PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harland Odom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azor Ahai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azor Ahai will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Odom
vs
Ahai

225 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harland Odom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azor Ahai!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Lou da Vinci and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Odom closes the distance and pushes Ahai back into the cage.
Odom is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ahai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Odom tries a knee to the head but Ahai blocks it.

Odom escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Odom really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Ahai scores with a takedown into Odom's guard.

Odom is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ahai presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahai has had enough of the clinch but Odom keeps him there for the moment.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Odom takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahai working hard to break the clinch.
Ahai tries to circle away but Odom has him pinned against the cage.
Odom has Ahai pushed against the cage.
Odom is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ahai gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ahai can't break the clinch.
Ahai takes a knee right on the jaw!

Odom pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odom seems keen to control Ahai's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Odom is proving hard to escape from.
Odom lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Odom is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Odom stands up from Ahai's guard - Odom perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Odom rushes Ahai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Odom content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Odom pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ahai lands a head kick!
Azor Ahai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ahai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Odom counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ahai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ahai pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ahai shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ahai was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Odom throws Ahai to one side and escapes!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harland Odom dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Azor Ahai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ahai.

Ahai shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Odom has one foot on Ahai's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ahai swinging wildly here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Odom blocks a head kick by Ahai.
Ahai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good leg kick by Ahai there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A good leg kick by Ahai.
Ahai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ahai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Odom circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ahai gets tackled into the cage by Odom. Odom maintains the clinch.
Odom is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ahai gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Odom tries to pull guard but Ahai won't allow it.

Odom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ahai throws a left and a right that both miss

and Odom decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ahai's guard.

Odom gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ahai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Odom circles away quickly and effectively.
Odom showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ahai.
Odom is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ahai can do to turn this around?
Ahai is breathing heavily.

Odom drives through and clinches with Ahai against the cage.
Odom misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahai working hard to break the clinch.
Odom jumps guard but Ahai turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harland Odom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Odom throws a knee to the head but misses.
Odom lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Odom tries to land a knee to the head but Ahai blocks with his arms.
Ahai wants to get back to striking at distance but Odom won't allow it.

Odom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahai throws a head kick but Odom moves out of range.
Ahai looks for the body kick but Odom saw that one coming.
Odom ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahai moves away.
Ahai is looking for the big counter here.
Ahai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ahai falls off balance throwing a combination
and Odom counters with a stiff right hand.
Ahai throws a hook but Odom blocks it.

Odom darts in and clinches Ahai up against the cage.
Odom is trying to pull guard but Ahai turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ahai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Odom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ahai throws a head kick that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Odom misses its target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Odom rushes Ahai and presses him up against the cage.
Ahai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ahai is trying to break the clinch but Odom is controlling him.

Odom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azor Ahai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ahai throws a body kick that misses
and Odom connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Ahai has managed to clinch.

Odom breaks the clinch.

Ahai has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Odom pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ahai throws a series of punches but Odom moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harland Odom dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ahai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Odom avoids the head kick by Ahai.

Odom has closed the distance and engaged Ahai in a clinch.
Odom using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ahai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Odom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Odom gets a clinch.
Odom prevents Ahai from breaking the clinch.

Odom pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Ahai.

Odom gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ahai to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Odom has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ahai has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Ahai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Odom tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ahai smiles and moves away.
Ahai throws the kick towards the body but Odom avoids it.

Odom gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ahai to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Odom is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ahai presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odom prevents Ahai from breaking the clinch.
Odom keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ahai's efforts to push away.
Odom drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Odom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odom throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ahai blocks it with crossed arms.
Ahai gets underhooks to prevent Odom's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harland Odom. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Odom pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Odom instigates a clinch.

Odom breaks the clinch.

Odom moves into range and clinches up with Ahai.

Odom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ahai misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ahai tries to land a front kick but Odom steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Odom is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ahai throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick misses from Ahai.
Ahai misses with a head kick.
Odom tries to counter with a takedown but Ahai is quick to defend against it.
Ahai misses with a body kick.
Odom showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ahai.
A little feinted left hand from Odom on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Odom drives through and clinches with Ahai against the cage.
Odom with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ahai tries to circle away but Odom has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harland Odom showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Odom, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harland Odom!