PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anselmo Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessandro Maximilian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alessandro Maximilian acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Harris
vs
Maximilian

184 cm
22
184 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

183 cm
32
183 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anselmo Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alessandro Maximilian!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harris moves in looking to clinch but Maximilian pushes him off.
Maximilian changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Harris moves into the clinch successfully.
We've been hearing reports that Harris has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Harris pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Harris.
Harris fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Maximilian is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Harris tries to pull guard but Maximilian won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anselmo Harris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maximilian is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Harris pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maximilian is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Harris gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Maximilian prevents a takedown attempt there.

Harris has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Maximilian is trying to keep an underhook but Harris manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris trying to mount his opponent but Maximilian defends it.
Harris stalling.
Harris's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Harris trying to mount his opponent but Maximilian defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Harris is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Maximilian wants to get back to his feet.
Harris takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Harris tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maximilian swivels and escapes.
Maximilian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maximilian tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Harris moves in looking to clinch but Maximilian pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris looks to land a combination but Maximilian avoids it well.
Maximilian changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Harris misses with a straight left.
And Maximilian tries to counter it with a takedown but Harris pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Harris looks for a takedown but Maximilian sprawls well.
Harris fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maximilian drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Harris defends it well.
Harris tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maximilian manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maximilian changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Harris will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And Maximilian tries to counter it with a takedown but Harris pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Anselmo Harris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harris lands a slapping body shot.
Maximilian stuffs the takedown.
Maximilian drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Harris defends it well.
Harris is looking to clinch but Maximilian is avoiding it.
Maximilian with the counter takedown but Harris avoids it easily.
Harris changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maximilian tries to avoid it but Harris manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maximilian to the ground. Maximilian escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maximilian changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Harris shoots in and drives through. Maximilian sprawls well.
No luck for Harris with that takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maximilian stuffs the takedown.
Maximilian tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Harris goes for a double leg but Maximilian avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Maximilian continues to drive forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alessandro Maximilian will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harris throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And Maximilian tries to counter it with a takedown but Harris pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximilian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maximilian feints the counter takedown.
Harris wants to clinch up but Maximilian keeps it at a distance.
Harris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maximilian moves out of range of the body kick from Harris.
Harris's jab looks to have found its range, popping Maximilian under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maximilian ducks under a wild hook from Harris.
No luck for Harris with that takedown attempt.
Maximilian feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Harris is defended easily by Maximilian.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anselmo Harris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximilian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And Maximilian tries to counter it with a takedown but Harris pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A big right from Harris misses.
Maximilian changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Harris doesn't manage to clinch there - Maximilian circles away.
Maximilian is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two 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.

Harris drives through with a takedown into guard.
Harris controlling from the top position.
Harris wants to control from the top but Maximilian keeps moving.
Maximilian is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Harris is controlling him.
Harris is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Maximilian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harris looking to pass the guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Harris controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Harris fails with a takedown attempt.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maximilian paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maximilian swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters circling - Harris throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And Maximilian tries to counter it with a takedown but Harris pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Alessandro Maximilian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harris dips to his left and cracks Maximilian with an uppercut!
Harris shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maximilian as he avoids it easily.
Harris moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Harris gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harris slows down the pace here.
Maximilian is working for takedown but Harris is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anselmo Harris dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Harris looks to land a right hand but Maximilian moved out of range.
Maximilian drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Harris defends it well.

Harris darts in and clinches Maximilian up against the cage.
Harris tries to pull guard but Maximilian won't allow it.
Harris prevents a takedown attempt there.

Maximilian has hold of one of Harris's legs. Harris is fighting the takedown attempt but Maximilian gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Harris is trying to keep Maximilian in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harris holds on and takes a little breather.
Harris working a defensive guard but Maximilian passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris is holding on to half guard well.
Harris is looking to control Maximilian's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Harris avoid being mounted?
Maximilian tries to stand and escape but Harris is controlling the position.
Harris wants to get back to full guard but Maximilian has mounted him!
Maximilian wants to get back to his feet but Harris is holding on tight.
Harris is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Harris keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harris wants to control but Maximilian is having none of it.
Harris really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris tries to hold on but Maximilian postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Harris is in all sorts of trouble here.
Harris wants to hold on but Maximilian pushes him away.
Maximilian tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harris is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Harris is working hard here to advance position.
Harris is trying to reverse the position but instead Maximilian has taken his back - oops!
Harris is trying to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harris trying to control the hands but Maximilian breaks the grip.
Harris rolls, trying to escape but Maximilian keeps control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alessandro Maximilian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maximilian has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!