PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Hari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hari has chosen Badr Hari as his entrance music. 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.

Fitzpatrick
vs
Hari

223 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

190 cm
23
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Fitzpatrick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Badr Hari!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hari looks to land a combination but Fitzpatrick avoids it well.
Hari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fitzpatrick shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hari misses with a double jab.

Hari closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitzpatrick manages to get to full guard.
Fitzpatrick pulls Hari in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hari looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Let's hope that Hari has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick seems keen to control Hari's posture.
Fitzpatrick can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hari controls the pace.
Hari wants to stand and escape but instead Fitzpatrick has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Fitzpatrick looking to sit in guard and control but Hari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hari wants to get up but he can't break Fitzpatrick's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hari postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hari controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Hari got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fitzpatrick has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hari has managed to get both his arms back between Fitzpatrick's legs - danger averted.
Fitzpatrick being controlled here, momentarily.
Fitzpatrick is trying to keep Hari in close.
Hari controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Hari gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari looks to land a combination but Fitzpatrick avoids it well.
Hari tries to bum rush Fitzpatrick with a series of wild strikes but Fitzpatrick uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fitzpatrick seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fitzpatrick is looking to clinch.
Fitzpatrick closes the distance and clinches up with Hari, looking for a takedown. Fitzpatrick pushes Hari against the cage but Hari circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitzpatrick.
Hari closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Dan Fitzpatrick has been cut.
Hari looks winded!
Hari tries a head kick but it misses.
Hari misses with a combination

and Fitzpatrick counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick tries to pull guard but Hari holds him up against the cage and eventually Fitzpatrick drops back down to his feet.
Fitzpatrick drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hari pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Fitzpatrick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hari throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Fitzpatrick counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick lands with a slapping head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzpatrick fails to land the takedown.
Fitzpatrick sets himself, and Hari steps forward looking for the clinch! Fitzpatrick avoids it this time.
Hari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fitzpatrick scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fitzpatrick really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hari misses with a head kick.

Hari clinches with his opponent.
Fitzpatrick is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hari gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hari is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fitzpatrick is defending well for now.
Fitzpatrick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hari to keep the fight standing.
Fitzpatrick tries to break the clinch but Hari is controlling the position.

Hari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hari throws a series of punches but Fitzpatrick avoids them all with ease.
Fitzpatrick appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Hari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Fitzpatrick's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hari throws a head kick but Fitzpatrick moves out of range.
Hari throws a chopping leg kick but Fitzpatrick manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Fitzpatrick blocks a head kick by Hari.

Hari shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hari is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Fitzpatrick has his foot on Hari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hari works his way back into a safe position though.
Hari wants to stand and escape but instead Fitzpatrick has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Hari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fitzpatrick in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fitzpatrick will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hari is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fitzpatrick loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fitzpatrick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fitzpatrick is looking to work some ground and pound but Hari has wrist control.
Fitzpatrick lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hari has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Fitzpatrick off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A low kick from Hari is predictable there

and Fitzpatrick counters by moving into the clinch.
Fitzpatrick looking for a takedown.
Hari's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Hari.
A nice left hand lands by Hari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hari just leaning against Fitzpatrick, taking a breather.
Hari putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fitzpatrick in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fitzpatrick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hari just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hari lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from Hari.
Hari avoiding damage.
Fitzpatrick can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Fitzpatrick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hari working Fitzpatrick over with knees to the body.
Fitzpatrick tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hari lands a knee to the head.
Fitzpatrick is trying to pull guard but Hari has him pressed against the cage.
Hari holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hari lands a shoulder strike.
Fitzpatrick can't find room to land a body shot as Hari controls the action.
Hari lands a good knee to the midsection. Fitzpatrick won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari looking to throw knees to the head but Fitzpatrick is blocking nicely.

Hari breaks the clinch.
Badr Hari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hari lands a jab-cross combination.

Hari throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Fitzpatrick tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hari is in Fitzpatrick's guard.

Fitzpatrick has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hari is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Hari softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fitzpatrick fails to pull guard.
Hari slows down the pace here.
Fitzpatrick tries to score a body lock takedown but Hari shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Come on Hari - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Fitzpatrick has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hari clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hari tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hari bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fitzpatrick being controlled here, momentarily.

Fitzpatrick working for a triangle but Hari defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Hari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dan Fitzpatrick's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hari misses with a two punch combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fitzpatrick is trying to drag Hari to the mat but Hari just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hari tries to stall but Fitzpatrick uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hari lands with a light punch inside.
Fitzpatrick is working for takedown but Hari is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hari.
Fitzpatrick has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Fitzpatrick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hari avoiding damage.
Fitzpatrick with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fitzpatrick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hari just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fitzpatrick changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hari fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No joy there for Hari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitzpatrick tries to counter by clinching up but Hari breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari throws a left jab followed by a right to the body, Oh Fitzpatrick colapses and takes a barrage of punches from Hari as he moves to mount! the ref stops the fight and Fitzpatrick is left battered and dazed whilst Hari and his camp cheer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Badr Hari!
A pretty intense looking Badr Hari took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.