PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Harlem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ninja comes to the cage accompanied by Astro Zombies. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ninja
vs
Harlem

185 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo Ninja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Peter Harlem!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ninja with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harlem counters with a good low kick that Ninja was not able to check.

Harlem clinches up with Ninja and pushes him back against the cage.

Harlem gets control of Ninja's arms and successfully pulls guard. Harlem will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Harlem pulls Ninja in close to his closed guard and prevents Ninja from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ninja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harlem doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ninja won't allow Harlem to get back to his feet.
Ninja working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harlem wants to get back to his feet but Ninja is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Harlem managing to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ninja is looking to work some ground and pound but Harlem has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ninja thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Harlem is looking for a triangle but Ninja pushes his legs off easily.
Harlem is pulling down on Ninja's head. It's preventing any offense from Ninja, at least for the moment.
Harlem wants to sweep but no luck.
Harlem utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ninja has gone for a leg lock! Harlem slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ninja's guard.
Harlem throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ninja is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two 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.
Harlem engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Harlem gets to his feet. Ninja looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Harlem looks gassed!
Harlem scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ninja misses with a takedown attempt
and Harlem counters with a big head kick but Ninja shrugs it off.
Ninja tries for a takedown but Harlem circles away easily

and Harlem counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Ninja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ninja is trying to stand back up but Harlem is controlling him
Harlem controlling the action here.
Harlem prevents Ninja from standing back up.
Harlem drops an elbow to the side of Ninja's head.
Harlem landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harlem is trying to control. Ninja wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harlem is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ninja is just riding it out for now. Harlem eventually gives up the hold.
Ninja has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet.

Ninja is defending against the submission attempts here by Harlem.

Ninja kicks off Harlem and gets to his feet.
Ninja gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Harlem moves into the clinch.
Ninja letting Harlem take a breather here.
Ninja wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harlem is pushing Ninja up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Harlem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ninja tries for a takedown but Harlem circles away easily

and Harlem counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Harlem works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Harlem prevents Ninja from getting back to his feet.
Ninja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Harlem with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Harlem postures up in Ninja's guard and throws a big left but Ninja blocks it.

Ninja has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Harlem off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Harlem is looking to clinch.
Ninja tries for a takedown but Harlem circles away easily
and Harlem counters with a head kick.
Ninja gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Harlem counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Harlem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Harlem dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Harlem forces Ninja back against the cage and clinches.

Harlem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ninja misses with a takedown

and Harlem counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Harlem.
Ninja is working for takedown but Harlem is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ninja tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Ninja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Harlem drags the fight down to the ground.
Ninja won't allow Harlem to get back to his feet.
Harlem pulls Ninja in to control the position.

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

Ninja drops back, looking for a kneebar! Harlem looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Harlem looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Harlem!

Harlem decides to stand back up. Harlem steps back and let's Ninja get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ninja manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Harlem on his heels. He'll look to pass Harlem's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ninja throws and elbow that misses. Harlem uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ninja's guard. Nice move by Harlem!

Harlem gets to his feet - Ninja follows without any prompting.
Ninja tries for a takedown but Harlem circles away easily

and Harlem counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Harlem.
Harlem prevents a takedown attempt there.

Harlem gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Harlem seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ninja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet.

Harlem looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Harlem stops Ninja from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harlem wants to pass the guard but Ninja is defending well.
Ninja looks like he's trying to stand up.

Harlem looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ninja tries to kick Harlem off but Harlem keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Harlem looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Harlem stops Ninja from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harlem lands a nice short elbow.
Ninja looks like he's trying to stand up.
Harlem seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ninja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Harlem is working for a kimura but Ninja is defending it quite comfortably.

Harlem is looking for a kimura here.
Harlem missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet.
Ninja is refusing to be controlled, as Harlem sits in half guard.
Harlem landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Harlem wants to work for an arm triangle but Ninja is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Harlem prevents Ninja from standing back up.

Ninja pushes Harlem off and gets back to his feet.
Ninja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Harlem counters with a takedown into side control.
Ninja is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Harlem asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Harlem trying to control the position but Ninja is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Harlem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ninja fails with the takedown

and Harlem counters by moving into the clinch.

Harlem has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ninja clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Ninja preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Harlem.
Harlem thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Harlem misses with an elbow to the head.
Ninja looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Harlem looking for the choke but no joy.
Ninja is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja is trying to remain composed but Harlem is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Ninja looking very determined here, making life difficult for Harlem.
Ninja controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Harlem scores with punches to the body.
Harlem cracks Ninja with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ninja from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Ninja has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Harlem.
Harlem tries to keep control of the position but Ninja is staying busy.
Peter Harlem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ninja is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Harlem is looking to control Ninja but Ninja is wriggling around and keeping busy.

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.
Ninja holding both Harlem 's hands and preventing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Harlem has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Ninja grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Harlem tries to keep control of the position but Ninja is staying busy.
Harlem misses with an elbow to the head.
Harlem struggling to land strikes to the head as Ninja covers up.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harlem cracks Ninja with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ninja from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Harlem is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ninja is defending well though. Harlem let's go of the attempt for now.

Harlem has his opponent's back but Ninja is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Harlem.

Harlem closes the distance and pushes Ninja back into the cage.

Harlem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ninja gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

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

Harlem pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ninja tries to score a power double leg takedown but Harlem sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ninja somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Ninja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ninja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Harlem moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harlem breaks the clinch.
Ninja has his takedown stuffed

and Harlem counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet but Harlem is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Harlem with a nice head shot there.
Ninja wants to stand up but Harlem is controlling him.
Rodrigo Ninja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harlem throws a big right hand that misses.
Harlem is looking to work some ground and pound but Ninja has wrist control.

Ninja pushes Harlem off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ninja throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Peter Harlem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Harlem clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Harlem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harlem has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Harlem!