PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnathon Harrington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Cortes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnathon Harrington has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harrington
vs
Cortes

208 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 2

150 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnathon Harrington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darren Cortes!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Darren Cortes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Harrington moves into the clinch successfully.
Harrington really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Harrington stalling the fight.

Harrington successfully pulls guard.
Cortes trying to control but Harrington is working from the bottom.
Harrington is trying to control the position but Cortes postures up.
Cortes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Harrington will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Harrington is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harrington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cortes is one step ahead there.
Harrington wants to stand up but Cortes is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harrington has his foot on Cortes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cortes works his way back into a safe position though.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cortes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A jab from Cortes misses.
Cortes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Harrington counters by clinching up.

Harrington breaks the clinch.

Cortes clinches up against the cage.

Harrington decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrington doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cortes trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cortes is pushing down on Harrington's leg trying to pass to half guard. Harrington is fighting to maintain full guard but Cortes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cortes wants to control but Harrington is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrington wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cortes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Harrington looks like he's trying to stand up.
Harrington flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Harrington knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cortes on the ground.
Cortes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cortes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cortes trying to mount his opponent but Harrington defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrington keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Harrington has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Cortes is on him like a limpet, forcing Harrington back against the cage.

Harrington jumps guard and drags Cortes to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Harrington is trying to keep Cortes in close.
Harrington working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cortes.
Cortes wants to control from the top but Harrington keeps moving.
Harrington is trying to keep Cortes in close.
Cortes trying to control but Harrington is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Harrington's guard.
Cortes passes into half guard.
Harrington preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cortes is keen to just control but Harrington is a slippery customer.
Harrington wants to control but Cortes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harrington wants to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cortes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harrington pinned against the cage. Harrington gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnathon Harrington dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cortes misses with a double jab.
Cortes shoots for a double leg takedown but Harrington sprawls well. He's pushed Cortes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Harrington has Cortes up against the cage in a clinch.

Harrington pulls guard.
Cortes trying to control but Harrington is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortes won't allow Harrington to get back to his feet.
Cortes preventing the sweep.
Harrington tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cortes is looking to work some ground and pound but Harrington has wrist control.

Harrington working for a triangle but Cortes defends it easily.
Harrington is controlling Cortes's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cortes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cortes closes the distance and pushes Harrington back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Harrington manages to break the clinch.

Cortes closes the distance and clinches.

Harrington breaks from the clinch.
Harrington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cortes can do to turn this around?
Cortes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cortes dives in for a single leg takedown but Harrington sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johnathon Harrington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Cortes.

Harrington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Harrington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cortes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Harrington counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Harrington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harrington jumps guard.
Cortes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Harrington is proving hard to escape from.
Cortes won't allow Harrington to get back to his feet.
Harrington has his hands on Cortes's head, controlling the position.
Cortes stops Harrington from standing up.
Cortes wants to control from the top but Harrington keeps moving.
Harrington is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
Cortes trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harrington managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cortes forces Harrington back against the cage and clinches.

Harrington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Harrington decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cortes gets back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harrington wants to control from the top but Cortes keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnathon Harrington dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cortes shoots for a double leg takedown but Harrington sprawls well. He's pushed Cortes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cortes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Harrington counters with a body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cortes is defended easily by Harrington.
Johnathon Harrington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Cortes.

Harrington drives through and clinches with Cortes against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cortes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Harrington is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cortes to the mat. Cortes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Harrington controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes looking for a sweep. Not yet Cortes, not yet.
Harrington looking to pass the guard.
Harrington trying to control the position from guard on top but Cortes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harrington is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Harrington's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cortes has momentary wrist control but Harrington slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cortes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Harrington manages to get himself to full guard.

Harrington is looking for a triangle but Cortes pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cortes trying to control but Harrington is working from the bottom.
Harrington trying to control the position.
Cortes wants to control from the top but Harrington keeps moving.
Harrington pulls Cortes in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cortes is defended easily by Harrington.

Cortes drives through and clinches with Harrington against the cage.
Harrington leaning his opponent against the cage.
Harrington blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Harrington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Harrington as Cortes shoots in.
Harrington throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cortes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Harrington moves into the clinch.
Cortes tries to pull guard but Harrington won't allow it.

Harrington's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cortes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Harrington drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Harrington thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Darren Cortes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnathon Harrington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnathon Harrington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Harrington 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnathon Harrington showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Harrington has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnathon Harrington!