PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenuichio Harada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Project Joshua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Harada
vs
Joshua

199 cm
23
250 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

198 cm
22
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kenuichio Harada!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Project Joshua!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harada ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joshua moves away.
Joshua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harada as he avoids it easily.
Harada thinks about countering with a head kick.
Harada avoids the head kick by Joshua.
Harada feints and then cracks Joshua's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Joshua down.
Harada throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Joshua ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A leg kick checked by Harada.
Harada has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Madness MMA in the buildup to the fight.

Joshua decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Joshua seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harada does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Harada wants to get back to full guard.
Joshua is taking a breather. Harada says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Harada is looking for a sweep. Joshua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joshua missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harada wants to improve his position but Joshua is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Joshua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Harada manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Joshua throws an elbow that misses. Harada uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joshua's guard. Nice move by Harada!

Harada is in close to Joshua's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Harada throws a big right hand that misses.
Harada postures up.
Harada postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Harada preventing the sweep.
Harada 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.
Joshua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Harada.
Harada won't allow Joshua to sweep him here.
Harada throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joshua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Joshua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joshua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Harada pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joshua is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harada accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harada trying to control but Joshua is working from the bottom.
Joshua striking off his back but it's not causing Harada any problems.
Joshua looking to control.

Joshua looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Harada passes into half guard.
Joshua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Harada is working away from the top position though.
Joshua tries to roll over but Harada keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harada is nestled in close to Joshua, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Joshua is trying to get back to full guard.
Harada looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Joshua tries to roll over but Harada keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harada lands a nice short elbow.
Harada performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Joshua moves into full guard.
Harada makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshua trying to control the position.
Joshua is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Harada taking some punishment here, with Joshua in his half guard.
Harada works his way to full guard. Good work.
Joshua working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Harada's head.
Joshua tries to free his leg and advance position but Harada is retaining full guard.
Harada tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joshua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joshua scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Joshua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Harada throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Project Joshua will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harada motions for Joshua to come forward. Harada throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Joshua throws a nice outside leg kick.
That kick from Harada tenderised Joshua's leg. Joshua is trying to keep his angry face on.
Joshua on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Harada scores with a sloppy right hand. Joshua should have avoided that one.
Joshua misses with a leg kick
and Harada counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Joshua lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Harada has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Harada and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Joshua throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Harada stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Joshua takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A punch lands to the side of Joshua 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Joshua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Harada motions for Joshua to come forward. Harada throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kenuichio Harada is winning the standup battle so far.
Joshua pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joshua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Joshua 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.
Joshua lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Joshua checks it well.
Joshua walks into a stiff left hand from Harada.
Harada looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Joshua checks a low kick from Harada.
Harada throws a head kick that misses.
Kenuichio Harada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A chopping leg kick lands by Harada.
Harada is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joshua can do to turn this around?
Harada moves out of range of the leg kick from Joshua.
Harada throws a leg kick but Joshua sees it coming and moves out of range.

Harada cracks Joshua with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Harada has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Joshua to stand back up!

Joshua is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A thudding body kick lands there by Harada!
Joshua is still on wobbly legs! Can Harada finish him?
Harada fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Joshua to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Joshua looks to clinch but Harada throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Joshua taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Kenuichio Harada!
Kenuichio Harada retains his heavyweight title!
Kenuichio Harada thanked the fans post fight for their support.