PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arsi Harju (ranked 5075 p4p, 4240 weight class) and Boris Hornsworth (ranked 486 p4p, 454 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Harju
vs
Hornsworth

190 cm
19
266
1 - 4 - 0

205 cm
24
270
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arsi Harju!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Boris Hornsworth!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hornsworth shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Harju eats them both and turns towards Hornsworth to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Hornsworth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hornsworth 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.
Hornsworth throws a left and a right that both miss
and Harju counters with a nice leg kick.

Harju shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hornsworth napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Hornsworth manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harju is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hornsworth's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hornsworth's back!
Harju keeps control of the position easily here as Hornsworth tries to buck him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornsworth is trying to break free.
Harju controlling from the back.
Harju seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hornsworth for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harju not allowing Hornsworth to control his hands.

That's two 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.
Harju controls the position.
Hornsworth can't escape the position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Harju controlling the positon.
Hornsworth tries to escape but Harju has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hornsworth trying to control the hands but Harju breaks the grip.
Hornsworth manages to reverse the position and now he's in Harju's guard. Nice work there by Hornsworth.
Harju has Hornsworth pulled in close to control his posture.

Harju working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hornsworth doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hornsworth manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hornsworth has gone for a leg lock! Harju slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hornsworth's guard.

Hornsworth has momentary wrist control but Harju slips an elbow through the middle.
Harju lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Hornsworth looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harju might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Hornsworth has his foot on Harju's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Harju works his way back into a safe position though.
Harju controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hornsworth looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hornsworth looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harju looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hornsworth has momentary wrist control but Harju slips an elbow through the middle.
Harju passes Hornsworth's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Harju looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hornsworth trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Hornsworth working to try and regain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arsi Harju dominated that 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.

Harju has closed the distance and engaged Hornsworth in a clinch.

Hornsworth pulls guard.
Harju not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Harju chips away with some ground and pound.
Harju controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hornsworth controls Harju momentarily but Harju frees himself.
Harju content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harju stops Hornsworth from standing up.
Harju not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Harju throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Harju backs off Hornsworth throws a huge counter combo but Harju manages to avoid it all.
Harju takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Harju clinches with his opponent.

Harju decides to pull guard.
Hornsworth looking to pass the guard.

Harju has his foot on Hornsworth's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hornsworth works his way back into a safe position though.
Harju looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hornsworth is one step ahead there.

Harju is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hornsworth is aware though and is defending well.
Harju knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hornsworth on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hornsworth trying to control the position from guard on top but Harju is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harju is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hornsworth can do to turn this around?
Hornsworth being controlled here momentarily.
Hornsworth wants to control from the top but Harju keeps moving.

Harju looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harju preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hornsworth trying to control but Harju is working from the bottom.
Harju lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hornsworth working for submissions but it's allowed Harju to get to half guard.
Hornsworth gets full guard.
Harju sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hornsworth's guard.
Harju is looking to advance position but Hornsworth won't allow it.
Harju is working hard here to advance position.
Harju has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Harju lands a big shot there that rocks Hornsworth but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hornsworth gets back to half guard.
Harju keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Harju continues to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hornsworth pushes Harju off but Harju dives into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arsi Harju dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Harju tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Harju throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Harju takes the fight into the clinch.
Hornsworth on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Harju controlling the action here for a moment.

Hornsworth successfully pulls guard.

Hornsworth has an active guard here but Harju has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hornsworth actively working from the bottom here.
Harju keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornsworth is pressing down on Harju's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Hornsworth escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Harju gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hornsworth takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harju's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hornsworth has momentary wrist control but Harju slips an elbow through the middle.
Hornsworth throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Harju stands and throws Hornsworth's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Harju lands some shots froms side control.
A lull in the action here as Harju stalls from top position.
Arsi Harju overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hornsworth is looking to regain half guard here but Harju keeps moving and retains side control.
Harju moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
You can see the frustration on Hornsworth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Harju slows the pace down.
Harju has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hornsworth tries to bench press Harju off him but Harju keeps the position.
Harju lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Hornsworth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hornsworth is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Harju content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Harju lands a big head kick that sends Hornsworth to the canvas! Harju follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arsi Harju!
Arsi Harju decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.