PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Conor Keegan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Keegan
vs
Harris

178 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Conor Keegan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phil Harris!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harris darts in and clinches Keegan up against the cage.
Keegan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Harris breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Keegan has his takedown stuffed
and Harris counters with a head kick. That will keep Keegan thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Keegan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harris swivels and escapes.

Harris shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Keegan pushes Harris off but Harris dives into side control.
Keegan manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Harris throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Harris in particular looking to stall.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Keegan is staying active underneath Harris, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Keegan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Harris content just to control the position here.
Harris scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Keegan?
Keegan tries to hold on but Harris postures up.
Keegan is working to get back to half guard.
Keegan wants to hold on but Harris pushes him away.
Keegan is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris controlling the position easily from mount.
Harris landing strikes, looking to finish!
Keegan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Harris scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Keegan?

Harris jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Keegan manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Harris is trying to get an arm triangle but Keegan is defending well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Harris has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Keegan!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keegan is bucking up trying to escape but Harris cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Harris fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Harris in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Harris tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Keegan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Harris.
Harris in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harris has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Keegan's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harris is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Keegan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harris stands up from mount. Strange move.
Keegan thows a body shot but no joy.

Harris shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Keegan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Keegan is working an open guard so Harris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Keegan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Harris trying to control but Keegan is working from the bottom.
Harris connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Keegan is working an open guard so Harris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Harris dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Harris shoots in and bounces Keegan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Keegan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Keegan is working an open guard so Harris takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Keegan tries to clinch there but Harris circles away.
Harris tries for a takedown but Keegan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Keegan stuffs the takedown.
Conor Keegan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harris changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Keegan tries to avoid it but Harris manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Keegan to the ground. Keegan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Conor Keegan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Harris.
Harris is breathing heavily.
Keegan looks for a takedown but Harris sprawls well.
Harris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Keegan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris misses the shot to the body.
Harris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Keegan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Harris tenderised Keegan's leg. Keegan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Keegan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harris pinned against the cage. Harris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Harris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Harris moves into the clinch successfully.

Harris has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Keegan uses from the top position.
Keegan is looking to pass into half guard but Harris pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Harris is in guard.

Harris is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Harris passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keegan tries to bench press Harris off him but Harris keeps the position.
Keegan looking for a sweep but Harris has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Harris lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Harris breaks from Keegan's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harris controlling his opponent.
Phil Harris has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Harris connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Harris scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Harris trying to control but Keegan is having none of it.

Harris working for a guillotine from mount but Keegan is in no mood to give up.
Harris dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harris looking to control and managing it successfully.

Harris get's back to his feet.

Harris looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harris forces his way into half guard.

Harris stands up out of the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Harris scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Keegan tries to bench press Harris off him but Harris keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Harris gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harris prevents Keegan from breaking the clinch.
Harris has Keegan pressed against the cage, preventing Keegan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Keegan breaks the clinch.

Harris gets caught napping as Keegan dives in and scores a takedown. Harris manages to retain guard.

Harris has his feet on Keegan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Harris scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Keegan tries to kick Harris off but Harris keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harris lands a nice short elbow.
Harris looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Harris has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Harris gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Keegan tries to clinch up but Harris circles away and keeps his distance.

Harris fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Keegan, pushing him back against the cage.

Harris has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Keegan is trying to keep an underhook but Harris manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Harris is looking for a kimura but Keegan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Harris to get the leverage.
Keegan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Harris keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris moves nicely into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harris controls the position from side control.
Keegan is not content to let Harris control the position.
Harris advances to mount.
Harris controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

OK we're going to have a standup here. Phil Harris hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Keegan doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Harris counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Harris makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Harris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Harris has taken the fight to the clinch.
Harris digs a right hand underneath Keegan's ribcage. Keegan let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Conor Keegan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phil Harris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Harris is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Keegan can't fight it off and eventually Harris manages to take the fight to the floor. Keegan looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Harris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harris 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Harris!
Phil Harris seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.