PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luke Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariusz Caban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mariusz Caban has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Luke Harper's chin.

Harper
vs
Caban

183 cm
24
279 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
277 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luke Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mariusz Caban!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Caban gets tackled into the cage by Harper. Harper maintains the clinch.
Caban pressing his opponent against the cage.
Harper tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Caban smiles and moves away.

Caban gets a clinch.
Harper is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Caban lands with a light punch inside.

It looks like Luke Harper has been cut.

Caban works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Caban wants to pass the guard but Harper is keeping the position.
Caban trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper has momentary wrist control but Caban slips an elbow through the middle.
Caban trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mariusz Caban has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Caban clinches up with Harper and pushes him back against the cage.
Caban is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Harper is defending well.
Harper wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Harper. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Harper jumps guard and drags Caban to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Caban missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Caban from controlling successfully.
Caban trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Caban working some strikes from top position.
Caban wants to control from the top but Harper keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mariusz Caban has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Harper gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caban wants a takedown.

Caban gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Caban trying to control from half guard but Harper is working away.
Harper really is a fat lump.

Caban is working for a kimura here but Harper manages to reverse the position and he's now in Caban's guard.
Harper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Caban is looking to stand up but Harper isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Caban wriggles free and stands up.
Caban tries for a takedown but Harper circles away easily

and Harper counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Caban!
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Harper swings around for an armbar but Caban sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Harper's guard.
Harper is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariusz Caban dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luke Harper's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Caban avoids the head kick by Harper.
Caban will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Harper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Harper fails to pull guard.
Caban wants to take the fight to the mat but Harper manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Caban has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Harper is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Luke Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mariusz Caban.
Caban displaying some good clinch control by pressing Harper up against the cage.
Caban pushes off an throws an elbow but Harper leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Caban turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Caban looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Harper is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper parries the strikes from Caban easily there. Caban is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Harper to escape.
Caban throwing strikes but Harper manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
You can see the frustration on Caban's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Harper is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Caban knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Caban is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Harper is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harper tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Harper thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harper tries for a kimura but Caban is defending well.

Harper is trying to get an arm triangle but Caban is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Caban is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Harper tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mariusz Caban will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Luke Harper's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Harper misses the shot to the body.
Caban with a poor takedown
and Harper counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Harper darts in and clinches Caban up against the cage.

Caban has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Harper regains guard immediately.
Caban with a flurry of punches that miss.
Caban must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Harper looking for a sweep. Not yet Harper, not yet.
Caban loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper has momentary wrist control but Caban slips an elbow through the middle.
Caban pushing down on Harper's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Caban not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Caban is trying to control the action in half guard but Harper is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Harper looks like he's trying to stand up.
Caban wants to take a breather but Harper is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Caban changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harper tries to avoid it but Caban manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harper to the ground. Harper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Harper pushes Caban up against the cage in a clinch.

Caban turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Caban manages to end up in side control.
Caban scores with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Caban trying to control the action but Harper is working from the bottom.
Harper is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caban tries to move into full mount but can't pass Harper's legs.
Caban is looking to take a break and control but Harper is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Harper gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper is trying to stand up.
Mariusz Caban is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caban dominating with strikes here.
Luke Harper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Caban controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mariusz Caban comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Caban winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mariusz Caban!