PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleveland Harding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Graybutt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Graybutt has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harding
vs
Graybutt

154 cm
20
278 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
18
276 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cleveland Harding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jackson Graybutt!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graybutt fails with a takedown attempt.
Harding misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jackson Graybutt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Harding shoots in and bounces Graybutt off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Graybutt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harding is one step ahead there.
Graybutt is trying to keep Harding in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graybutt wants to control the position but Harding says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Graybutt scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Harding manages to mount him!

Harding has control of Graybutt's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Graybutt regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Graybutt tries to lock up and control but Harding gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Harding really is a fat lump.
Harding landing shots from mount.
Harding punishing his opponent with strikes.
Graybutt just holding on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harding is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Graybutt is surviving well by controlling Harding's body position as best he can.
Graybutt taking shots to the head.
Graybutt is wriggling around trying to escape.
Harding 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.
Harding pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
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!
Graybutt working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Harding connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graybutt looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Harding lands punches and elbows.
Graybutt looks winded!

Harding is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Graybutt wants to get back to his feet.

Harding is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Harding gets his hands free as Graybutt looks to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graybutt tries to roll but Harding sticks to his back.
Graybutt keeps trying to improve his position.
Harding punishes Graybutt with strikes from the back mount.

Harding is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Harding controlling well, preventing Graybutt from escaping the position.

Harding is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Graybutt defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleveland Harding 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.

Harding blocks a head kick by Graybutt.
A quick step to the side and Harding tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Graybutt has Harding up against the cage in a clinch.
Harding is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Graybutt can do to turn this around?
Graybutt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harding to keep the fight standing.
A right hand to the body from Harding.
Harding displaying some good clinch control by pressing Graybutt up against the cage.
Harding tries to land a knee to the head but Graybutt blocks with his arms.

Graybutt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graybutt gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Graybutt leaning his opponent against the cage.
Graybutt tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding stalling.
Graybutt tries to pull guard but Harding holds him up against the cage and eventually Graybutt drops back down to his feet.
Cleveland Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackson Graybutt.

Harding breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graybutt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Graybutt is breathing heavily.
Graybutt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Harding defends it nicely.

Harding has Graybutt up against the cage in a clinch.
Harding wants to get back to striking at distance but Graybutt won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harding gets underhooks to prevent Graybutt's takedown attempt.
Graybutt keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harding's efforts to push away.
Harding looking to throw knees to the head but Graybutt is blocking nicely.

Harding breaks from the clinch.
Graybutt shoots in and drives through. Harding sprawls well.
Graybutt shoots in looking for a takedown but Harding manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Graybutt's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Harding went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Harding misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harding throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Graybutt tries for a takedown but Harding sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Harding throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Graybutt on the side of the head.

Harding pushes Graybutt up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Graybutt avoids the elbow strike from Harding, against the cage.

Harding breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Graybutt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Harding's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Harding pushes Graybutt up against the cage in a clinch.
Harding digs a right hand into Graybutt's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Graybutt's gas tank.
Harding has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Harding tries a knee to the head but Graybutt blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harding effectively controlling the action here.
Harding is trying to force a seperation but Graybutt has the dominant position.
Graybutt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Harding using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Graybutt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Graybutt misses with a hook to the ribs.
Graybutt misses with a punch to the body.

Graybutt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Harding fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Graybutt to the ground. Harding is now in Graybutt's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graybutt is trying to keep Harding in close.
Harding scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleveland Harding dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Harding goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Harding sets himself, and Graybutt steps forward looking for the clinch! Harding avoids it this time.

Graybutt moves into range and clinches up with Harding.
Graybutt goes for a takedown in the clinch but Harding prevents it.

Harding breaks from the clinch.
Harding swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Graybutt moves away from the strike by Harding.
And Graybutt tries to counter it with a takedown but Harding pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Harding pushes Graybutt up against the cage in a clinch.
Harding has had enough of the clinch but Graybutt keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding is trying to break free.

Graybutt pulls guard.

Graybutt working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Harding has passed into half guard!
Harding lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Graybutt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Graybutt on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Graybutt wants to improve his position but Harding is controlling well.
Graybutt is trying to control but Harding manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Harding cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Harding scoring with strikes but Graybutt is staying in there.
Graybutt gets back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Harding there.

Harding looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ground and pound from Harding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harding lands a nice short elbow.
Graybutt is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Harding looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Harding is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Graybutt is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Harding scores with a couple of nice shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Harding is trying to work for a kimura but Graybutt is defending well.
Jackson Graybutt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cleveland Harding is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Harding seems to be working for a kimura but Graybutt defends the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleveland Harding showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Harding 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cleveland Harding!