PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harlan Warren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Powers (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.

Warren
vs
Powers

203 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Harlan Warren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Max Powers!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Warren sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Warren was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Powers closes the distance and clinches up with Warren, looking for a takedown. Powers pushes Warren against the cage but Warren circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Powers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Warren half committed to a counter leg kick.

Powers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Powers looking to stall.
Powers is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Powers is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Warren pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Harlan Warren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Powers.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers is trying to pull guard but Warren turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Warren decides to pull guard.
Warren is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Warren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Warren haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Warren has his hands on Powers's head, controlling the position.
Warren keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Warren pulls Powers in close to prevent any damage.

That's two 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.
Warren is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Warren looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Powers with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Warren seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powers wants to get back to full guard.
Powers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Warren. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Warren is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Powers is just riding it out for now. Warren eventually gives up the hold.
Powers wants to control but Warren is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Warren decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Warren misses with a takedown attempt
and Powers counters with a stiff right hand.
Warren stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Warren wants it to stay on the feet.
Powers throws a right hand that Warren ducks under and follows up with a left that Warren also avoids with ease.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Powers.
Warren throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Powers tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Warren throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Powers was covering up waiting for the punch and Warren finishes the takedown easily into guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Warren gets to his feet. Powers looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Powers tries for a takedown but Warren sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Powers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Powers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Warren as he jumps to the side.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Powers misses with a takedown attempt
and Powers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Powers goes for a double leg but Warren avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Warren continues to drive forward.
Warren blocks a head kick by Powers.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Powers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Warren is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Powers.
Harlan Warren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Powers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Warren defends well and Powers ends up having to push Warren into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Warren seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Warren closes the distance and clinches.

Warren breaks the clinch.
Warren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Powers can do to turn this around?
Powers throws a right and a left that Warren avoids nicely.
Powers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Warren is fending him off so far but Powers persists. Nope, Warren circles away and we're back to standing.
Warren is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Powers.
A nice leg kick lands there from Warren.
Warren throws a head kick that misses.
Max Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers shoots for a takedown but Warren saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Harlan Warren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Powers.
Powers tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Warren manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Warren is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Powers.

Warren has managed to clinch.
Powers is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Warren to keep the fight standing.
Powers wants to get back to striking at distance but Warren won't allow it.
Powers can't break the clinch.

Warren jumps guard and drags Powers to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Warren seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Warren continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Warren is on top in guard.

Warren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Warren is looking to work some ground and pound but Powers has wrist control.
Warren postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Warren postures up in Powers's guard and throws a big left but Powers blocks it.
Warren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Warren lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Warren is controlling him.
Warren scoring with punches to the head and body.

Powers isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Warren stacks Powers on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Warren!
Harlan Warren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Warren cracks Powers with a big right hand but Powers just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Warren decides to stand up, so the ref orders Powers to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Warren. No joy for Powers on that attempt.
Warren keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Warren moves into the clinch.
Warren is trying to break the clinch but Powers is controlling him.
Powers wants a takedown.
Warren tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Powers avoids it.
Warren tries to score a body lock takedown but Powers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Powers tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Warren just stands there and leans against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Powers is looking to take this one to the mat.
Powers is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Warren gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Powers is breathing heavily.
Powers prevents a takedown attempt there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Powers fails in his attempt to clinch.

Warren darts in and clinches Powers up against the cage.
Powers tries to circle away but Warren has him pinned against the cage.
Powers is pressed up against the cage. Warren has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Powers down to the mat. Powers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Powers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Warren appears to be looking for a big counter.

Warren clinches up with Powers and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Warren has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Powers is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Powers is trying to drag Warren to the mat but Warren just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers tries to score a body lock takedown but Warren shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Harlan Warren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Powers.

Warren pulls guard effortlessly.
Warren controlling the position.
Powers would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Warren trying to control the position here.

Warren pushes Powers off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers dives in for a single leg takedown but Warren sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Warren appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Warren misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Powers is looking to clinch but Warren is avoiding it.

Warren shoots in and bounces Powers off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Warren accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Warren has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Warren is standing up over Powers. Powers looks to escape but Warren dives into side control.

Warren is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Powers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Warren decides to stand up, so the ref orders Powers to his feet.

Warren feints and as Powers raises his hands in defense, Warren changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Powers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Warren lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to stand and escape but Warren is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Warren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Warren will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Powers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Warren.
Powers trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Powers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powers shoots in and drives through. Warren sprawls well.
Powers keeps the fight on the outside.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Warren gets the takedown into side control.
Max Powers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harlan Warren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harlan Warren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Warren 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harlan Warren!