PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Johns (ranked 4698 p4p, 3992 weight class) and Kody Harbrant (ranked 436 p4p, 408 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johns
vs
Harbrant

178 cm
26
155
3 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
155
8 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kody Harbrant!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harbrant uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johns.
Harbrant has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Harbrant tries to clinch but Johns moves out of range.
Johns throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And Harbrant tries to counter it with a takedown but Johns pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Harbrant misses with the combination.
Harbrant fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Johns throws a looping overhand right but Harbrant ducks down to avoid it.

Harbrant moves into the clinch successfully.
Harbrant tries to throw a body punch but Johns avoids it by throwing Harbrant back against the cage.

Johns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johns lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Harbrant at a distance.
Johns takes a swing at Harbrant's ribcage but misses.
Harbrant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johns swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johns takes a swing at Harbrant's ribcage but misses.
Johns throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Harbrant stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harbrant fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
John Johns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Harbrant clinches.

Johns breaks from the clinch.
Harbrant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johns swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Johns moves into the clinch.
Harbrant prevents the takedown attempt.

Johns breaks the clinch.
Harbrant uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johns.
Harbrant wants to clinch up but Johns keeps it at a distance.
Harbrant avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johns throws a low kick but Harbrant moves out of range easily.
Harbrant displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johns throws out the jab.
Harbrant feints the counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns throws a jab but it's blocked by Harbrant.
Johns rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Harbrant moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A swing and a miss from Johns.
Harbrant with the counter takedown but Johns avoids it easily.
Johns just misses with a punch to the body.
Harbrant is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A jab lands there for Johns.
Harbrant defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johns.
Harbrant tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johns manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johns looks to land a right hand but Harbrant moved out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johns lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johns connects with an inside leg kick.
Harbrant fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Johns checks it well.
A punch combination from Johns misses.
Harbrant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johns paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Harbrant has closed the distance and engaged Johns in a clinch.
Harbrant fails to pull guard.
Johns works on Harbrant's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Harbrant's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johns is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harbrant to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harbrant is trying to break free.
Harbrant is trying to pull guard but Johns has him pressed against the cage.
Johns is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harbrant to keep the fight standing.
Johns is stalling here.

Johns breaks the clinch.
Johns throws out a loose jab but Harbrant uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harbrant with the counter takedown but Johns avoids it easily.
Johns throws an overhand right that lands on Harbrant's shoulder, as Harbrant tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Harbrant tries to clinch but Johns moves out of range.
Johns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harbrant was well out of range. Poor timing from Johns.
Johns misses the jab.
Johns fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Harbrant has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Harbrant uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johns.

Harbrant gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johns breaks the clinch.
Harbrant is looking to clinch.
Johns with a nice calf kick.
Harbrant tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johns manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johns fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Harbrant slips a jab from Johns.
Harbrant shoots in looking for a takedown but Johns manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Harbrant's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harbrant.
Harbrant is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Johns keeps the fight on the outside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Johns dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johns swings for the body but Harbrant moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Johns.
Harbrant with the counter takedown but Johns avoids it easily.
Johns swings for the body but Harbrant moves out of range.
Harbrant throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johns's waist but Johns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harbrant off to one side.
Harbrant doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Harbrant takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johns closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Johns stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johns wants it to stay on the feet.
John Johns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kody Harbrant.
Johns scores with a jab.
Johns misses with an uppercut.
Harbrant is looking to clinch but Johns is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johns scores with a hook.
Johns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harbrant can do to turn this around?
Johns does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Harbrant changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Johns stuns Harbrant with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johns misses with a body kick.
Harbrant is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns misses with a jab to the body
and Harbrant counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kody Harbrant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johns waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Harbrant.

Harbrant instigates a clinch.
Harbrant tries to pull guard but Johns forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Harbrant manages to pull guard.
Johns wants to control from the top but Harbrant keeps moving.
Johns throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johns trying to control the position from guard on top but Harbrant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harbrant has control of Johns's left arm, preventing Johns from doing any damage.
Johns wants to control from the top but Harbrant keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harbrant has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johns can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johns trying to control but Harbrant is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Johns is really struggling to control Harbrant but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Johns seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johns looks to score with a jab to the body but Harbrant is just out of range.
Johns paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Harbrant shoots in for a takedown but Johns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Harbrant.
Johns throws a nice outside leg kick.
Harbrant wants to clinch up but Johns keeps it at a distance.
As Harbrant backs away, Johns returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Johns thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johns throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Harbrant takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Johns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harbrant checks the leg kick.
Harbrant with a poor takedown
and Johns counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johns's corner calls for a 1-2. Johns obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Harbrant checks a low kick from Johns.
Harbrant changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johns tries to avoid it but Harbrant manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johns to the ground. Johns escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johns misses with a right hand
and Harbrant counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harbrant ducks under a wild hook from Johns.
Harbrant feints the counter takedown.
John Johns is winning the standup battle so far.

Harbrant has closed the distance and engaged Johns in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Harbrant controlling the action here for a moment.
Our sources have told us that Johns has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Harbrant has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Johns breaks from the clinch.
Johns misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Johns dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Harbrant darts in and clinches Johns up against the cage.

Johns breaks the clinch.
Johns misses the jab.
Harbrant slips under a jab.
Harbrant changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Harbrant drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Johns throws a nice inside leg kick.
Harbrant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johns.
Harbrant changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Johns throws a poor cross that misses
and Harbrant counters with a right hand to the body.
Johns throws a jab when Harbrant was well out of range.
Harbrant tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johns manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johns slaps away a takedown attempt from Harbrant, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Harbrant ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Harbrant moves in looking to clinch but Johns pushes him off.
Harbrant tries to clinch but Johns is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harbrant clinches with his opponent.

Johns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harbrant staying out of range there.
Harbrant tries to clinch but Johns moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Johns misses the target.
Harbrant fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johns avoids it really well and circles away.
Johns pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johns throws a solid leg kick but Harbrant takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Johns.
And Harbrant tries to counter it with a takedown but Johns pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Harbrant gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harbrant lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Johns drops down looking for an ankle pick but Harbrant pulls his leg out and moves away.
A nice leg kick from Johns, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns throws a hook but Harbrant blocks it.
Harbrant with the counter takedown but Johns avoids it easily.
Johns misses with a hook.
Harbrant is looking to clinch but Johns is avoiding it.
Johns lands a nice hook to Harbrant's body. Harbrant takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Harbrant throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harbrant tries to clinch but Johns moves out of range.
Kody Harbrant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johns ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harbrant moves away.
Harbrant drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johns defends it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harbrant ducks right into an uppercut from Johns.

Harbrant moves into range and clinches up with Johns.

Johns pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johns throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harbrant forces Johns back against the cage and clinches.

Harbrant has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johns uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johns slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johns looking to sit in guard and control but Harbrant gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johns is pulling down on Harbrant's head to control his posture.
Harbrant preventing the sweep.
Harbrant throws a big elbow that misses.
Harbrant is fighting to break Johns's control of his arms but Johns is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Johns looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harbrant works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Harbrant wants to control but Johns is keeping him busy.
Johns is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Harbrant's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Harbrant's back!
Johns lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Harbrant hold on?!
Harbrant wants to control his opponent's hands but Johns gets his hands free.
Johns is punishing Harbrant with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johns just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Harbrant tries to break free.
John Johns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harbrant is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Johns showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johns, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Johns!