PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Harkleroad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lloyd Christmas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harkleroad comes to the cage accompanied by I am a real American. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Harkleroad
vs
Christmas

165 cm
19
208 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

185 cm
19
210 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Nature's Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chad Harkleroad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lloyd Christmas!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harkleroad closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Harkleroad lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Christmas pushes Harkleroad off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Harkleroad feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Christmas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harkleroad is one step ahead there.
Harkleroad looking to pass the guard.

Christmas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Harkleroad gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!
Harkleroad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Christmas is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas trying to control the position here.
Harkleroad is pushing down on Christmas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Christmas is fighting to maintain full guard but Harkleroad has managed to sneak the leg through.
Christmas wants to get back to full guard.
Harkleroad really is a fat lump.
Harkleroad stalling away here and it's allowed Christmas to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Harkleroad throwing strikes from guard but Christmas blocks nicely.
Christmas striking off his back but it's not causing Harkleroad any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harkleroad wants to stand and escape but instead Christmas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Christmas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harkleroad wants to get back to his feet but Christmas passes into half guard.

Christmas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Harkleroad wants to sweep but Christmas has passed to side control!
Harkleroad on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Harkleroad tries to get out of the position.
Harkleroad is trying to improve his position.

Christmas stands up and beckons Harkleroad to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harkleroad looking to score a takedown here. Christmas is defending well but Harkleroad drives through and ends up in Christmas's guard.

Christmas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Harkleroad doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Harkleroad manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Harkleroad postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Harkleroad trying to control the position from guard on top but Christmas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Christmas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Harkleroad!
Harkleroad might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Christmas looking to secure an arm triangle but Harkleroad defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Harkleroad is squirming around, avoiding Christmas's attempts to control the action.
Christmas forces the positional change into back control.
Harkleroad wants to escape the position.

Christmas has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Harkleroad just trying to survive but Christmas is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lloyd Christmas dominated that round.
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.

Harkleroad darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Harkleroad knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Christmas on the ground.
Christmas trying to control but Harkleroad postures up.
Harkleroad prevents Christmas from standing back up.
Christmas wants to control but Harkleroad is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Christmas works his way to full guard. Good work.
Harkleroad throws a strike but Christmas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Harkleroad not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas wants to get up but he can't break Harkleroad's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Christmas trying to control but Harkleroad is working from the bottom.
Harkleroad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Christmas is one step ahead there.
Christmas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harkleroad is trying to control the position but Christmas postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Harkleroad keeping moving, preventing Christmas from controlling successfully.
Christmas pushing down on Harkleroad's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Christmas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Christmas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harkleroad is trying to maintain the position but Christmas is very close to passing his half guard.
Harkleroad is positioning himself well to prevent Christmas advancing to mount.
Harkleroad slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Harkleroad looking for a sweep. Not yet Harkleroad, not yet.
Christmas wants to control from the top but Harkleroad keeps moving.
Christmas is looking to work some ground and pound but Harkleroad has wrist control.

Christmas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Christmas connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harkleroad looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lloyd Christmas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Christmas wants to control from the top but Harkleroad keeps moving.
Harkleroad looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harkleroad keeping moving, preventing Christmas from controlling successfully.

Christmas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Harkleroad gets the takedown into side control.
Harkleroad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Christmas keeps working.
Harkleroad moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christmas manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Harkleroad makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Harkleroad.

Christmas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harkleroad has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Christmas has managed to get both his arms back between Harkleroad's legs - danger averted.
Harkleroad wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Christmas is now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christmas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Christmas is looking for a kimura here.
Christmas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lloyd Christmas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Harkleroad feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Harkleroad slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Harkleroad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Christmas is keeping the position for now.
Harkleroad has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Christmas wriggles free and stands up.
Christmas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Harkleroad manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkleroad displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Christmas.

Christmas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Harkleroad to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Harkleroad looking to sit in guard and control but Christmas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Harkleroad looking for a guillotine here but Christmas defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harkleroad keeping moving, preventing Christmas from controlling successfully.
Christmas throwing strikes but missing.

Christmas gets to his feet. Harkleroad looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Harkleroad closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Harkleroad throwing shots but Christmas is blocking nicely.
Harkleroad missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Christmas trying to control but Harkleroad postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Christmas kicks off Harkleroad and gets to his feet.

Harkleroad shoots in and gets a takedown into Christmas's guard.
Harkleroad is looking to advance position but Christmas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Christmas prevents Harkleroad from getting the reversal.
Christmas looking to control but Harkleroad is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Christmas landing shots from mount.

Christmas has isolated one of Harkleroad's arms. Harkleroad looking to fight him off but Christmas twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lloyd Christmas!
Lloyd Christmas took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Nature's Edge Nutrition for their support in the buildup to the fight.