PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steev Mandanda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Harzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mandanda is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mandanda
vs
Harzon

188 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steev Mandanda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shaun Harzon !
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mandanda tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Harzon moves in looking to clinch but Mandanda pushes him off.
Mandanda looks to score with a jab to the body but Harzon is just out of range.
Mandanda is breathing heavily.
Mandanda looks to score with a jab to the body but Harzon is just out of range.
Harzon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mandanda avoids it really well and circles away.
Mandanda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harzon .
Harzon fails in his attempt to clinch.

Harzon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mandanda sprawls well initially but Harzon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Harzon is trying to control. Mandanda wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mandanda blocking the ground and pound attempt from Harzon .

Harzon decides to return to a standing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harzon connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mandanda takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Harzon tests Mandanda's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Steev Mandanda has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harzon connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harzon clinches up with Mandanda and pushes him back against the cage.
Harzon tries to pull guard but Mandanda won't allow it.

Harzon jumps guard.

Harzon looking for subs off his back but Mandanda has passed one foot through into half guard.
Harzon moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Harzon is trying to control the position but Mandanda postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harzon is looking for a triangle but Mandanda pushes his legs off easily.
Harzon can't keep his opponent in guard - Mandanda advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mandanda takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Mandanda is looking for a kimura here.
Harzon slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harzon controls Mandanda momentarily but Mandanda frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Harzon wants to sweep here but Mandanda controlling him for the moment.
Harzon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mandanda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Harzon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harzon can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Mandanda controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mandanda misses with a shot to the body
and Mandanda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mandanda misses with a jab to the body
and Harzon counters with a head kick.
Harzon throws a head kick but Mandanda moves out of range.
Steev Mandanda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mandanda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Harzon manages to avoid it.
Harzon wants to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Mandanda tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mandanda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harzon .
Harzon unleashes a big counter combination but Mandanda bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Harzon has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Harzon pulls guard.
Harzon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mandanda is one step ahead there.
Mandanda's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Harzon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steev Mandanda's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harzon throws a head kick that misses.
Mandanda throws a body punch but Harzon moves out of range.

Harzon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mandanda is looking for a sweep.

Harzon decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mandanda to his feet.
Shaun Harzon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harzon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mandanda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steev Mandanda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harzon has a takedown stuffed.
Harzon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mandanda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harzon cracks the inside of Mandanda's front leg.
Mandanda stuffs the takedown attempt from Harzon . Harzon gets slowly back to his feet.
Mandanda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mandanda swats away the attempt to clinch by Harzon .
Mandanda has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Harzon both land. Nice combination.
Harzon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mandanda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mandanda doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mandanda throws a shot to the body.
Harzon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Steev Mandanda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Harzon .
Mandanda takes a swing at Harzon 's ribcage but misses.
Mandanda misses with a wild body shot.
Harzon tries to counter by closing the distance.
Harzon scores with a three punch combo!
Mandanda takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Harzon scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mandanda swings for the body but Harzon moves out of range.
Mandanda misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandanda looks to score with a jab to the body but Harzon is just out of range.
Harzon tries to counter with a clinch but Mandanda shakes him off and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Mandanda. Harzon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mandanda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mandanda just misses with a punch to the body.
Harzon is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mandanda misses with a wild body shot.

Harzon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mandanda manages to work his way to half guard, despite Harzon 's best efforts.
Mandanda is controlling Harzon 's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Harzon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Harzon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mandanda is just riding it out for now. Harzon eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandanda trying to control but Harzon postures up.
Mandanda makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mandanda.
Mandanda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shaun Harzon has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Harzon stands up from Mandanda's guard - Harzon perhaps looking for a knockout.

Harzon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mandanda did well to prevent Harzon getting side control.
Mandanda gets full guard.

Mandanda has an active guard here but Harzon has managed to pass into half guard.
Mandanda is not content to let Harzon control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shaun Harzon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steev Mandanda's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mandanda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice side step and Harzon releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Mandanda is looking to wear down Harzon with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Harzon closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Harzon tries to pass to full mount but Mandanda defends it.
Mandanda trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harzon decides to stand up.
Harzon tries to close the distance and clinch but Mandanda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Harzon shoots in for a takedown but Mandanda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mandanda on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandanda taking a breather.
Harzon stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Harzon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mandanda walks away with a smile on his face. Harzon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Harzon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mandanda avoids it really well and circles away.
Steev Mandanda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Harzon .
A looping hook to the body misses from Mandanda. Harzon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mandanda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harzon .
Harzon doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Harzon shoots in for a takedown but Mandanda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mandanda misses with a body punch
and Harzon counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harzon tries to clinch up but Mandanda circles away and keeps his distance.
Mandanda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mandanda sets himself, and Harzon steps forward looking for the clinch! Mandanda avoids it this time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mandanda. Harzon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harzon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mandanda.
Harzon with the counter takedown but Mandanda avoids it easily.
Harzon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mandanda.
Harzon feints a counter leg kick.
Mandanda takes a swing at Harzon 's ribcage but misses.
Harzon wants to counter with a clinch but Mandanda pushes him away.
Harzon misses with a takedown attempt - Mandanda sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Harzon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mandanda.
Harzon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harzon is looking for the big counter here.
Harzon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mandanda defends well and Harzon ends up having to push Mandanda into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mandanda misses with a body shot.
Harzon lands a nice hook to Mandanda's body. Mandanda takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Harzon looking to score a takedown here. Mandanda is defending well but Harzon drives through and ends up in Mandanda's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mandanda keeping moving, preventing Harzon from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandanda trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Mandanda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mandanda keeping moving, preventing Harzon from controlling successfully.
Mandanda throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mandanda is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Harzon is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harzon dives in and grabs Mandanda's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mandanda pushes down on Harzon 's head and hops out.
Mandanda misses with a hook to the body
and Harzon counters with a three punch combo that has Mandanda backing up. Mandanda nods at Harzon to acknowledge the strikes.
Mandanda stuffs the takedown.
Harzon goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Harzon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mandanda swings for the body but Harzon moves out of range.
Mandanda just misses with a punch to the body.
Harzon raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mandanda looks to score with a jab to the body but Harzon is just out of range.
Harzon tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mandanda swings for the body but Harzon moves out of range.
Mandanda scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Steev Mandanda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shaun Harzon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mandanda takes a swing at Harzon 's ribcage but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Steev Mandanda.
Well Harzon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Harzon !