PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raylan Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bailey Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Givens
vs
Harris

187 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BioPharm Nutrition

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raylan Givens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bailey Harris!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harris thows a left - swing and a miss!
Decent striking displayed by Givens there.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Givens.
Givens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Givens lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Harris at a distance.
Harris scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Harris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harris goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Harris takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice straight punches there by Givens. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Givens.
Givens blocks a head kick by Harris.
Givens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Harris fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Givens is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Givens misses with a head kick.
Givens connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Harris momentarily.

Givens decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Givens wants to work for an arm triangle but Harris is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Givens missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Givens has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Givens is trying to work for a kimura but Harris is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris tries to get to full guard but Givens has control of the leg.
Harris has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Givens is working away from the top position though.
Givens tries to pass to full mount but Harris defends it.
Givens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harris keeps working.

Givens is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Harris doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Givens.
Harris tries to roll over but Givens keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Harris preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Givens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Harris defending well though.
Harris moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Harris controls Givens momentarily but Givens frees himself.
Givens won't allow Harris to get back to his feet.
Harris pulls Givens in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Givens thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris keeping full guard, as Givens tries to pass.
Harris wants to stand but Givens is controlling the position.
Givens is looking to work some ground and pound but Harris has wrist control.
Harris is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Harris is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Givens is staying active underneath Harris, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Harris thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Givens to regain full guard.

Givens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harris defends well.

Harris got a little sloppy there for a moment and Givens has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Harris has managed to get both his arms back between Givens's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harris trying to control but Givens is working from the bottom.
Givens wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Givens is looking for a triangle but Harris pushes his legs off easily.
Harris slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Harris wants to control but Givens is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Harris attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Givens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harris was well out of range. Poor timing from Givens.
A head kick by Givens misses
and Harris counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Harris tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Harris drives through and clinches with Givens against the cage.
Givens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Givens tries to circle away but Harris has him pinned against the cage.
Harris is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Harris misses with a knee strike.
Harris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Givens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Harris gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Givens.
Harris tries a knee to the head but Givens blocks it.
Givens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Harris is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Harris throws a knee to the head but misses.
Harris scores with a hook to the body.

Givens manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Givens is working an open guard so Harris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Harris. Harris obviously looking to wear him down.
Harris throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A leg kick checked by Givens.
Givens connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Givens checks a low kick from Harris.
Harris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Givens fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Harris has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Harris throws the kick towards the body but Givens avoids it.
Givens checks the leg kick nicely there.
Givens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Harris.
Harris thows a leg kick but Givens checks it
and Givens counters with a stiff right hand.
Harris dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Givens. That did some damage!
Harris swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Harris darts in and clinches Givens up against the cage.
Harris using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Givens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Givens tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Harris's elbow.
Harris utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Harris fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Givens breaks the clinch.
Givens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Harris sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Givens somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Givens circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harris connects with a right hand. Givens shakes it off.
Harris fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Givens has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harris tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bailey Harris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Givens has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Harris.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Givens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harris throws a head kick that misses.
Harris throws a leg kick but Givens sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Givens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Harris. Harris obviously looking to wear him down.
Givens tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Harris misses with the combination.
Harris closes the distance but Givens moves to the side
and Givens makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Harris moves in looking to clinch but Givens pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens's corner calls for a 1-2. Givens obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Harris moves in looking to clinch but Givens pushes him off.
Givens throws a sloppy body shot

and Harris holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Harris lands a body shot.
Harris working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Givens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Harris is looking to control Givens's arms but Givens gets an underhook and turns him. Now Harris has his back to the cage.
Givens digs a right hand underneath Harris's ribcage. Harris let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Givens goes for a takedown attempt but Harris pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Harris will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Harris tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Givens is able to avoid easily.
Harris attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Harris doesn't manage to clinch there - Givens circles away.
Harris with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Givens lands a lovely overhand right.

Givens feints and as Harris raises his hands in defense, Givens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Harris pulls Givens in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harris is keeping the position for now.
Givens is looking to work some ground and pound but Harris has wrist control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harris holds on and takes a little breather.
Givens throws a big right hand that misses.
Harris is trying to control the position but Givens postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bailey Harris was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Harris shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Harris fails with an attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harris misses with an attempted mid kick.
Harris takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Harris takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Harris tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bailey Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Givens shoots in for a takedown but Harris shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Givens is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Givens looks to land a right hand but Harris moved out of range.
Givens looks to land a right hand but Harris moved out of range.
Bailey Harris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Harris walks into a left hand.
Harris shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Givens just misses with a punch to the body.
Givens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Givens works the jab nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Givens lands with a short shot to the head.
Harris looking to throw knees to the head but Givens is blocking nicely.
Harris is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Harris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Givens.
Harris throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Givens blocks it with crossed arms.
Givens is working for takedown but Harris is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Givens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Harris throws a knee to the head but misses.
Harris has Givens pressed against the cage, preventing Givens from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Givens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Givens has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Harris uses from the top position.
Harris wants to pass the guard but Givens is keeping the position.

Givens looking for a guillotine here but Harris defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harris passes Givens's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Harris wants to stand up but Givens is controlling the position.
Givens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Harris wants to pass the guard but Givens is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens is looking for a sweep. Harris is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Harris controlling the action here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Harris is trying to control. Givens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bailey Harris wasn't active enough on the ground.
An inside leg kick lands from Harris.
Harris feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Givens's calf.
Givens works over Harris's head and body with a nice combination.
Harris tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Givens counters with a body kick that stops Harris in his tracks momentarily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Harris checks a leg kick.
Harris throws out a loose jab but Givens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Givens drops his hands momentarily and Harris takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Harris throws a sloppy head kick and Givens moves out of range easily.
Harris throws a head kick but Givens moves out of range.
Harris wants to clinch up but Givens keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Harris throws a head kick that misses
and Givens counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Harris is looking to clinch.
Givens lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Givens ducks under a wild hook from Harris.
Givens checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Givens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Givens blocks a leg kick.
Givens checks the leg kick.
Harris throws a nice inside leg kick.
Givens tries for a takedown but Harris circles away easily
and Harris counters with a nice low kick that buckles Givens's knee momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harris throws a leg kick that is checked

and Givens counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Harris tries to roll over but Givens keeps him under control.

Givens is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harris avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Givens.
Harris is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Givens is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Harris keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Harris wants to control but Givens is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Givens passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Harris!
Givens landing strikes from the mount and Harris is in trouble!

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 Raylan Givens.
I think Givens has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raylan Givens!