PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuo Haruki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haruki has chosen Battle Without Honor Or Humanity - Tomoyasu Hotei as his entrance music. The key to victory for Alex Knight has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Knight
vs
Haruki

183 cm
19
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
149 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Juce Wear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kazuo Haruki!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knight lands with a kick to the ribs.

Knight gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Knight manages to pull guard.
Haruki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.

Knight throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Knight 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.

Haruki stands and steps away. Knight gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Haruki takes a kick to the side of the head.

Knight has managed to clinch.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Knight scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Knight passes to full mount!
Knight can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Haruki is looking to escape.
Haruki is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haruki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Knight really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Knight looking to control but Haruki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Knight is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Haruki is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Haruki taking shots to the head.
Knight tries to control but Haruki wriggling away.
Haruki is looking to improve his position but Knight isn't that keen on the idea.
Haruki looks gassed!
Haruki is in a horrible position here. Knight smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Knight breaks from Haruki's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Knight fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Knight prevents Haruki from getting the reversal.
Knight with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight controlling from the full mount.
Haruki swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Knight will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Knight with good strikes from the mount here!
Haruki is trying to escape the mount.
Knight trying to control but Haruki is having none of it.
Haruki tries to reverse the position but Knight maintains control.

Knight with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Knight landing shots from mount.
Knight trying to control but Haruki is having none of it.

Knight looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Haruki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight lands a big elbow.
Haruki is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Knight takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Haruki is trying to stand.
Haruki regains half guard.
Haruki wants to get back to his feet.
Haruki gets full guard.
Haruki looking for a sweep. Not yet Haruki, not yet.

Haruki looking for a guillotine here but Knight defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haruki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Knight passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haruki is trying to improve his position.
Haruki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Haruki looking for submissions off his back.
Haruki is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Knight jumps into side control!
Knight moves into full mount!
Haruki can't escape the position.
Knight postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Haruki looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Knight misses with a head kick.
Knight lands a head kick. Haruki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick from Knight lands but Haruki takes it in his stride.
Knight tries to close the distance and clinch but Haruki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haruki takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Haruki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Haruki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Knight holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Knight breaks from the clinch.
Knight goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Knight throws a head kick that half lands.
Knight scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Knight moves into the clinch successfully.
Haruki swings wildly with an uppercut but Knight uses good head movement to avoid it.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knight throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Knight lands a head kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knight throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knight lands a head kick. Haruki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight lands with a slapping head kick.
Knight plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Haruki throws a head kick that misses
and Knight counters with a nice low kick that buckles Haruki's knee momentarily.
Haruki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A good leg kick by Knight.
Haruki blocks a head kick by Knight.

Knight clinches with his opponent.
Haruki wants to stall.
Knight has Haruki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Haruki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Knight lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Knight is nestled in close to Haruki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Knight connects with a nice short shot to Haruki's temple.
Knight wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haruki keeps working.
Knight wants to stand but Haruki has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Haruki is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Haruki tries to get to full guard but Knight has control of the leg.
Knight trying to control the action but Haruki is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Knight throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Knight throws a head kick that Haruki semi-blocks.
Knight throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Knight.
Haruki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knight as he avoids it easily.
Knight throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haruki looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alex Knight has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuo Haruki.
Knight changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Haruki tries to avoid it but Knight manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Haruki to the ground. Haruki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Haruki shoots in but Knight avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Haruki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Haruki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Knight tries to avoid it but Haruki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Knight to the ground. Knight escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haruki takes a swing at Knight's ribcage but misses.
Haruki closes the distance and clinches up with Knight, looking for a takedown. Haruki pushes Knight against the cage but Knight circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Knight throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Haruki's head.
Haruki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Knight counters with a slapping leg kick.
Knight throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Haruki.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knight looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knight throws a head kick that misses.
Haruki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knight as he avoids it easily.
Knight tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haruki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Haruki takes a kick to the side of the head.

Knight gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Knight prevents the takedown attempt.
Haruki tries a body shot but Knight blocks it.
Knight is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Haruki manages to break the clinch.

Haruki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knight, pushing him back against the cage.
Haruki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Haruki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Haruki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haruki breaks the clinch.
Knight fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Haruki misses with a few strikes there.
Knight misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knight throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Haruki's head.
Haruki takes a kick to the side of the head.

Haruki is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Knight lands a nice shot to the body.
Haruki is still on wobbly legs! Can Knight finish him?

Knight moves into the clinch successfully.
Haruki can't break the clinch.
Haruki seems to have recovered his senses.

Knight breaks the clinch.
Knight moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Knight goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Knight gets a clinch.
Knight looking to stall.

Knight manages to break the clinch.
Haruki throws a lazy head kick
and Knight makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Knight clinches.

Knight successfully pulls guard.
Haruki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knight is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Knight wants to sweep here but Haruki controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Knight dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Knight tries to clinch up.
Knight with a lazy takedown attempt

and Haruki counters by clinching up.
Haruki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Knight is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Haruki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Knight gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Haruki can't break the clinch.
Haruki wants to get back to striking at distance but Knight won't allow it.
Haruki gets underhooks to prevent Knight's takedown attempt.

Haruki breaks from the clinch.
Haruki throws a head kick that misses
and Knight counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Knight throws a head kick that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Haruki breaks the clinch.

Haruki feints and as Knight raises his hands in defense, Haruki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Haruki stops Knight from standing up.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Haruki from controlling successfully.
Haruki throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haruki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haruki with a flurry of punches that miss.

Knight kicks Haruki off and gets to his feet.

Haruki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Knight is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Knight tries to kick Haruki off but Haruki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Haruki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Haruki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Knight is trying to get back to full guard.
Knight is trying to stand up here but Haruki is controlling him well.
Haruki controlling the action here.

Haruki is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Knight has managed to free his arm - good work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Haruki blocks a head kick by Knight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Knight throws a head kick that Haruki semi-blocks.
Knight closes the distance and clinches up with Haruki, looking for a takedown. Knight pushes Haruki against the cage but Haruki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haruki looks for a takedown but Knight sprawls well.
Knight misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knight tries to clinch up but Haruki circles away and keeps his distance.

Haruki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Knight!
Haruki working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haruki fails to move to back control.

Haruki stands up from mount. Strange move.
Knight tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Knight misses

and Haruki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Haruki.

Knight breaks the clinch.
Knight tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haruki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knight keeps Haruki at a distance using the push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight rushes Haruki and presses him up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Haruki fails to land.
Knight can't get the takedown.
Haruki tries to pull guard but Knight holds him up against the cage and eventually Haruki drops back down to his feet.
Knight prevents a takedown attempt there.
Haruki prevents Knight from breaking the clinch.

Haruki turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Haruki manages to end up in side control.

Haruki swings around for an armbar but Knight sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Haruki's guard.
Knight wants to get up but he can't break Haruki's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Knight trying to control but Haruki is working from the bottom.

Knight stands up and waves to Haruki to follow him.
Knight misses with a head kick.
Haruki fakes the leg kick and cracks Knight in the body.

Haruki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Knight's guard.
Haruki advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haruki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Knight has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Haruki but great work by Knight.
Haruki takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Knight working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Knight stands up and beckons Haruki to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haruki misses with a kick to the body

and Knight counters by moving into the clinch.
Knight keeps control of Haruki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Come on Knight - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Knight lands a shot to the body.
Haruki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Knight leaning his opponent against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Knight breaks from the clinch.

Knight 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.
Kazuo Haruki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knight preventing the sweep.

Haruki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuo Haruki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knight has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Knight!