PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Luongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doug Harden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Luongo might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Alexisonfire - The Northern. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Luongo
vs
Harden

185 cm
27
171 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

186 cm
23
172 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francesco Luongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Doug Harden!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Alyssa Summers and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Luongo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Luongo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Luongo gets a double leg takedown into Harden's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Luongo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Luongo drops back looking for a leg! Harden is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Harden manages to kick Luongo off! Luongo jumps back into Harden's guard.
Harden really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Luongo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Luongo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luongo trying to control but Harden is working from the bottom.
Luongo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Harden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Luongo is one step ahead there.

Luongo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Luongo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luongo advances position into side control!

Luongo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Harden, who protects the arm well.
Luongo has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Harden is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harden is controlling an arm, preventing Luongo from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Harden is squirming around, avoiding Luongo's attempts to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harden can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luongo can't control as he wanted to and Harden manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

Luongo seems to be looking for submissions.
Harden wants to improve his position but Luongo is controlling well.

Luongo is trying to work for a kimura but Harden is defending well.
Luongo trying to control the action but Harden is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Luongo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Luongo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harden pinned against the cage. Harden gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A shot to the body from Harden misses
and Luongo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Luongo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harden is fending him off so far but Luongo persists. Nope, Harden circles away and we're back to standing.
Luongo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Luongo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harden.
Luongo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harden swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francesco Luongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harden lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Harden digs a good hook to Luongo's body.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Luongo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Harden misses.
Luongo moves out of range as Harden strikes.
Harden thows a body shot but no joy.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harden misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Harden misses the target.
Luongo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Harden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luongo manages to avoid it.
Luongo takes a swing at Harden's ribcage but misses.
Harden cracks Luongo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Luongo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Harden.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Harden as Luongo shoots in.
Harden throws a series of punches but Luongo moves out of range.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harden misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harden. Luongo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harden misses with an uppercut.
Luongo defending well as Harden loads up on a big left hand.
Luongo shoots in and drives through. Harden sprawls well.
Luongo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harden swivels and escapes.
Harden lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luongo shoots for a takedown but Harden saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Harden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harden wants it to stay on the feet.
Harden swings for the body but Luongo moves out of range.
Harden catches Luongo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Luongo slips under a jab.
Luongo tries to clinch but Harden moves out of range.
Luongo moves out of range of the strikes.
Harden throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Luongo shoots in but no luck this time.
Harden misses with a straight left.
Luongo shoots in for a takedown but Harden shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luongo looks to score with a jab to the body but Harden is just out of range.
Harden throws a hook but Luongo avoids it easily.
Luongo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Harden is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Luongo.
Francesco Luongo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Luongo.
Luongo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Luongo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harden misses with an uppercut.
Harden stuns Luongo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Harden moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doug Harden 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!

Harden misses the shot to the body.
Harden throws a right and a left that Luongo avoids nicely.
Luongo slips a straight right by Harden.
Harden connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Luongo looks to score with a jab to the body but Harden is just out of range.
Harden misses with a straight right.
Luongo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Luongo moves out of range as Harden strikes.
Luongo wants to clinch up but Harden keeps it at a distance.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Doug Harden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luongo looks for a takedown but Harden sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Luongo.
Luongo is looking to clinch.

Luongo shoots in and bounces Harden off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Luongo wants to control from the top but Harden keeps moving.
Luongo passes Harden's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harden is not content to let Luongo control the position.
Luongo trying to control the pace.
Luongo wants to take a breather but Harden is having none of it.
Harden has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Luongo is working away from the top position though.
Luongo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luongo trying to control the action but Harden is working from the bottom.

Francesco Luongo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Luongo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harden.
A combination from Harden does no damage.
No luck for Luongo with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francesco Luongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luongo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harden throws a good cross that connects.
Nice body punch from Harden.
Luongo feints a jab promting Harden to slip. Luongo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Harden slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Harden lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Luongo at a distance.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harden scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Doug Harden.
I think Harden has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Doug Harden!