PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steven Harvey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xu Khadka (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.

Harvey
vs
Khadka

190 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 Amsterdam, Steven Harvey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Xu Khadka!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khadka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Harvey tries to pull guard but Khadka won't allow it.
A bit of stalling here from Harvey.

Harvey gets control of Khadka's arms and successfully pulls guard. Harvey will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Harvey escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Khadka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Harvey keeping moving, preventing Khadka from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harvey wants to sweep here but Khadka controlling him for the moment.
Harvey has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Khadka trying to control but Harvey is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harvey has his hands on Khadka's head, controlling the position.

Xu Khadka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Khadka defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Harvey.
Harvey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Khadka swats away the attempt to clinch by Harvey.
Harvey fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khadka avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Harvey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harvey defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Khadka.
Harvey pivots, looking for a leg kick but Khadka is out of range and Harvey settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Khadka.
Khadka goes for a double leg but Harvey avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Harvey continues to drive forward.
Harvey trying to control the position but instead, Khadka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Harvey into the cage.
Khadka taking a breather.
Khadka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Harvey breaks from the clinch.

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

Harvey has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Khadka uses from the top position.
Khadka trying to control but Harvey is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khadka prevents Harvey from getting back to his feet.
Khadka trying to control the position from guard on top but Harvey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harvey keeping full guard, as Khadka tries to pass.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Harvey looking to control but Khadka passes into half guard.

Khadka moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Harvey.
Khadka wants to control but Harvey is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harvey tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khadka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Harvey's face as Khadka controls the position.

Khadka tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Khadka has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harvey prevents Khadka from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Xu Khadka will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Harvey keeps the fight on the outside.
Harvey fails in his attempt to clinch.
Khadka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harvey but Harvey pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Khadka has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Khadka.
Harvey jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Khadka walks away with a smile on his face. Harvey gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Harvey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Khadka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Khadka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harvey can't find room to land a body shot as Khadka controls the action.

Harvey pulls Khadka into guard.
Harvey is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Harvey throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Harvey is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khadka throwing strikes from guard but Harvey blocks nicely.
Khadka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khadka throws a big right hand that misses.
Khadka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khadka trying to control the position from guard on top but Harvey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Khadka tries to free his leg and advance position but Harvey is retaining full guard.

Harvey is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Khadka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harvey swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Khadka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khadka trying to control but Harvey is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Xu Khadka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Khadka drives through and clinches with Harvey against the cage.
Harvey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Khadka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Harvey. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Harvey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harvey tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Khadka defends well and Harvey ends up having to push Khadka into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Khadka tries to score a body lock takedown but Harvey shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Harvey gets control of Khadka's arms and successfully pulls guard. Harvey will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khadka won't allow Harvey to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khadka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khadka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harvey wants to sweep but no luck.
Khadka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Khadka drops back, looking for a kneebar! Harvey looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Harvey looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Harvey!
Khadka is not content to let Harvey control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xu Khadka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Khadka tries for a takedown but Harvey sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Harvey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harvey lands a right hook to the body.
Khadka tries to clinch

and Harvey counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Harvey manages to break the clinch.
Khadka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harvey as he avoids it easily.
Khadka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harvey but Harvey pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steven Harvey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xu Khadka.
Harvey darts in trying to clinch
enabling Khadka to counter with a crisp jab.
Khadka has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khadka swats away the attempt to clinch by Harvey.
Danga de danga de dang - Khadka scores with a four punch combination!
Harvey shoots in for a takedown but Khadka shows good takedown defense.
Harvey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harvey tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Khadka counter with a right hand.
Harvey tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Khadka defends well and Harvey ends up having to push Khadka into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harvey is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khadka pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Khadka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harvey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Khadka shoots in looking for a takedown. Harvey tries to sprawl out of it but Khadka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harvey manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khadka misses with a head kick.
Khadka throws a right hand that Harvey ducks under and follows up with a left that Harvey also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Khadka is defended easily by Harvey.
Khadka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harvey swivels and escapes.

Khadka instigates a clinch.
Harvey wants to break free but Khadka has control.
Harvey has Khadka pressed against the cage, preventing Khadka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harvey drags the fight down to the ground.
Khadka preventing the sweep.

Khadka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Khadka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harvey swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Khadka throws a strike but Harvey rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Harvey stops Khadka from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harvey stands up from Khadka's guard - Harvey perhaps looking for a knockout.
Khadka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Harvey sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Khadka somewhat.
Nice takedown defense from Khadka. No joy for Harvey on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harvey wants to clinch up but Khadka keeps it at a distance.
Khadka tries a head kick but it misses.
Harvey slaps away a takedown attempt from Khadka, before circling back to the center of the mat.

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 Steven Harvey.
Well Khadka 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 Saam Ante scores the fight for Xu Khadka!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Xu Khadka!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Xu Khadka!

Xu Khadka wins by unanimous decision!