PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haji Muakbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Harbor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muakbar comes to the cage accompanied by That Punjabi Jay-Z song. James Harbor is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Muakbar
vs
Harbor

171 cm
38
192 lbs
32 - 20 - 2

184 cm
31
193 lbs
23 - 21 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 32 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Haji Muakbar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Harbor!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harbor throws a series of strikes that have Muakbar backpedaling.
Harbor swats away the attempt to clinch by Muakbar.
Muakbar walks into a stiff left hand from Harbor.
Muakbar misses with a low kick.
Harbor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Muakbar.
Muakbar misses with a combination

so Harbor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Harbor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harbor postures up in Muakbar's guard and throws a big left but Muakbar blocks it.
Muakbar seems keen to control Harbor's posture.
Muakbar is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Bad Pluto! (18 Elite Coach) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Muakbar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Muakbar is pulling down on Harbor's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harbor is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harbor works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Harbor is trying to work for a kimura but Muakbar is defending well.
Harbor works his way into side control.
Harbor tries to move to mount but Muakbar blocks the move with his legs.
Harbor tries to advance to mount but Muakbar instead regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Harbor looks to land a strike but Muakbar avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Harbor passes into half guard.
Harbor is just content to waste time from the top position. Muakbar takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Muakbar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harbor is one step ahead there.
Harbor's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harbor pushing down on Muakbar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Harbor is keen to just control but Muakbar is a slippery customer.
Muakbar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Harbor.
Harbor is thwarting Muakbar's attempts to control the position.
Harbor wants to control but Muakbar is keeping him busy.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ground and pound from Harbor.
Muakbar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Harbor is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Muakbar defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harbor thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Muakbar's head.
Harbor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Harbor seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Harbor looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Muakbar wants to control but Harbor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Harbor throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Harbor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Harbor misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Muakbar counter with a right hand.
Harbor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Harbor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Harbor.
Harbor lands a jab to Muakbar's midsection.
Haji Muakbar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Muakbar wants to clinch up but Harbor keeps it at a distance.
Muakbar doesn't manage to clinch there - Harbor circles away.
Muakbar tries to move into range but Harbor moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Harbor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Harbor is looking to work some ground and pound but Muakbar has wrist control.
Muakbar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Harbor controls the pace.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Muakbar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Harbor.
Harbor wants to pass the guard but Muakbar is keeping the position.
Harbor wants to control from the top but Muakbar keeps moving.
Muakbar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muakbar wants to sweep but no luck.
Muakbar wants to get back to his feet but Harbor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Decent striking displayed by Harbor there.
Harbor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A swing and a miss from Muakbar.
Harbor lunges at Muakbar with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Muakbar's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harbor jabs at Muakbar's body.
Muakbar lands with a shot to the body.
Harbor thuds his right hand into Muakbar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Harbor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Harbor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muakbar.
Muakbar takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harbor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Muakbar. Muakbar circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Muakbar fails to land with a series of punches.
Harbor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
James Harbor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Muakbar throws a hook but Harbor blocks it.

Muakbar fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Harbor to the ground. Muakbar is now in Harbor's guard.
Harbor tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Muakbar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harbor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Muakbar has managed to get both his arms back between Harbor's legs - danger averted.
Muakbar controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Harbor has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $625 fee). Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Harbor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Muakbar wants to control from the top but Harbor keeps moving.
Harbor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Muakbar.

Harbor working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Muakbar has passed into half guard!
The fighters are battling for position here. Harbor manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Muakbar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James Harbor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harbor keeping moving, preventing Muakbar from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Harbor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harbor keeping moving, preventing Muakbar from controlling successfully.
Harbor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Muakbar is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Harbor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Harbor has his hands on Muakbar's head, controlling the position.
Muakbar trying to control but Harbor is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fighters circle momentarily. Harbor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Harbor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Harbor looking to score a takedown here. Muakbar is defending well but Harbor drives through and ends up in Muakbar's guard.
Muakbar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Harbor.
Harbor looking to pass the guard.
Harbor throws a big elbow that misses.
Harbor throwing strikes but missing.
Harbor looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harbor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Harbor trying to control but Muakbar is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harbor slips a jab and a cross from Muakbar.
Harbor has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Muakbar tries to clinch there but Harbor circles away.
Haji Muakbar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Muakbar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Harbor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harbor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Harbor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Muakbar is fending him off so far but Harbor persists. Nope, Muakbar circles away and we're back to standing.
Good shot there by Harbor.
Muakbar tries to land a leg kick but Harbor saw it coming and moves away.
Harbor feints the counter takedown.
Muakbar scores with a jab to the head.
Harbor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Harbor fails with a takedown attempt.
Muakbar misses the jab.
Muakbar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Harbor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Muakbar defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Muakbar looks to land a left hand but Harbor moved out of range nicely.
Harbor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Muakbar manages to avoid it.
Muakbar looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Muakbar takes one to the chin there.
Harbor ducks under a wild hook from Muakbar.
Harbor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Haji Muakbar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Harbor.
Muakbar misses the jab.
Muakbar walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Muakbar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Harbor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Muakbar misses the jab.
Muakbar is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Harbor's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Muakbar takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Muakbar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jab from Harbor.
Muakbar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Left hook, right uppercut from Harbor.
Muakbar misses with a hook.
Muakbar just misses with a punch to the body.
Harbor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muakbar.
Harbor scores with the left hand. Muakbar knows he should have avoided that one.
Good exchange - Harbor coming out on top.

Muakbar is rocked!
Harbor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muakbar.
Muakbar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Harbor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Muakbar.
Harbor catches Muakbar with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Haji Muakbar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harbor with a hook.
Oh Muakbar is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Harbor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It looked like Muakbar wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Muakbar slips a jab and a cross from Harbor.
Muakbar seems to have got his legs back now.
Muakbar looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Harbor cracks Muakbar with a right hand to the side of the head.
Muakbar walks into a stiff left hand from Harbor.
Harbor drops Muakbar with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Muakbar! Harbor dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Harbor!
James Harbor decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.