PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Benson Harlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Conway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harlow's entrance music is When You Were Young. A fine choice. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Harlow
vs
Conway

171 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Balco Boys - Hilo

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 New York, Benson Harlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Conway!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harlow shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Harlow was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Conway is bucking up trying to escape but Harlow cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Harlow in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Harlow lands a big shot there that rocks Conway but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Harlow scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Harlow looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Conway is looking to get to half guard.

Harlow moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Conway has worked his arm free - good work by Conway!
Harlow working the head with strikes.
Harlow is chipping away with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harlow connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Conway some visible discomfort.

Harlow is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Conway is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harlow lands an elbow.

Harlow swings around for an armbar but Conway sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Harlow's guard.
Conway landing with the ground and pound.
Harlow striking off his back but it's not causing Conway any problems.
Conway postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harlow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Conway.
Conway distracts Harlow with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Conway throws a big right hand that misses.
Harlow wants to sweep but no luck.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Harlow has his feet on Conway's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Harlow is breathing heavily.
Conway lands a jab.

It looks like Benson Harlow has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harlow scores a takedown into full mount!
Harlow avoids the attempt from Conway to control.
Harlow looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Harlow is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Conway to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Conway shrugs it off.
Conway has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Conway can't escape the position.
Harlow is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Conway taking shots to the head.
Harlow throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conway is looking to improve his position but Harlow isn't that keen on the idea.
BOOM! Harlow connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Conway is looking to get to half guard.
Harlow with the ground and pound from mount.
Conway slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Harlow throwing shots but Conway is blocking nicely.
Harlow lands strikes from half guard.
Harlow winds up and cracks Conway with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Conway is looking for a sweep. Harlow is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Conway is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Harlow scores with a couple of nice shots.
Harlow scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Conway is refusing to be controlled, as Harlow sits in half guard.
Harlow is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Harlow throwing shots but Conway is blocking nicely.
Harlow working the head and body with strikes.

Harlow wants to work for an arm triangle but Conway is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harlow is controlling the pace.
Conway wants to control but Harlow is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Harlow dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Benson Harlow's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Harlow decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Harlow thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Conway's head.
Harlow trying to control from half guard but Conway is working away.
Harlow looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Harlow throws a strike but Conway avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Harlow connects with a couple of short punches.
Harlow cracks Conway with a solid left hand.
Harlow throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Conway works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harlow throwing strikes from guard but Conway blocks nicely.
Harlow lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conway wants to stand and escape but Harlow is having none of it.
Harlow cracks Conway with a solid left hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harlow throws a big right hand that misses.
Harlow content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Harlow stands up over Conway, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Conway wants to get back to his feet but Harlow is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Conway looking to control.
Harlow lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Harlow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Harlow has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Harlow working some strikes from top position.

That's two 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.
Conway wants to stand and escape but Harlow is having none of it.

Conway had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Harlow defends it easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Harlow feints and as Conway raises his hands in defense, Harlow changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Harlow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benson Harlow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

Conway looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harlow working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harlow won't allow Conway to get back to his feet.
Harlow is in close to Conway's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Harlow connects with a couple of short punches.

Conway looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Harlow sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Harlow landing with the ground and pound.
Harlow preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Harlow lands a couple of digs.
Harlow cracks Conway with a solid left hand.
Harlow loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harlow in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harlow with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harlow landing some decent shots from guard.
Harlow is working Conway over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Conway had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Harlow defends it easily.
Harlow lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Harlow dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benson Harlow's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Harlow shoots in but Conway avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Harlow looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Conway is looking for a sweep. Harlow is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harlow lands a nice short elbow.
Conway is trying to stand up here but Harlow is controlling him well.
Harlow lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Harlow is trying to control the action in half guard but Conway is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harlow lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Harlow prevents Conway from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harlow scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Conway pushes Harlow off looking to stand but Harlow dives back in and keeps control.
Harlow works his foot free and advances to mount.
Harlow with shots to the head and body - Conway looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Harlow cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Conway slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harlow stops Conway from getting back to his feet.
Conway moves into full guard.
Harlow working some strikes from top position.
Conway keeping moving, preventing Harlow from controlling successfully.
Conway tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harlow with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Harlow with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Harlow tries to free his leg and advance position but Conway is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Conway has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Harlow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harlow working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Conway's head.

Conway is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harlow lands a couple of digs.
Harlow makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Conway has momentary wrist control but Harlow slips an elbow through the middle.
Harlow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Conway swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Conway wants to get back to his feet but Harlow is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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.
Harlow throwing strikes from guard but Conway blocks nicely.
Harlow lands a couple of elbows.
Jimmy Conway has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harlow working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Conway's head.
Harlow working some strikes from top position.
Conway striking off his back but it's not causing Harlow any problems.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harlow lands a couple of digs.

Conway is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harlow defends well.
Benson Harlow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harlow trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benson Harlow showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harlow, 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benson Harlow!