PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aston Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Harju (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin comes to the cage accompanied by East Clubbers - Beat Is Coming. Aston Martin has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Martin
vs
Harju

205 cm
24
209 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aston Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kari Harju!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harju closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Martin did well to prevent Harju getting side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Harju content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Harju thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Harju.
Harju has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Harju is working for a kimura but Martin is defending it quite comfortably.
Harju trying to control the action but Martin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harju with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kari Harju hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Martin leaves Harju with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Harju takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Kari Harju has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a head kick but Harju moves out of range.
Harju tries to score a power double leg takedown but Martin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Harju somewhat.

Harju gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harju drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Martin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aston Martin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kari Harju.
Harju looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harju is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Martin stalling against the cage.
Martin tries to stall but Harju uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin gets underhooks to prevent Harju's takedown attempt.
Martin wants to break free but Harju has control.
Harju tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martin stops a takedown attempt from Harju.
Martin tries to land a knee to the head but Harju blocks with his arms.
Harju wants a takedown.
Martin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Martin missing with knees to the body.
Martin tries to land knees in the clinch but Harju avoids the damage to the body.
Martin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Harju has him pressed against the cage.
Martin lands a knee to the body.
Harju has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Martin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Harju prevents Martin from breaking the clinch.
Martin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Harju blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Harju has him pressed against the cage.
Martin working Harju over with knees to the body.
Martin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Martin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Harju has him pressed against the cage.
Martin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Harju manages to break the clinch.
Harju blocks a head kick by Martin.
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harju takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Martin scores with a nice strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Harju moves into the clinch successfully.
Harju keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Martin's efforts to push away.
Martin is trying to force a seperation but Harju has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aston Martin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kari Harju's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Martin throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Martin.
Martin thows a leg kick but Harju checks it
and Harju counters with a one-two to the body.
Martin throws a head kick but Harju moves out of range.
Martin throws a sloppy head kick and Harju moves out of range easily.
Harju misses with a head kick.
Martin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Martin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aston Martin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martin connects with a high kick.
Aston Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Martin gets tackled into the cage by Harju. Harju maintains the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martin connects with a knee to the head.
Harju drops down looking for an ankle pick but Martin pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harju has taken the fight to the clinch.
Martin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Harju is trying to trip Martin. He has hold of a leg but Martin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Harju persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Martin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Harju postures up in Martin's guard and throws a big left but Martin blocks it.
Harju trying to control but Martin is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harju drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Martin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Harju has Martin in his guard.
Martin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Martin tries to stand but Harju is controlling from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Kari Harju has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Martin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a sloppy head kick and Harju moves out of range easily.

Harju instigates a clinch.

Harju works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Harju stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harju trying to control the position from guard on top but Martin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Martin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin tries to break the clinch but Harju is controlling the position.

Martin breaks the clinch.
Harju throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Martin's waist but Martin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harju off to one side.
Martin misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Martin.

Harju scores a takedown into full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harju throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Martin because Harju loaded up on that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martin is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kari Harju will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kari Harju's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Martin lands with a kick to the temple. Harju shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Harju uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Martin.
Harju misses with a takedown attempt - Martin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Martin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Martin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Harju avoids the head kick by Martin.
Good exchange - Martin coming out on top.

Harju scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harju wants to free his trapped foot but Martin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harju is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Martin is trying to stand.
Harju trying to control from half guard but Martin is working away.
Harju stops Martin from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harju throws a strike but Martin avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Harju drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Martin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Harju has Martin in his guard.
Harju striking off his back but it's not causing Martin any problems.
Kari Harju has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harju is trying to keep Martin in close.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kari Harju was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A head kick misses from Harju.
Aston Martin is winning the standup battle so far.

Harju fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Martin, pushing him back against the cage.
Martin wants to get back to striking at distance but Harju won't allow it.

Martin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Martin throws a nice head kick!
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harju throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Harju.
Martin throws a head kick but Harju moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harju darts in and clinches Martin up against the cage.
Harju is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Martin tries a knee to the head but Harju blocks it.
Harju manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Martin breaks the clinch.
Martin tries a head kick but it misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martin bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Harju avoids the head kick by Martin.

Harju dives in and scores a takedown into Martin's guard.

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 Aston Martin.
I think Martin 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Aston Martin!
Our winner, Aston Martin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.