PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elias Eberhard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keijo Harkimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Eberhard
vs
Harkimo

184 cm
36
225 lbs
26 - 12 - 0

214 cm
35
262 lbs
30 - 20 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

MayheM sportswear
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Elias Eberhard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keijo Harkimo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harkimo lands a nice shot to the body.
Eberhard misses with a body shot.
Harkimo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Harkimo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Eberhard's hands.
A swing and a miss from Eberhard.
Harkimo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Eberhard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Harkimo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Eberhard has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Stray Dogs in the buildup to the fight.
Harkimo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Eberhard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Eberhard misses with a double jab.
Eberhard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Keijo Harkimo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eberhard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Eberhard throws a hook to the side of Harkimo's head but Harkimo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Eberhard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harkimo pinned against the cage. Harkimo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Harkimo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Eberhard was well out of range. Poor timing from Harkimo.
Harkimo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harkimo scores with a decent looking hook.
Harkimo has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Harkimo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Eberhard misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkimo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Eberhard cracks Harkimo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Harkimo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Eberhard lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Harkimo scoring well with a low kick there.
Eberhard looks to score with a jab to the body but Harkimo is just out of range.
Harkimo scores with a punch to the head.
Eberhard connects with a single shot there.
Harkimo lands a nice looking body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Harkimo, as that shot connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harkimo lands a nice hook to Eberhard's body. Eberhard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Harkimo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Good shot there by Harkimo.
Harkimo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Eberhard tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Eberhard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Harkimo misses with a wild body shot.
Harkimo throws a hook but Eberhard avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harkimo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Eberhard on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Harkimo swinging wildly here.
Harkimo throws a hook but Eberhard avoids it easily.
Eberhard feinted with a counter takedown.
Eberhard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Harkimo scores with a sloppy right hand. Eberhard should have avoided that one.
Harkimo walks into a stiff left hand from Eberhard.
Harkimo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Eberhard feinted with a counter takedown.
Harkimo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Eberhard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Harkimo staying out of range there.
It seemed like Harkimo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Harkimo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Eberhard throws out the jab.
Eberhard looks to land a combination but Harkimo avoids it well.

Eberhard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Harkimo's guard.
Eberhard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eberhard working some strikes from top position.
Harkimo controls Eberhard momentarily but Eberhard frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eberhard with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eberhard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eberhard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Eberhard throws a big elbow that misses.
Eberhard stopping the sweep attempt from Harkimo.
Harkimo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Harkimo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Eberhard manages to get himself to full guard.
Eberhard keeping full guard, as Harkimo tries to pass.

Harkimo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Eberhard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Harkimo has Eberhard in his guard.
Harkimo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Harkimo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Eberhard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Eberhard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Eberhard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harkimo keeping moving, preventing Eberhard from controlling successfully.
Eberhard is in close to Harkimo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Eberhard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Eberhard trying to control the position from guard on top but Harkimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Eberhard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harkimo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eberhard has managed to get both his arms back between Harkimo's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Harkimo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Harkimo misses with an uppercut.
It looked like Eberhard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Harkimo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Eberhard.
Harkimo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Eberhard throws a big shot that misses.
Eberhard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Donk. Harkimo catches Eberhard right on the button with a cross.
Eberhard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harkimo throws a looping overhand right but Eberhard ducks down to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Harkimo. Those never looked like landing.
Harkimo avoids the body shot from Eberhard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harkimo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Eberhard looks to score with a jab to the body but Harkimo is just out of range.
Harkimo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Eberhard misses with a hook. Harkimo ducked under it nicely.
Harkimo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Eberhard in his tracks.
Harkimo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkimo takes a swing at Eberhard's ribcage but misses.
Eberhard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Harkimo.
Harkimo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Harkimo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Eberhard connects with a nice looking jab.
Harkimo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Eberhard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Harkimo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Harkimo slips under a jab from Eberhard.
Keijo Harkimo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harkimo slips under a jab from Eberhard.
Eberhard looks to land a right hand but Harkimo moved out of range.
Harkimo scores with a body shot.
Eberhard looks to land a combination but Harkimo avoids it well.
Eberhard shoots in looking for a takedown but Harkimo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Eberhard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Eberhard moves away from the strike by Harkimo.
Eberhard takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Harkimo swings for the body but Eberhard moves out of range.
Eberhard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Eberhard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Harkimo counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elias Eberhard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Eberhard slips under a jab from Harkimo.
Eberhard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Harkimo sprawls and moves away.
Harkimo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Eberhard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Harkimo's head backwards.

