PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Harada (ranked 881 p4p, 22929 weight class) and Craig Altow (ranked 106 p4p, 622 weight class). Akira Harada could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Craig Altow's chin.

Harada
vs
Altow

169 cm
29
166
21 - 15 - 0

178 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Akira Harada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Altow!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harada throws a hook but Altow avoids it easily.
Altow avoids a punch combination nicely.
Altow defending well as Harada loads up on a big left hand.

Altow darts in and clinches Harada up against the cage.

Harada breaks from the clinch.
We've been told by Harada's head coaches at Lovelair's MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Harada scores with a crisp jab that stopped Altow in his tracks.
Harada misses with a low kick.
Altow moves out of range as Harada strikes.
Altow throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harada's waist but Harada gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Altow off to one side.
A swing and a miss from Harada.
Harada throws a shot from downtown. Altow moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harada moves into the clinch.
Harada has had enough of the clinch but Altow keeps him there for the moment.
Harada is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Altow's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Harada avoids the elbow strike from Altow, against the cage.
Harada misses with a body punch.
Altow is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harada to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Altow's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Altow drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Harada scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Akira Harada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harada tests Altow's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Craig Altow has been cut.
Altow blocks a head kick by Harada.
Altow wants to counter with a clinch but Harada pushes him away.
Harada looks to land a right hand but Altow moved out of range.

Altow closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Altow is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Harada gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Akira Harada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Altow.
Harada stops a takedown attempt from Altow.

Harada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akira Harada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harada stuns Altow with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Harada clinches up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Altow's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Harada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed right hand from Harada misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altow has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Harada finds it's way round the side to connect with Altow's head.
Altow avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harada tries to score with a low kick but Altow moves his leg out of the way.
A swing and a miss from Harada.
Harada ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Altow moves away.
Harada tests Altow's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A lazy left from Harada finds it's target.

Altow is rocked!

Harada closes the distance and pushes Altow back into the cage.
Altow is still on wobbly legs! Can Harada finish him?

Harada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Altow seems to have recovered his senses.

Harada gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Harada is pulling down on Altow's head to control his posture.
Harada bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Altow's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Altow keeping full guard, as Harada tries to pass.
Harada trying to control the position from guard on top but Altow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Harada's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Altow is controlling Harada's posture.
Harada wants to stand but Altow is controlling his posture from full guard.
Harada makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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.
Harada landing with the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Harada's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Altow is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harada loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harada has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Altow wants to sweep here but Harada controlling him for the moment.
Altow preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Altow is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Harada won't allow Altow to sweep him here.
Altow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Harada.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Harada dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Altow's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Harada throws a leg kick but Altow moved away.
Altow moves out of range of the strikes.
Harada lands a jab.

Harada rushes Altow and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Altow jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Harada walks away with a smile on his face. Altow gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Harada misses with a looping left.
Altow shoots in looking for a takedown. Harada tries to sprawl out of it but Altow keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harada manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harada missing with a left hand there. Altow was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Altow throws a fast counter high kick but Harada manages to duck under it in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Altow looking to score a takedown here. Harada is defending well but Altow drives through and ends up in Harada's guard.
Altow looking to pass the guard.
Harada not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Altow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harada swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harada wants to sweep but no luck.
Akira Harada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Altow trying to control but Harada is working from the bottom.
Altow would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Harada wants to hit a sweep here but Altow passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Harada there!

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.
Altow can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Harada is looking to escape.
Harada trying desperately to get to his feet.
Harada throwing hammer fists to the chest of Altow. What's that going to do exactly?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Altow landing strikes from the mount.
Harada is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Altow can do to turn this around?
Harada gets back to half guard.
Altow wants to get back to his feet.
Harada wants to control but Altow is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harada makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Harada lands with an uppercut that bounces Altow off the cage and back into range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Harada.

Harada lands a big uppercut and Altow crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Altow looks OK. Harada waves Altow back 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!
Harada tries to land a front kick but Altow steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Akira Harada is winning the standup battle so far.
Harada throws a shot from downtown. Altow moves away and avoids it.
Harada closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Altow! Harada dives in looking to finish! Altow is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Akira Harada!
Akira Harada made sure to mention his sponsor, Sportivité in his post fight interview.