PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Holla Back (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladamir Harkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holla Back could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Vladamir Harkonen's chin.

Back
vs
Harkonen

190 cm
25
262 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

191 cm
24
285 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Holla Back!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladamir Harkonen!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Back throws a low kick but it's checked well by Harkonen.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Harkonen.
Back throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harkonen.
Back misses with a looping right.
Back looks to score with a jab to the body but Harkonen is just out of range.
Back misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Back misses with a wild body shot.
Back throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harkonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Harkonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Back bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Harkonen's guard.
Back tries to free his leg and advance position but Harkonen is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Back trying to control the position from guard on top but Harkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Back with a flurry of punches that miss.
Back is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Harkonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Back looking to sit in guard and control but Harkonen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Harkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Back swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Back wants to sweep here but Harkonen controlling him for the moment.
Harkonen trying to control but Back is working from the bottom.
Harkonen with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Back has control of Harkonen's left arm, preventing Harkonen from doing any damage.
Back is trying to control the position but Harkonen postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Harkonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Back.
A leg kick checked by Back.
Harkonen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Back fails in his attempt to clinch.

Back gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Harkonen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Harkonen landing some decent shots from guard.
Harkonen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harkonen advances to half guard.
Harkonen wants to control but Back is keeping him busy.
Back is trying to control but can't.
Harkonen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harkonen throwing shots but Back is blocking nicely.
Harkonen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Harkonen prevents Back from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Harkonen.
Harkonen is looking to advance position but Back won't allow it.
Harkonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Back does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Harkonen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladamir Harkonen dominated that round.
That's time! Back's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Harkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harkonen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Back sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Harkonen somewhat.
Back moves out of range of the body kick from Harkonen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harkonen checks a leg kick.
Back misses the shot to the body.
Back keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Back misses with a jab, cross combination.
Holla Back is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Back misses with a looping right.
Harkonen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Back sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holla Back has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladamir Harkonen.
Back lands a nice shot to the body.
Back takes a swing at Harkonen's ribcage but misses.
Back stuffs the takedown.
Back moves in looking to clinch but Harkonen pushes him off.
Harkonen slips under a jab.
Back throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two 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.
Back looks to score with a jab to the body but Harkonen is just out of range.
Back looks to land a left hand but Harkonen moved out of range nicely.
Back misses the shot to the body.
Harkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Back.
Back tries to close the distance and clinch but Harkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Back throws a looping overhand right but Harkonen ducks down to avoid it.
Back throws a leg kick but Harkonen checks it.
Harkonen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Back checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Back cracks Harkonen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harkonen rushes Back and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Harkonen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Back misses with a punch on the inside.
Back goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Back softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Harkonen is working for takedown but Back is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice body punch from Back - that landed with a thud.
Harkonen can't get the takedown.
Back lands a body punch.
Back lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Back.
Harkonen is breathing heavily.
Back lands a nice shot to the body.
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!
A short right from Back on the inside.
Back cracks Harkonen with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Back.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Back obliges.
Back pushes Harkonen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Back.
Back lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Back.
A body shot lands from Back.
Back lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Back lands a hook that snaps the head of Harkonen backwards.
Back scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Back stalling the fight.
Back scores with a hook to the body.
Back lands a body punch in the clinch.
Back lands a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holla Back dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Back lands a nice hook to Harkonen's body. Harkonen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Back misses with a few strikes there.
Harkonen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Back doesn't manage to clinch there - Harkonen circles away.
Back just misses with a punch to the body.
Back cracks a nice hook into Harkonen's ribs.
Back tries to clinch up but Harkonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Back doesn't manage to clinch there - Harkonen circles away.
Harkonen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Back tries to clinch up

and Harkonen counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Back is not content to let Harkonen control the position.
Back is trying to buck Harkonen off.

Harkonen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Back knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Harkonen landing a few strikes.
Back struggling a bit here.

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.

Harkonen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Back has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Harkonen but great work by Back.
Harkonen is not content to let Back control the position.
Back in side control, throwing shots but Harkonen defends.
Back throws a strike aimed at the side of Harkonen's head but Harkonen avoids it well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Back trying to control the position but Harkonen is working away.
Harkonen is looking for a sweep.
Back misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Harkonen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Back's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Harkonen gets full guard.
Back trying to control the position from guard on top but Harkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harkonen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Harkonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Back's guard.
Harkonen postures up.
Harkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Back is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vladamir Harkonen.
I think Harkonen 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Holla Back!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Holla Back!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Holla Back!

Holla Back wins by unanimous decision!