PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frane Harm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexy Stakhanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harm comes to the cage accompanied by gangs of new york. Alexy Stakhanov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Harm
vs
Stakhanov

178 cm
23
223 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

184 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frane Harm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexy Stakhanov!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stakhanov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Harm throws a front kick that sends Stakhanov stumbling back into the cage.
Harm scores with a decent looking hook.
Frane Harm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stakhanov tries a head kick but it misses.
Stakhanov looks for the body kick but Harm saw that one coming.
Stakhanov connects with a leg kick. Harm looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Stakhanov throws a sloppy head kick
and Stakhanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stakhanov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Harm.
And Stakhanov responds with a good body kick, but Harm manages to step out the way in time.
Harm shoots in for a takedown but Stakhanov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Harm shoots in looking for a takedown. Stakhanov tries to sprawl out of it but Harm keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stakhanov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harm misses the shot to the body.
Stakhanov follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Good standup being displayed there by Harm as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stakhanov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Harm throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stakhanov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stakhanov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Harm.
Harm lands with a straight right. Stakhanov didn't see that one coming.
Harm misses with a lunging right hand

and Stakhanov moves into the clinch.
Stakhanov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stakhanov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Harm manages to break the clinch.
Harm definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Harm bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stakhanov's head backwards.
Stakhanov wants to clinch.
Stakhanov throws a solid leg kick but Harm takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Stakhanov.

Harm looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stakhanov!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harm working the head with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Stakhanov's face as Harm controls the position.
Stakhanov taking a bit of punishment here - Harm scoring with strikes.
Harm misses with the ground and pound.
An elbow from Harm crashes against the mat.
Harm wants to control but Stakhanov is keeping him busy.
Stakhanov tries to escape but Harm is in control.
Harm misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stakhanov is pushing Harm's head away, looking to escape. Harm manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stakhanov seems a little lost for a moment, as Harm dominates the positioning.
Harm misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Harm seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Harm misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Harm scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Harm fakes the leg kick and cracks Stakhanov in the body.
Stakhanov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Harm looks for the body kick but Stakhanov saw that one coming.
Harm thuds his shin into the meat of Stakhanov's side.
Stakhanov throws a wild body kick that Harm sees coming a mile off.
Harm scores with a kick to the body.
Harm fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stakhanov on the side of the head.
Harm fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frane Harm. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harm misses with a body shot.
Stakhanov staying out of range there.
Harm throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stakhanov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Harm throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stakhanov wants to counter with a clinch but Harm pushes him away.
Harm throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stakhanov flicks out a counter leg kick but Harm steps away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stakhanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Harm misses the shot to the body.
Stakhanov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Stakhanov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stakhanov wants it to stay on the feet.
Stakhanov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Stakhanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harm lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stakhanov takes a step back to recover.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stakhanov misses with a wild body shot.
Harm stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stakhanov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Harm to score with a decent uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harm. Stakhanov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stakhanov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Harm can pounce on him.
Stakhanov looks to score with a jab to the body but Harm is just out of range.
Stakhanov slips under a jab.
Harm throws the left hand but Stakhanov avoids the punch easily.
Harm lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harm lands a nice looking body kick.
Stakhanov slips under a jab.
Jab by Harm.
Stakhanov tries to land a front kick but Harm steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Harm misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harm throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stakhanov on the side of the head.
Stakhanov is looking to land body kicks.
Good shot there by Harm.
Harm fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice body kick from Harm.
Stakhanov slips a jab from Harm.
Despite the aggression on Stakhanov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Stakhanov looks to land a body kick but Harm moved away.
Harm tries to land a front kick but Stakhanov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Harm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stakhanov throws a wild body kick that Harm sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harm lets loose with a powerful body kick. Stakhanov will feel that in the morning.
A head kick from Stakhanov lands but Harm takes it in his stride.

