PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Victor Selassie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Harrison will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Selassie
vs
Harrison

186 cm
30
179 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

186 cm
27
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Phantom Fightwear

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Selassie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jim Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrison fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice combination there by Selassie.
Harrison takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Selassie gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Selassie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Selassie works the jab nicely.
Harrison's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Selassie connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Harrison scrambles back to his feet.
Selassie throws a lazy right hand but Harrison sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Harrison tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Selassie is able to avoid easily.
Harrison cracks Selassie with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Selassie definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab by Harrison.
Harrison lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Harrison.
Selassie misses with a head kick.
Harrison misses with a double jab.
Harrison looks to land a left hand but Selassie moved out of range nicely.
Harrison slips under a jab from Selassie.
Selassie misses with an uppercut.
Selassie scores with a jab to the jaw.
Harrison looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jim Harrison seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harrison throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Selassie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Selassie was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Harrison.
Selassie swings widly with a right hand
and Harrison counters with a series of strikes. Selassie will be more careful next time no doubt.

It looks like Victor Selassie has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Harrison. Those never looked like landing.
Harrison lands a slapping body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Selassie misses with a low kick as Harrison jumps back.
Harrison misses with a leg kick.
Harrison lands a really nice looking cross but Selassie seems unphased.
Selassie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Selassie connects with a body shot that sends Harrison's belly button to the back.
Harrison throws a hook to the side of Selassie's head but Selassie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harrison tries to clinch there but Selassie circles away.
Harrison scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Selassie throws a shot from downtown. Harrison moves away and avoids it.
Harrison swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Selassie throws an overhand right that lands on Harrison's shoulder, as Harrison tries to avoid the shot.
As Selassie backs off Harrison throws a huge counter combo but Selassie manages to avoid it all.
Harrison lands a really nice looking cross but Selassie seems unphased.
Selassie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Harrison throws a right and a left that Selassie avoids nicely.
Selassie avoids the body shot from Harrison.
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!
Harrison just misses with a punch to the body.

Harrison drives through and clinches with Selassie against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Harrison on the inside.
Selassie is trying to drag Harrison to the mat but Harrison just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Selassie gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Harrison taking some punishment here, with Selassie in his half guard.
Selassie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Selassie thows a huge punch but Harrison dodges it nicely.
Harrison is staying active underneath Selassie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Selassie wants to free his trapped foot but Harrison is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Selassie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selassie uses his free foot to push down on Harrison's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Harrison.
Selassie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrison tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Selassie lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Harrison hang on?
Harrison tries to lock up and control but Selassie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Harrison really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Selassie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Selassie wants to control but instead Harrison manages to regain half guard.
Harrison blocking the ground and pound attempt from Selassie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Selassie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Selassie passes to side control.
Harrison is not content to let Selassie control the position.
Selassie advances to full mount.
Harrison is squirming around, avoiding Selassie's attempts to control the action.
Selassie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jim Harrison will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Victor Selassie's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Selassie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Selassie thuds a left hand into Harrison's body.
Selassie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harrison bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jim Harrison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Selassie loads up on a big right hand but Harrison slips the punch.
Selassie misses with a leg kick.
Harrison slips a jab from Selassie.
Selassie misses with an uppercut. Harrison saw that one coming.
Harrison ducks right into an uppercut from Selassie.
Selassie scores with a nice right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Harrison, as that shot connected.
Harrison shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Selassie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Selassie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harrison works the jab nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harrison misses with a series of wild punches.
Jim Harrison seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Harrison gets caught flat footed, as Selassie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selassie trying to control but Harrison is working from the bottom.
Harrison wants to sweep here but Selassie controlling him for the moment.
Selassie trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Selassie 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Selassie cracks Harrison with a solid left hand.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Selassie here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Selassie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Selassie trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Selassie blocks a head kick by Harrison.
Harrison misses with a combination
enabling Selassie to counter with a crisp jab.
Harrison tries to land a body kick
enabling Selassie to counter with a crisp jab.
Selassie tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Harrison defends well and Selassie ends up having to push Harrison into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Harrison loads up on a big right hand but Selassie slips the punch.
Selassie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harrison staying out of range there.
The fighters circling - Harrison throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Selassie misses the target.
Selassie throws a hook but Harrison blocks it.
Selassie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Harrison to score with a decent uppercut.
Jim Harrison is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Selassie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Harrison's guard.
Selassie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Selassie wants to control but Harrison is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Selassie working the head with strikes.
A lull in the action here as Selassie stalls from top position.
Selassie working away.
Harrison is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Selassie is controlling him well.
Selassie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harrison keeps working.
Check out the look on Selassie's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Selassie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Victor Selassie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Harrison tries to clinch up.
Selassie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harrison.
An attempted straight right counter from Selassie misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Selassie. Harrison does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harrison lands a jab-cross combination.
Harrison throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Harrison, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Harrison lands a nice looking body shot.
Harrison throws a right hand that Selassie ducks under and follows up with a left that Selassie also avoids with ease.
Harrison walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Harrison is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Selassie throws a series of punches but Harrison moves out of range.
Harrison throws an off balance right hand
and Selassie counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harrison displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Selassie throws out the jab.
Harrison moves out of range as Selassie strikes.
Selassie is looking to score with low kicks.
Selassie cracks Harrison with an open hand slap.
Harrison tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Selassie is able to avoid easily.
Selassie misses with a hook. Harrison ducked under it nicely.
Some wild striking there from Harrison.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Harrison. Those never looked like landing.
A big right from Selassie misses.
A nice side step and Harrison releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Selassie throws a combination. Harrison tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Harrison takes a jab right on the kisser.
Harrison tries to clinch but Selassie moves out of range.
Selassie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Harrison.
Selassie throws a right hand that misses
and Harrison cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Selassie rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Harrison counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Harrison avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Selassie takes a swing at Harrison's ribcage but misses.
Harrison scores with a body shot.
Harrison ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Harrison misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harrison scores with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Selassie lands with a right hand.
Selassie misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Selassie connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Harrison scrambles back to his feet.

Harrison closes the distance and clinches.
Harrison throws an elbow but it misses.
Harrison lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Selassie gets through Harrison's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Selassie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Selassie can't get the takedown.
A hook to the body from Harrison.
Selassie tries for a takedown but Harrison manages to get underhooks.
Selassie misses with a knee strike.
A head punch on the inside from Selassie fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harrison.
Selassie landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Selassie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Selassie tries for a takedown but Harrison manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Selassie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from Harrison.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison scores with a shot to the side of Selassie's head.
Harrison scores with a shoulder strike.
Selassie lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jim Harrison seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Harrison pressing his opponent against the cage.
Harrison throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Selassies head.
Selassie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Harrison pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Selassie breaks from the clinch.
Harrison tries to close the distance and clinch up but Selassie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harrison misses with a shot to the body
and Selassie counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut lands for Selassie. That snapped Harrison's head back.
The crowd cheers as Selassie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Harrison doesn't seem phased though.
Selassie tries to land a front kick but Harrison steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Harrison is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Selassie has closed the distance and engaged Harrison in a clinch.
Selassie throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Selassie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Harrison moves into the clinch.

Selassie breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harrison looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Selassie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Selassie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Harrison.
Harrison fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Selassie is out of range.
Selassie wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Selassie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Selassie is looking to clinch but Harrison is avoiding it.
Harrison takes one to the side of the head.
Harrison avoids the head kick by Selassie.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harrison tries to clinch up.
Selassie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Harrison scores with a body shot.
Harrison throws a shot to the body.

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 Victor Selassie.
I think Selassie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jim Harrison!
An out of breath Jim Harrison thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.