PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Harrison might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to sox. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Harrison
vs
James

175 cm
18
132 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Valhalla Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matthew Harrison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John James!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrison has his takedown stuffed

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James with a nice head shot there.

Harrison looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
James slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
James trying to control but Harrison is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James stands up over Harrison, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Harrison utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James is working Harrison over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harrison swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throwing strikes but missing.

Harrison working for a triangle but James defends it easily.
Harrison throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Harrison is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Harrison looking for submissions from the bottom but instead James passes into side control.
Harrison is breathing heavily.
James scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Harrison, who protects the arm well.
Harrison takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrison misses with an elbow from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harrison can't do much from the bottom here.
Harrison is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Harrison is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison tries to get back to half guard but can't.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James has knee on belly and moves into mount.
BOOM! James connects with a massive shot to the dome!
James prevents Harrison from getting the reversal.

James working for a submission but Harrison is keeping him at bay.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, James cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
James landing punches.
Harrison sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harrison actively working from the bottom here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
James trying to control from half guard but Harrison is working away.

James is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Harrison sees it coming and defends easily.
Harrison wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Harrison on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

James is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Harrison manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James blocks a head kick by Harrison.

James drives through and clinches with Harrison against the cage.
Harrison looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Harrison is looking to take this one to the mat.
Harrison tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.

James jumps into guard, dragging Harrison to the mat.

James has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Harrison is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for James.
James is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Harrison is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrison working the ground and pound but James is defending the strikes.
James tries to bench press Harrison off him but Harrison keeps the position.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
Harrison is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Harrison is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
James is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harrison swings around for an armbar but James sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Harrison's guard.
James trying to control but Harrison is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Harrison is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
James throws an elbow that misses. Harrison uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in James's guard. Nice move by Harrison!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

James had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Harrison defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James wants to control position but Harrison is using a can opener to pass guard... He's turned it into a full on guillotine from mount now! Big trouble for James here! He's turning a lovely shade of purple and yep! He's tapping out! I would say world class Jiu Jitsu but is it really? It was nice but let's not get silly about it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Matthew Harrison!
During a confident post fight interview, Matthew Harrison thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.