PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Harmon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boris Ivanov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harmon
vs
Ivanov

160 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
25
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marcel Harmon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Boris Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Harmon slips a jab from Ivanov.

Ivanov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Harmon has his hands on Ivanov's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harmon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Harmon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harmon pulls Ivanov in close to prevent any damage.
Harmon's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Harmon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Harmon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ivanov trying to control but Harmon is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Harmon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ivanov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Harmon is controlling him well.
Harmon tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Ivanov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harmon moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Ivanov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Harmon creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Harmon lands some shots froms side control.
Ivanov is trying to control Harmon's posture but Harmon avoids it.
Ivanov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Harmon's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harmon working the head and body with strikes.
Ivanov is looking to control Harmon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ivanov avoid being mounted?
Ivanov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Harmon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ivanov's guard.

Ivanov is looking for a triangle but Harmon pushes his legs off easily.
Harmon is working Ivanov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Ivanov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Harmon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Harmon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ivanov working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harmon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Ivanov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harmon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ivanov on the ground.
Ivanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Ivanov, not yet.

Ivanov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Harmon has passed into half guard!
Ivanov taking some punishment here, with Harmon in his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ivanov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Harmon.
Ivanov tries to roll over but Harmon keeps him under control.
Harmon tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ivanov controls his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marcel Harmon will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ivanov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Harmon.
Harmon takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
An inside leg kick lands from Ivanov.
Harmon fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Ivanov as Harmon shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcel Harmon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ivanov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanov scores with a head kick.
Ivanov tries to clinch up but Harmon circles away and keeps his distance.

Harmon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ivanov did well to prevent Harmon getting side control.
Marcel Harmon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harmon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ivanov defending well though.

Ivanov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harmon pulls his head out easily.
Harmon winds up and cracks Ivanov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ivanov trying to control from the bottom.

Ivanov looking for submissions off his back.
Harmon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ivanov trying to control here.
Harmon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ivanov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Harmon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ivanov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Harmon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Harmon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ivanov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Harmon throwing strikes but missing.

Ivanov has his foot on Harmon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Harmon works his way back into a safe position though.
Harmon chips away with some ground and pound.
Ivanov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Harmon chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harmon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ivanov's head.
Harmon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ivanov's head.

Ivanov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harmon defends well.
Ivanov is breathing heavily.
Harmon wanted to stand there but Ivanov had control of the position.
Harmon scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ivanov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ivanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boris Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ivanov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harmon working a defensive guard here.
Ivanov won't allow Harmon to sweep him here.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Harmon keeps moving.
Ivanov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Harmon haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Harmon is trying to control the position but Ivanov postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanov won't allow Harmon to sweep him here.
Harmon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivanov's guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harmon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Boris Ivanov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ivanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ivanov pressing his opponent against the cage.

Ivanov drags the fight down to the ground.

Ivanov has an active guard here but Harmon has managed to pass into half guard.
Harmon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Harmon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harmon working over Ivanov with some ground and pound. Ivanov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ivanov trying to hold on to Harmon's head to control him but Harmon postures up.
Harmon is nestled in close to Ivanov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Harmon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Harmon working over Ivanov with some ground and pound. Ivanov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Harmon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Harmon wants to stand up but Ivanov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ivanov wants to control but Harmon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Harmon thows a huge punch but Ivanov dodges it nicely.
Harmon tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Harmon is thwarting Ivanov's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to get back to his feet.

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

Ivanov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Harmon manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ivanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harmon pulls Ivanov in close to prevent any damage.
Ivanov trying to control but Harmon is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harmon is pulling down on Ivanov's head to control his posture.

Ivanov 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.
Ivanov slips nicely into half guard.
Harmon is trying to maintain the position but Ivanov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harmon is staying active underneath Ivanov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Harmon wants to improve his position but Ivanov is controlling well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ivanov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Harmon shoots for a double leg takedown but Ivanov sprawls well. He's pushed Harmon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ivanov lands an overhand right.
Harmon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harmon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ivanov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Harmon scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Ivanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ivanov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Boris Ivanov!