It looks like Frane Harm has been cut.
Harm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Harm misses with a looping left.
Harm bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harm sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harm tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Harm throws a push kick but Stakhanov slaps the foot to one side.
Stakhanov throws a fast counter high kick but Harm manages to duck under it in time.
Stakhanov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harm ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Harm throws a lazy right hand but Stakhanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Harm waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stakhanov.
Harm scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stakhanov throws a push kick but Harm slaps the foot to one side.
Frane Harm is winning the standup battle so far.
Stakhanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Harm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stakhanov throws a lazy head kick
and Harm counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Harm lunges at Stakhanov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Stakhanov's hand.
A head kick misses from Stakhanov.
Harm throws out a powerful jab.
A low kick from Stakhanov is predictable there
and Harm cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Good work by Harm as he checks the leg kick.
Harm throws a series of punches but Stakhanov moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stakhanov, right into the meat.
Stakhanov lands a front kick.
Harm avoids the head kick by Stakhanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harm throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stakhanov has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Harm.
Harm keeps Stakhanov at a distance using the push kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harm pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stakhanov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Harm lands a leg kick that knocks Stakhanov off balance momentarily.
Harm throws a wild body kick that Stakhanov sees coming a mile off.
Harm misses with a straight right.
Harm avoids a kick to the body.
Harm fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stakhanov moves out of range of the body kick.
Stakhanov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Stakhanov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stakhanov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Harm throwing a counter right hand but Stakhanov manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frane Harm dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frane Harm's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stakhanov scores with a push kick.
Stakhanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Harm missing with a left hand there. Stakhanov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stakhanov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Harm swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Harm just misses with a punch to the body.
Harm lands a glancing blow to the side of Stakhanov's head.
Stakhanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It appears Harm was looking to counter with a kick there.
Stakhanov tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stakhanov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harm smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Stakhanov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stakhanov throws a head kick but Harm moves out of range.
Harm misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harm misses with a jab, cross combination.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Stakhanov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A swing and a miss from Harm.
Stakhanov throws a body punch but Harm moves out of range.
Stakhanov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stakhanov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Stakhanov moves out of range of the strikes.
Harm throws a head kick that misses.
Harm swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stakhanov feints a counter leg kick.
Stakhanov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stakhanov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Harm is able to avoid easily.
Stakhanov is looking to clinch but Harm is avoiding it.
It appears Harm was looking to counter with a kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stakhanov scores with a kick to the body.
Harm tries to land a front kick but Stakhanov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Stakhanov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Harm.
Stakhanov lands a jab to Harm's midsection.
Stakhanov doesn't manage to clinch there - Harm circles away.
Stakhanov throws a sloppy head kick and Harm moves out of range easily.
Stakhanov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alexy Stakhanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stakhanov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Harm.
Harm appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Stakhanov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stakhanov works Harm's body with a nice hook.
Stakhanov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Harm pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Alexy Stakhanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Harm crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Stakhanov - the referee stops the clock and Harm gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Stakhanov. Harm manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Stakhanov.
Stakhanov scores with a nice body kick.
Stakhanov misses with a kick to the body.
Stakhanov lands a head kick. Harm smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Stakhanov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Harm has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Harm and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Harm misses with a low kick.
Stakhanov counters with a body kick.
That kick from Stakhanov tenderised Harm's leg. Harm is trying to keep his angry face on.
Stakhanov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Stakhanov misses with a head kick.
Stakhanov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stakhanov avoids the head kick by Harm.
Stakhanov flicks out a counter leg kick but Harm steps away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stakhanov defending well as Harm loads up on a big left hand.
And Stakhanov responds with a good body kick, but Harm manages to step out the way in time.
Harm misses with a wild body shot.
Harm takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Harm pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stakhanov throws a big counter head kick but Harm avoids it with no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice jab there from Harm.
Stakhanov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Harm.
Stakhanov follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Stakhanov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Harm pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Stakhanov back to the cage. Harm follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Stakhanov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stakhanov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Stakhanov.
Stakhanov throws a push kick but Harm slaps the foot to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexy Stakhanov.
I think Harm has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frane Harm!
A very excited looking Frane Harm made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.