PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Angle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurt Angle is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Harper
vs
Angle

202 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

178 cm
22
240 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stephen Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kurt Angle!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harper shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Angle pinned against the cage. Angle gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Harper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Harper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Angle is looking to work some ground and pound but Harper has wrist control.
Angle with a nice head shot there.
Harper working a defensive guard here.
Angle connects with a couple of short punches.
Harper is looking to stand up but Angle isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harper is pulling down on Angle's head. It's preventing any offense from Angle, at least for the moment.
Harper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Angle throwing strikes but missing.
Angle preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Angle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Harper with a poor takedown

and Angle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Harper is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Angle pulls his head out easily.
Harper blocking the ground and pound attempt from Angle.
Angle lands with a punch from half guard.
Harper is breathing heavily.
Angle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Angle looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Harper with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Angle drops an elbow to the side of Harper's head.
Angle is thwarting Harper's attempts to control the position.
Harper on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Harper tries to get out of the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Harper manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Angle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Harper is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Harper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Angle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle forces his way into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Angle seems to be working for a kimura but Harper defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Angle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Angle there.
Angle slips a nice elbow through Harper's hands, connecting with Harper's forehead.
Harper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Angle.
Angle scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Angle connects with a nice short shot to Harper's temple.
Angle lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Harper keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Harper blocking the ground and pound attempt from Angle.
Harper keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Angle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Harper taking some punishment here, with Angle in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Harper is rocked!
Angle looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Harper with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Oh Harper is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Angle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Angle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Angle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Angle.
Angle missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Angle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Harper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Angle.
Angle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Harper seems to have got his legs back now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Harper lands with a right hand.

Harper shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Harper showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harper is keen to just control but Angle is a slippery customer.
Harper is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angle is staying active underneath Harper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Angle wants to get back to full guard.
Harper wants to control but Angle is keeping him busy.
Harper slips a nice elbow through Angle's hands, connecting with Angle's forehead.
The fighters are battling for position here. Angle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Harper slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Angle is looking to reverse the position.
Harper trying to control the action but Angle is working from the bottom.
Angle is looking to regain half guard here but Harper keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Harper is looking to take a break and control but Angle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Angle is looking to regain half guard here but Harper keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Angle dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jab by Harper.
Harper doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Angle counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Angle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kurt Angle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Angle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Angle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Harper working for a triangle but Angle defends it easily.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Angle preventing the sweep.
Angle slips nicely into half guard.
Angle drops an elbow to the side of Harper's head.
Angle is nestled in close to Harper, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Angle is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Harper defends it well.
Harper is trying to stand.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Harper blocking the ground and pound attempt from Angle.
Harper wants to control but Angle is keeping busy.
Harper is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Angle's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Angle's back!
Harper scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Harper is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
The referee is taking a good look at Angle as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Harper!

Harper is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Angle has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Harper has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Angle taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Harper doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Stephen Harper!