard.
Truculent wants to control from the top but Harden keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Truculent decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Truculent missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Truculent throwing shots but Harden is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Truculent is trying to control the action in half guard but Harden is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Truculent is thwarting Harden's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Harden dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Truculent closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Harden gets back to half guard.

Harden is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Truculent pulls his head out easily.
Truculent thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Harden's head.
Harden wants to get back to full guard.
Truculent looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Harden punching from the bottom.
Harden tries to roll over but Truculent keeps him under control.
Truculent not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Truculent closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice strikes from Truculent there.
Truculent throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden strikes from the bottom but Truculent uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Harden struggling a bit here.
Truculent looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Harden is avoiding damage well.
Truculent throws a strike aimed at the side of Harden's head but Harden avoids it well.
Harden tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Harden is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Truculent shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Harden's guard.
Truculent in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Truculent thows a big elbow that misses.
Truculent slips nicely into half guard.
Harden wants to improve his position but Truculent is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Truculent is trying to work for a kimura but Harden is defending well.

Harden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Harden is trying to get back to full guard.

Harden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Harden keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Truculent thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Truculent fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Harden sprawls well initially but Truculent persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Harden gets back to full guard.

Harden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Truculent postures up and lands a big shot to Harden's brow.
Truculent lands a couple of elbows.
Truculent trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harden trying to control the position.
Harden keeping moving, preventing Truculent from controlling successfully.
Truculent throws and elbow that misses. Harden uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Truculent's guard. Nice move by Harden!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Truculent had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Harden is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Truculent Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Harden's back instead.
Harden rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Truculent trying to control from half guard but Harden is working away.
Harden works his way to full guard. Good work.
Joe Truculent has got the better of the ground game so far.

Harden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Harden looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Truculent passes into half guard.
Truculent thows a huge punch but Harden dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Truculent showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Harden cracks Truculent with a right hand to the side of the head.

Truculent scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Harden regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Truculent.
Harden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Truculent.

Harden throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Harden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Harden has his foot on Truculent's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Truculent works his way back into a safe position though.
Harden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Truculent.
Harden throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Truculent postures up in Harden's guard and throws a big left but Harden blocks it.
Truculent missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Truculent throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Harden looking for a guillotine here but Truculent defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Truculent defending well as Harden loads up on a big left hand.
Harden throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Truculent sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Truculent fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Harden sprawls well initially but Truculent persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Harden avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Truculent.
Truculent seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Truculent sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Harden defending well though.

Harden actively working from the bottom here.
Harden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Truculent.

Harden actively working from the bottom here.
Harden has a hand on Truculent's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Truculent takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Truculent looking to finish with strikes here!
Harden is squirming around, avoiding Truculent's attempts to control the action.
Harden keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Harden is working hard here to advance position.
Truculent throws some wild stikes that Harden manages to avoid easily.
Harden tries to reverse the position but Truculent maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Truculent throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Truculent thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Truculent thowing shots but they're missing.
Harden is in all sorts of trouble here.
Truculent blocks Harden's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Truculent lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Harden hang on?
Truculent throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Harden working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Truculent throws some wild stikes that Harden manages to avoid easily.
Truculent lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Harden regains half guard.
Truculent missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Harden manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Harden 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.

Harden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Truculent accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Harden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Truculent is looking to work some ground and pound but Harden has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Harden.
I think Harden has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Harden!