PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesper Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rush comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Sawyer - Rush. Harrison comes into a darkened arena with his song building. God's Gonna Cut You Down kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! William Harrison told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rush
vs
Harrison

187 cm
26
188 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

185 cm
24
195 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Canadian Fighter Clothing
Knock Out Artistry

Fortitude Apparel

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 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jesper Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrison shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Harrison closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Harrison shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rush manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harrison regains half guard.
Harrison is pressing down on Rush's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rush trying to control but Harrison is working from the bottom.
Rush content to stall in guard here.
Harrison keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harrison had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rush is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Harrison Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rush's back instead.
Rush trying to control the hands but Harrison won't let him.
Harrison missing with strikes.
Rush looking very determined here, making life difficult for Harrison.
Harrison controlling well, preventing Rush from escaping the position.
Rush rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Harrison seems to be working for a kimura but Rush defends the submission attempt.

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.
Harrison trying to control from Rush's half guard. Rush has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rush does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rush displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Harrison.
Harrison shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense.
Jesper Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Rush throws the kick towards the body but Harrison avoids it.
Harrison shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rush as he jumps to the side.
Harrison misses with a takedown attempt - Rush sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush cracks the inside of Harrison's front leg.
Harrison shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rush but Rush pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Harrison throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rush's waist but Rush gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harrison off to one side.
Rush feints and then cracks Harrison's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Harrison down.
Rush throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rush pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rush comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rush throws a leg kick which misses Harrison's front leg but catches the back leg as Harrison tries to avoid it.
Harrison looks gassed!
Rush throws a nice looking combination but Harrison bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Harrison moves out of range of the leg kick from Rush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush moves in looking to clinch but Harrison pushes him off.
Harrison shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rush's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Rush duly obliges.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rush.
Rush pivots, looking for a leg kick but Harrison is out of range and Rush settles back down.
Harrison looks to land a right hand but Rush moved out of range.
Harrison checks the leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rush's corner calls for a 1-2. Rush obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rush connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Harrison shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense.
Harrison keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesper Rush dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harrison on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rush. Rush obviously looking to wear him down.
Rush lands with a kick to the ribs.
Harrison tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rush swivels and escapes.
Rush throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Harrison blocks a leg kick.
Rush scoring well with a low kick there.
Rush cracks a nice hook into Harrison's ribs.
Rush lands a nice leg kick that just misses Harrison's sensitive parts.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rush.
Rush fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Harrison on the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rush throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rush lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Harrison is breathing heavily.
Rush throws out a leg kick but Harrison moves out of range and Rush only half commits.
Rush pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rush.
Jesper Rush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush scores with a head kick.
Rush lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Harrison circles away quickly and effectively.
Rush doesn't manage to clinch there - Harrison circles away.
Jesper Rush is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harrison takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rush lands a nice leg kick that just misses Harrison's sensitive parts.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rush.

Rush moves into the clinch.
Harrison changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rush fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rush's waist but Rush gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harrison off to one side.
Jesper Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Rush misses with a body shot.

Rush gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rush softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Harrison fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A right hook to the body lands for Rush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rush using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Harrison has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rush scores with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Rush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harrison's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harrison changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rush tries to avoid it but Harrison manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rush to the ground. Rush escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rush lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Harrison checks a leg kick.
Rush tries a head kick but it misses.
Rush keeps Harrison at a distance using the push kick.
Harrison takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rush lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rush lands a lovely overhand right.
Harrison misses with a takedown attempt - Rush sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Harrison has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rush.
Harrison closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rush circles away.
Rush is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harrison can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush with a hook.
Rush cracks the inside of Harrison's front leg.
Rush tries to clinch but Harrison moves out of range.
Rush feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Harrison's calf.
Rush throws a leg kick which misses Harrison's front leg but catches the back leg as Harrison tries to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harrison takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rush tries to work over Harrison's front leg with a kick but Harrison checks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harrison takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Harrison misses with a straight right.
Harrison's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A slow jab from Harrison misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesper Rush dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rush fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Harrison.
Rush throws a nice head kick!
Rush lands a nice leg kick that just misses Harrison's sensitive parts.
Harrison missing with a left hand there. Rush was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Harrison misses the jab.
Rush tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rush looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Harrison fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rush tries to work over Harrison's front leg with a kick but Harrison checks it.
Rush looks to land a right hand but Harrison moved out of range.
Rush dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Harrison. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrison fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Harrison takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rush lands a head kick. Harrison smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rush is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rush misses with a low kick.
Rush throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rush lands a jab.
Rush throws a front kick aimed at Harrison's knee but Harrison avoids it well.
Rush throws a leg kick that misses.
Rush jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Harrison checks it well.
Harrison moves out of range of the leg kick from Rush.
Jesper Rush is winning the standup battle so far.
Harrison shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rush as he avoids it easily.
Jesper Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Rush ducks under a wild hook from Harrison.
Harrison keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harrison throws a hook but Rush blocks it.
Rush throws a low kick but it's checked well by Harrison.
Rush chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rush scores with a leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rush.
Rush lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harrison shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Harrison is pressing down on Rush's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rush is holding on for now.
Rush is trying to stand up here but Harrison is controlling him well.
William Harrison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rush is refusing to be controlled, as Harrison sits in half guard.
Harrison is pressing down on Rush's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rush is holding on for now.
Rush is not content to let Harrison control the position.

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

Harrison is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Jesper Rush is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harrison trying to mount his opponent but Rush defends it.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rush is looking to slow Harrison down with leg kicks.
Rush throws a front kick aimed at Harrison's knee but Harrison avoids it well.
Rush lands a lovely overhand right.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesper Rush showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rush, 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesper Rush!