PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justice McManus (ranked 3326 p4p, 3875 weight class) and Grant Harklie (ranked 369 p4p, 415 weight class). McManus kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade. The key to victory for Justice McManus has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

McManus
vs
Harklie

191 cm
20
225
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
275
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

AVALON

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justice McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Grant Harklie!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harklie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harklie doesn't manage to clinch there - McManus circles away.
McManus went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Harklie closes the distance and clinches.
Harklie looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Harklie tries for a takedown but McManus manages to get underhooks.
Harklie goes for a takedown in the clinch but McManus prevents it.
McManus gets underhooks to prevent Harklie's takedown attempt.
Justice McManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grant Harklie.
McManus is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Harklie is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McManus is defending well.
McManus prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harklie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McManus fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McManus pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Harklie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
McManus wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harklie seems to be looking for submissions.

Harklie wants to work for an arm triangle but McManus is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Harklie wants to free his trapped foot but McManus is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Still in half guard, Harklie seems content to control.

Harklie is working for a submission of some sort.
McManus pushes Harklie off looking to stand but Harklie dives back in and keeps control.

Harklie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Harklie 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.
McManus wants to get back to his feet.
Harklie works his way into full mount!
Harklie controlling from the full mount.
McManus looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harklie tries to control but McManus wriggling away.

Harklie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McManus can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McManus is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Harklie looking for a guillotine from mount but McManus is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Harklie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Harklie is working for a guillotine from mount but McManus frees his head quite easily.

Harklie looking for a guillotine from mount but McManus is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
McManus is squirming around, avoiding Harklie's attempts to control the action.
Harklie is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McManus trying desperately to get to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harklie trying to control but McManus is having none of it.
Harklie won't let McManus get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Harklie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Harklie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Harklie tries for a takedown but McManus manages to get underhooks.

Harklie turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Harklie manages to end up in side control.
Harklie prevents McManus from escaping the position.
McManus prevents Harklie from improving position.
Harklie trying to control the action but McManus is working from the bottom.
Harklie tries to advance to mount but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harklie swings around for an armbar but McManus sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Harklie's guard.
Harklie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
McManus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harklie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus is looking to stand up but Harklie won't let him.
Harklie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McManus's guard.

Harklie wants to pass the guard but McManus is keeping the position.
Harklie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McManus keeping moving, preventing Harklie from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harklie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Harklie stops McManus from standing up.
Harklie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McManus wants to get back to his feet but Harklie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Harklie has gone for a leg lock! McManus slips out almost immediately though and dives into Harklie's guard.

Harklie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Harklie is working for a submission of some sort.
McManus is staying active underneath Harklie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Harklie seems to be looking for submissions.
Harklie prevents McManus from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harklie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Harklie trying to control from McManus's half guard. McManus has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Harklie wants to control from the top but McManus keeps moving.
Harklie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McManus is trying to buck Harklie off.

Harklie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McManus knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McManus is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus seems a little lost for a moment, as Harklie dominates the positioning.

Harklie goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McManus rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Harklie's guard! Nice work there by McManus!
Harklie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McManus's guard.

McManus can't keep his opponent in guard - Harklie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Harklie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harklie wants to pass to mount but McManus is defending the position.

Harklie is working for a submission of some sort.
McManus tries to kick Harklie off but Harklie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Harklie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Harklie closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McManus quickly recovers to half guard.

McManus pushes Harklie off and gets back to his feet.
Harklie with a poor takedown
and McManus counters with a three punch combo that has Harklie backing up. Harklie nods at McManus to acknowledge the strikes.

Harklie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McManus wants to get back to his feet.
Harklie is pressing down on McManus's thigh, looking to free his foot. McManus is holding on for now.
McManus is looking to escape.
Harklie is looking to advance position but McManus won't allow it.

Harklie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McManus pushes Harklie off looking to stand but Harklie dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harklie passes to side control.

Harklie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McManus has escaped the position, nice work there.
McManus is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Harklie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Harklie trying to control the action but McManus is working from the bottom.

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.
McManus is pushing Harklie's head away, looking to escape. Harklie manages to hold on to the position though.
Harklie content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

McManus sneaks out the side door and pushes Harklie away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Grant Harklie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Justice McManus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harklie dives in and grabs McManus's left leg, looking for a takedown. McManus pushes down on Harklie's head and hops out.

Harklie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McManus manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McManus wants to stand and escape but Harklie is having none of it.
Harklie slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harklie tries to free his leg and advance position but McManus is retaining full guard.
McManus is looking to stand up but Harklie isn't so interested in that idea.
Harklie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McManus is looking to stand up but Harklie isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Harklie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McManus sprawls well initially but Harklie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Harklie performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Harklie is continuing to stall.
Justice McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harklie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harklie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Justice McManus.
I think Harklie 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Harklie!
Our winner, Grant Harklie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.