PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brad Hall looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Harper
vs
Hall

191 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brad Hall!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harper misses with a body kick.
Harper lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Harper.
Harper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hall doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Harper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hall swivels and escapes.

Harper has closed the distance and engaged Hall in a clinch.
Hall wants a takedown but no success here.
Harper pushes Hall back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Hall has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Harper regains guard immediately.

Hall got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hall has managed to get both his arms back between Harper's legs - danger averted.
Hall looks gassed!

Hall thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hall won't allow Harper to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Hall from controlling successfully.

Hall stands and steps away. Harper gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Harper lands a jab-cross combination.
Hall swats away the attempt to clinch by Harper.

That's two 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.
Hall looks to clinch
and Harper counters with a left and a right that stings Hall.
Harper tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hall is able to avoid easily.
Hall throws a series of punches but Harper avoids them all with ease.
Harper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hall swivels and escapes.
The crowd cheers as Harper lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hall doesn't seem phased though.
Harper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hall shoots in for a takedown but Harper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hall rushes Harper and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Harper displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hall up against the cage.

Hall breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Harper clinches up with Hall and pushes him back against the cage.
Harper fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Harper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harper is looking to break free of the clinch but Hall has double underhooks.
Hall goes for a takedown attempt but Harper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Harper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hall as he jumps to the side.
Harper misses with the combination.

Hall closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hall decides to pull guard.
Harper throws a big right hand that misses.
Harper throwing strikes from guard but Hall blocks nicely.
Harper wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.
Hall is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hall wants to take a breather but Harper is having none of it.
Hall is thwarting Harper's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Hall dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hall misses with a body punch

and Harper holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Harper tries to pull guard but Hall holds him up against the cage and eventually Harper drops back down to his feet.
Harper tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hall just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hall's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Harper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harper jabs Hall right on the nose. Hall blinks but takes it well.
Harper avoids the body shot from Hall.
Harper scores with a body shot.
Harper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hall circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Harper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hall wants to clinch up but Harper keeps it at a distance.

Hall clinches up with Harper and pushes him back against the cage.

Hall's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hall changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harper tries to avoid it but Hall manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harper to the ground. Harper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Harper!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hall looks to clinch

and Harper holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Harper lands a shot to the body.
Harper scores with a shot to the side of Hall's head.
Harper throws a punch but it's blocked by Hall.

Hall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hall.
Hall shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harper as he avoids it easily.
Hall looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harper is fending him off so far but Hall persists. Nope, Harper circles away and we're back to standing.
Harper lands a jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Harper scores with a four punch combination!
Brad Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hall dives in and grabs Harper's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harper pushes down on Hall's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Harper.
Harper fails with a takedown attempt.
Hall keeps the fight on the outside.
Harper stuffs the takedown.

Harper closes the distance and clinches.

Hall breaks the clinch.
Hall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Harper.
Harper tries to clinch but Hall moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Harper blocks a jab.
Hall takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hall keeps the fight on the outside.
Hall dives in and grabs Harper's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harper pushes down on Hall's head and hops out.

Harper has Hall up against the cage in a clinch.

Hall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hall slips a jab and a cross from Harper.
Harper tries to work over Hall's front leg with a kick but Hall checks it.
Hall misses with a looping right.
Nice sprawl there from Hall as Harper shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hall connects with a solid leg kick.
Hall leaves Harper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Hall shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hall was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harper is squirming around, avoiding Hall's attempts to control the action.
Hall with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brad Hall will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hall throws a low kick, looking for Harper's leg but Harper calmly moves out of range.
Harper scores with a three punch combo!
Hall closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Harper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Harper's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Harper lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Harper is looking to break free of the clinch but Hall has double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harper wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hall has him pressed against the cage.
Hall keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harper's efforts to push away.
Harper pushes Hall back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Harper is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Harper.

Hall breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hall shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harper pinned against the cage. Harper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hall is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ben Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Hall.
Harper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hall sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hall tries to score a power double leg takedown but Harper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hall somewhat.
Harper shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Harper tries for a takedown but Hall sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hall is looking to clinch but Harper is avoiding it.
Hall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harper slips a jab and a cross from Hall.
Harper throws a head kick that misses.
Harper throws a series of punches but Hall avoids them all with ease.
Harper looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper shoots for a takedown but Hall saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hall shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harper keeps the fight on the outside.

Hall closes the distance and clinches.

Harper pulls Hall into guard.
Hall advances to half guard.

Hall is working for a kimura but Harper is defending it quite comfortably.
Harper wants to improve his position but Hall is controlling well.
Harper on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Harper tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben Harper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hall not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hall seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harper does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Harper looking for submissions off his back.
Brad Hall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hall throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Harper showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hall has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Hall!