PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yurian Harmsong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Harmsong
vs
Henry

186 cm
23
190 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

180 cm
21
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yurian Harmsong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Henry!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry throws out a loose jab but Harmsong uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt - Harmsong sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Harmsong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A shot to the liver by Henry. Beautiful body shot.

Henry drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Henry works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Henry lands a few punches from side control.
Harmsong pushes Henry away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Henry gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Harmsong wants to control but Henry postures up.
Harmsong manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Henry tries to get to full guard but Harmsong has control of the leg.
Well, if Harmsong is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Henry tries to get to full guard but Harmsong has control of the leg.
Henry pushes Harmsong off looking to stand but Harmsong dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harmsong with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Harmsong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Henry defending well though.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Harmsong is taking a breather. Henry says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yurian Harmsong just wasn't active enough.
Henry tries for a takedown but Harmsong sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Harmsong fails with the takedown.
Harmsong throws a right and a left that both miss.
Henry looks for a takedown but Harmsong sprawls well.
Yurian Harmsong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Henry.
Henry throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but Harmsong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henry is defended easily by Harmsong.
Henry shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harmsong as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harmsong sprawls well. Harmsong wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henry gets slowly back to his feet.
Henry throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Harmsong stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Left hook, right uppercut from Henry.
Henry shoots in looking for a takedown. Harmsong tries to sprawl out of it but Henry keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harmsong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harmsong dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Henry shoots and misses
and Harmsong counters with a stiff right hand.
Harmsong swinging wildly here.
Henry fails with the takedown

and Harmsong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Harmsong.

Harmsong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harmsong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Harmsong.
Harmsong is looking to clinch but Henry is avoiding it.
Harmsong misses with the combination.
Henry with a poor takedown
and Harmsong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Harmsong is looking to clinch but Henry is avoiding it.
The fighters circling - Henry throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henry connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Harmsong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Robert Henry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Harmsong has Henry up against the cage in a clinch.

Harmsong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henry shoots in but Harmsong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Henry misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henry throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harmsong's waist but Harmsong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henry off to one side.
Henry on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Henry scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Harmsong wants to control but Henry postures up.
Harmsong is trying to improve his position.
Henry lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Harmsong is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Henry's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Henry is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Harmsong doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Henry.
Harmsong wants to improve his position but Henry is controlling well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henry is stalling here. Harmsong is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Henry seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Harmsong has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Henry is trying to control Harmsong's posture but Harmsong avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yurian Harmsong will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Henry shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Henry was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Henry throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Harmsong because Henry loaded up on that one.
Harmsong is trying to escape the mount.
Harmsong is working hard here to advance position.
Henry putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Harmsong gets back to half guard.
Henry not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Harmsong wants to get back to full guard.
Harmsong keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Harmsong is trying to get back to full guard.
Henry trying to mount his opponent but Harmsong defends it.
Harmsong blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henry.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henry is working for a submission of some sort.
Henry missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Harmsong tries to get to full guard but Henry has control of the leg.
Harmsong looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Henry lands a nice short elbow.
Harmsong gets full guard.
Harmsong on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Harmsong tries to get out of the position.
Harmsong is trying to control the position but Henry postures up.
Henry throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harmsong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Harmsong controls Henry momentarily but Henry frees himself.
Henry loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henry stopping the sweep attempt from Harmsong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Henry looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henry is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Henry thows a big elbow that misses.
Henry thows a big elbow that misses.
Henry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Henry working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henry preventing the sweep.
Henry looking to sit in guard and control but Harmsong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Henry is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harmsong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Harmsong pushing down on Henry's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Harmsong wants to free his trapped foot but Henry is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Robert Henry has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henry moves into full guard.
Henry looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Harmsong from controlling successfully.
Henry 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.

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.
Henry trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henry ducks under a wild hook from Harmsong.
Henry misses with a wild body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Henry.
Sloppy strikes there by Henry.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Henry wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harmsong keeps working.
Harmsong is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Harmsong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Harmsong is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Henry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Harmsong has closed the distance and engaged Henry in a clinch.

Henry pulls guard successfully.
Harmsong stays in close to Henry's body and controls the position.
Henry is trying to keep Harmsong in close.
Harmsong showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Harmsong trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harmsong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henry can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Harmsong controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yurian Harmsong just wasn't active enough.
Henry throws a body punch but Harmsong moves out of range.
Henry throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Harmsong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Harmsong tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harmsong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Harmsong at a distance.

Harmsong closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Henry quickly recovers to half guard.
Henry regains full guard. Nicely done.
Harmsong tries to free his leg and advance position but Henry is retaining full guard.
Harmsong pushing down on Henry's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Harmsong prevents Henry from improving his position.
Henry is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Harmsong's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Harmsong's back!
Harmsong avoids the strikes from Henry.
Even with his hooks in, Henry manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Will Henry go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Henry lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harmsong turns into Henry and is now in his guard.
Henry wants to sweep here but Harmsong controlling him for the moment.
Henry has Harmsong pulled in close to control his posture.
Harmsong trying to control but Henry is working from the bottom.
Harmsong stopping the sweep attempt from Henry.
Henry can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Harmsong controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Yurian Harmsong.
Henry throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harmsong's waist but Harmsong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henry off to one side.
A combination from Harmsong does no damage.
Henry is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Harmsong rather than just go for the knockout.
Henry throws a head kick but Harmsong moves out of range.
Henry shoots in for a double leg but Harmsong sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Harmsong misses with the combination.

Harmsong gets a clinch.

Harmsong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harmsong throws a right hand that Henry ducks under and follows up with a left that Henry also avoids with ease.
Henry fails to land the takedown.
Yurian Harmsong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Henry.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henry is defended easily by Harmsong.
Henry takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Henry throws a hook to the side of Harmsong's head but Harmsong sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

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.
Henry swats away the attempt to clinch by Harmsong.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but Harmsong shows good takedown defense.
Harmsong throws a leg kick but Henry checks it.
No luck for Henry with that takedown attempt.
Harmsong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harmsong wants it to stay on the feet.
Henry moves out of range of the body kick from Harmsong.
Henry misses the jab.
Henry misses the shot to the body.
Harmsong shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Henry but Henry pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Henry fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Henry misses with a body punch
and Harmsong counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yurian Harmsong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Harmsong 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!