Eberhard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Harkimo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Harkimo gets through Eberhard's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Eberhard struggles to land a body shot inside as Harkimo controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Harkimo.
Harkimo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Eberhard backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harkimo.
Eberhard lands a shoulder strike.
Eberhard swings wildly with an uppercut but Harkimo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harkimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Harkimo can't find room to land a body shot as Eberhard controls the action.
Eberhard can't find room to land a body shot as Harkimo controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harkimo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Harkimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Eberhard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Still in the clinch, Harkimo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Harkimo misses with a punch on the inside.
Harkimo tries a body shot but Eberhard blocks it.
Eberhard tries to work over Harkimo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Eberhard lands a shot to the body.
Harkimo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Eberhard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Harkimo misses with the head strike.
Harkimo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Eberhard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Harkimo misses with a body punch.
Eberhard scores with a shot to the side of Harkimo's head.
Eberhard blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harkimo can't find room to land a body shot as Eberhard controls the action.
Eberhard lands a right hand.
Eberhard blocking some punches.
Eberhard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Eberhard is leaning against Harkimo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Harkimo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Harkimo scores with a shot to the side of Eberhard's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harkimo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Eberhard pushes Harkimo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Harkimo misses with a punch to the body.
Eberhard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Harkimo backwards.
Eberhard lands a nice shot to the body.
Eberhard works on Harkimo's body with a couple of short punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Eberhard.
Eberhard lands a body shot.
Eberhard misses with a body punch.
Elias Eberhard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Harkimo can't find room to land a body shot as Eberhard controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Keijo Harkimo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Eberhard connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Harkimo throws a body shot but no joy.
Eberhard changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Harkimo lands with a right hand.
Eberhard slips a straight right by Harkimo.
A punch lands to the side of Harkimo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Eberhard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Eberhard lands with a straight right. Harkimo didn't see that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Eberhard.
Harkimo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Harkimo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Harkimo lunges at Eberhard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Eberhard's hand.
Harkimo swings for the body but Eberhard moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Harkimo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Harkimo throws a shot from downtown. Eberhard moves away and avoids it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harkimo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Eberhard.
Eberhard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Harkimo manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkimo throws a hook to the side of Eberhard's head but Eberhard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harkimo misses with a body shot.
Harkimo throws a lazy right hand but Eberhard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Harkimo takes a swing at Eberhard's ribcage but misses.
Harkimo scores with a leg kick.
Eberhard misses with the combination.
Eberhard moves out of range of the leg kick from Harkimo.
Harkimo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Harkimo throws a body punch but Eberhard moves out of range.
Harkimo throws a looping overhand right but Eberhard ducks down to avoid it.
Harkimo lands a head kick!
Harkimo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fight stays on the outside here - Eberhard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Harkimo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Eberhard.
Keijo Harkimo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eberhard throws a body shot but no joy.
Harkimo throws a leg kick which misses Eberhard's front leg but catches the back leg as Eberhard tries to avoid it.
Eberhard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Harkimo.
Harkimo throws a leg kick but Eberhard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Keijo Harkimo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Harkimo stuffs the takedown attempt from Eberhard. Eberhard gets slowly back to his feet.
Eberhard shoots in for a takedown but Harkimo shows good takedown defense.
Harkimo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elias Eberhard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harkimo moves out of range as Eberhard strikes.
Eberhard looks to land a left hand but Harkimo moved out of range nicely.
Eberhard defending well as Harkimo loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eberhard lands with a shot to the body.
Eberhard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Eberhard misses with a wild body shot.
Eberhard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harkimo circles away.
Harkimo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Harkimo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Eberhard looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harkimo delivers a nice body kick.
Nice jab there from Harkimo.
Harkimo throws out a loose jab but Eberhard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harkimo misses with a wild body shot.
Harkimo takes one on the button.
Eberhard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Eberhard misses with a looping left.
Eberhard gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Harkimo. Eberhard shrugs it off though.
The fighters circling - Eberhard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Eberhard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Eberhard misses with a hook.
Eberhard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Harkimo manages to avoid it.
Harkimo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Eberhard feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harkimo defending well as Eberhard loads up on a big left hand.
Harkimo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Eberhard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harkimo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Eberhard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Eberhard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Eberhard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Good exchange - Eberhard coming out on top.
Harkimo moves out of range as Eberhard strikes.

Eberhard rushes Harkimo and presses him up against the cage.
Harkimo blocking some punches.
Eberhard misses with a punch on the inside.
Harkimo throws a head punch that misses.
Elias Eberhard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A body shot lands from Eberhard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Harkimo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Harkimo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Harkimo!
A very excited looking Keijo Harkimo 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.