PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between PeeWee Herman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shom Harnick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Herman
vs
Harnick

187 cm
23
150 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

174 cm
24
162 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, PeeWee Herman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shom Harnick!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harnick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Herman.
Harnick fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Herman checks it well.
Harnick throws a nice inside leg kick.
Herman shoots and misses

and Harnick counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Herman wants to sweep but no luck.
Harnick looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Harnick trying to control but Herman is working from the bottom.
Herman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Herman has an active guard here but Harnick has managed to pass into half guard.
Herman is looking for a sweep. Harnick is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Harnick seems to be working for a kimura but Herman defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herman wants to control the action here but instead Harnick manages to pass to full mount!
Herman tries to reverse the position but Harnick maintains control.
Herman wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Harnick biding his time, controlling Herman.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harnick has the hooks in. Herman is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Herman staying busy and making it hard for Harnick to control.
Harnick is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Herman tries to break free.
Herman is breathing heavily.
Harnick slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harnick's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Harnick is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Herman is in bad spot here.
Harnick is riding his opponent, not letting Herman buck him off.
Harnick doesn't have the hooks in and Herman manages to turn into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herman wants to control from the top but Harnick keeps moving.
Herman stops Harnick from standing up.

Herman drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Harnick manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Herman has Harnick in his guard.

Harnick stands up from Herman's guard - Harnick perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Harnick holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for PeeWee Herman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harnick connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like PeeWee Herman has been cut.
A short uppercut from Harnick.
Herman tries to score a body lock takedown but Harnick shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Harnick taking a breather.
Harnick is trying to drag Herman to the mat but Herman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Harnick scores with a knee to the head.

Harnick manages to break the clinch.

Harnick closes the distance and pushes Herman back into the cage.
Harnick with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Harnick jumps guard.
Herman wants to control from the top but Harnick keeps moving.
Harnick is looking to stand up but Herman isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herman looking to sit in guard and control but Harnick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Harnick wants to get up but he can't break Herman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Harnick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Herman keeping moving, preventing Harnick from controlling successfully.
Harnick is looking to stand up but Herman won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shom Harnick dominated that round.
The cut man is working on PeeWee Herman's cut.
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.

Harnick pushes Herman away with a front kick.
Herman misses with a takedown

and Harnick counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Harnick tries to stand but Herman is controlling from the bottom.

Herman looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Harnick has picked Herman up and slammed him! Herman can't keep hold of the triangle and Harnick manages to pass to side control!
Harnick wants to control but Herman is keeping him busy.

Harnick decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Harnick. That's going to slow Herman down.
A head kick from Harnick lands but Herman takes it in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harnick lands a jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harnick lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harnick fails with an attempt to clinch.

Harnick shoots in and bounces Herman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Herman is looking to sweep but instead, Harnick has passed into half guard.
Harnick is thwarting Herman's attempts to control the position.
Harnick seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Harnick is trying to control the action in half guard but Herman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Harnick with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Herman is trying to get back to full guard.
Herman has a hand on Harnick's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Harnick takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harnick gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Harnick closes the distance and clinches.
Harnick utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Harnick lands a knee to the body.
Herman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Harnick leaning against his opponent.
A knee to the head by Harnick.
Harnick's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Harnick lands a knee to the body.
Harnick connects with a knee to the head.
Harnick lands a nice elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short uppercut from Harnick.

Harnick gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Harnick wants to take a breather but Herman is having none of it.
Herman is looking to control Harnick's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Herman avoid being mounted?
Still in half guard, Harnick seems content to control.
Harnick has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harnick stands up from half guard.
Harnick shoots in looking for a takedown. Herman tries to sprawl out of it but Harnick keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Herman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harnick wants to clinch.
PeeWee Herman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Harnick gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harnick landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Harnick working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Harnick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harnick tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Harnick bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herman tries to buck Harnick off but Harnick is having none of it.
Herman is not content to let Harnick control the position.
Herman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Harnick wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Harnick decides to stand up, so the ref orders Herman to his feet.

Harnick shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Herman's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herman wants to hit a switch here but Harnick passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Herman there!
Harnick controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shom Harnick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on PeeWee Herman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Harnick moves into the clinch.
Herman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Harnick pulls his leg out and moves away.
Harnick tries a head kick but it misses.
Herman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Harnick has taken the fight to the clinch.
Herman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Harnick stalling in the clinch but Herman improves position.

Harnick breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Harnick.
Herman fails with the takedown

and Harnick counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for PeeWee Herman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Harnick successfully pulls guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harnick is trying to control the position but Herman postures up.
Harnick wants to stand but Herman is controlling the position.
Herman trying to control the position from guard on top but Harnick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Harnick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Herman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Herman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Harnick looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Harnick looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Harnick!
Harnick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Herman keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Herman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Herman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Harnick controlling the pace.
Harnick uses his free foot to push down on Herman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Herman.
Harnick wants to control the pace but Herman is squirming around nicely.
Herman is working to get back to half guard.
Harnick controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herman working to try and regain half guard.
Harnick controlling the pace for now.
Harnick looking to control but Herman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Harnick is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Harnick clinches up with Herman and pushes him back against the cage.

Harnick successfully pulls guard.
Harnick keeping moving, preventing Herman from controlling successfully.

Harnick uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harnick throws a head kick that misses.

Harnick clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Harnick.
Harnick is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Harnick's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Herman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Harnick.
Harnick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Herman tries to avoid it but Harnick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Herman to the ground. Herman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Harnick gets a clinch.
Harnick dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Shom Harnick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Herman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Harnick fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shom Harnick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Herman tries to keep at a distance but Harnick has taken the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shom Harnick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harnick has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shom Harnick!