PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ash Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Harmon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Will Harmon will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Russell
vs
Harmon

160 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ash Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Will Harmon!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harmon tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Russell.
Harmon tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Russell misses
and Harmon counters with a good, hard body kick but Russell shrugs it off.

Russell gets caught flat footed, as Harmon shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Harmon postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Russell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Harmon, into his guard.

Harmon has his foot on Russell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russell works his way back into a safe position though.

Harmon looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Russell has picked Harmon up and slammed him! Harmon can't keep hold of the triangle and Russell manages to pass to side control!
Harmon is trying to get back to half guard.
Harmon sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Harmon is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Russell pulls his head out easily.
Harmon looks gassed!
Harmon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Russell.
Russell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Harmon's head.

Harmon is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Russell pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harmon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Russell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harmon does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Harmon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Harmon avoids a punch combination nicely.
Harmon looks for a takedown but Russell sprawls well.

Harmon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Harmon advances to mount.

Harmon goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Russell turns into him and now he's in Harmon's guard.

Harmon has his foot on Russell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russell works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harmon looking for a guillotine here but Russell defends easily.

Harmon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Russell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Russell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Russell wants to stand but Harmon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Russell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Harmon is looking for a triangle but Russell pushes his legs off easily.

Harmon looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Russell passes into half guard.
Harmon gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harmon looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Harmon had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Russell is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Harmon Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Russell's back instead.

Russell is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Harmon gets his way!
Russell wants to get back to his feet.
Russell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Harmon working for a choke but Russell is defending well.
Russell trying to get back to his feet but Harmon is in full control for now.

Harmon looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harmon is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Russell knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Russell for a finish.

Harmon working for the choke.

Harmon looking for the choke but no joy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Russell fending off the submission attempt from Harmon.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harmon doesn't have the hooks in and Russell manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Harmon dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Russell throws a head kick that misses
and Harmon counters with a head kick.
An inside leg kick from Russell misses.

Harmon clinches.
Harmon tries to pull guard but Russell holds him up against the cage and eventually Harmon drops back down to his feet.
Russell has had enough of the clinch but Harmon keeps him there for the moment.

Harmon breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harmon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick by Russell misses

and Harmon counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Harmon.
Harmon is pushing down on Russell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Russell is fighting to maintain full guard but Harmon has managed to sneak the leg through.
Harmon moves into full mount! Russell won't be happy about that!
Russell regains half guard.
Russell is pressing down on Harmon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Harmon is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Russell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Russell has escaped and now he's on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Harmon is looking for a triangle but Russell pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harmon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Harmon keeping busy on the bottom but Russell has passed one foot through into half guard.

Harmon is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Russell pulls his head out easily.

Harmon with the active half guard here but Russell passes nicely into side control.
Harmon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Harmon moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harmon has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Russell is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Harmon.
Harmon tries to improve position but can't.

Russell decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Harmon blocks a head kick by Russell.
Russell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Harmon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick by Russell misses

so Harmon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Harmon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harmon trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Russell manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harmon is looking for a triangle but Russell pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Harmon is on top in guard.
Harmon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russell is keeping the position for now.

Russell uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A head kick by Russell misses

and Harmon counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Harmon sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Russell's guard.

Russell kicks off Harmon and gets to his feet.
Russell connects with a body shot.
Russell moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Russell throws a series of punches but Harmon moves out of range.
Harmon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Russell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Harmon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harmon shoots in looking for a takedown. Russell tries to sprawl out of it but Harmon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Russell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Russell throws a sloppy head kick

and Harmon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Harmon is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Russell defends it well.
Harmon works his way into full mount!
Harmon pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Harmon swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Russell is now in Harmon's guard. A big mistake from Harmon there, giving up the dominant position!

Harmon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Harmon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Russell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Harmon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Harmon lands a head kick. Russell smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Harmon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Russell.
Russell misses with a series of wild punches.
Harmon wants to clinch up but Russell keeps it at a distance.
Harmon tries to clinch up but Russell circles away and keeps his distance.
Russell throws a head kick that misses
and Harmon counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Russell throws a sloppy head kick
and Harmon counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Harmon closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Harmon pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Russell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Harmon closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Harmon pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by Russell misses

and Harmon counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Russell!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Harmon moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Russell has worked his arm free - good work by Russell!

Harmon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Harmon looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Harmon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russell explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Harmon avoids a punch combination nicely.
Russell lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Russell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Russell misses with a body kick.
Russell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russell misses with a head kick.
Harmon avoids the head kick by Russell.
Russell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harmon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ash Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Harmon.
Russell tries to land a front kick but Harmon steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ash Russell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Russell throws a head kick that misses.
Ash Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell throws a series of punches but Harmon avoids them all with ease.

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.
Russell misses with a head kick.
Russell throws a head kick that misses
and Harmon counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ash Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russell throws a sloppy head kick and Harmon moves out of range easily.
Harmon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Harmon changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Russell looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Harmon tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Harmon has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Harmon working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Russell prevents Harmon from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harmon looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Harmon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Harmon advances to full mount.
Russell has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Harmon is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Russell fending off the submission attempt from Harmon.

Russell defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Harmon's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Will Harmon!