PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Harrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Harrell
vs
Stephens

222 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Harrell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephens closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Harrell quickly recovers to half guard.

Harrell kicks off Stephens and gets to his feet.
Stephens tries to clinch up.

Stephens drives through with a takedown into guard.

Stephens has gone for a leg lock! Harrell slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stephens's guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Harrell gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A bone on bone clash there as Harrell blocks the leg kick.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Harrell was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Harrell keeps the fight on the outside.
Stephens tries to clinch but Harrell moves out of range.
Harrell went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Harrell tries to sprawl but Stephens drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Harrell kicks Stephens off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrell moves out of range of the strikes.

Stephens darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Harrell manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Stephens keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Stephens looks winded!

Harrell pulls Stephens into guard.

Harrell pushes Stephens off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harrell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stephens throws a hook to the side of Harrell's head but Harrell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Harrell enables Stephens to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Harrell manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Harrell has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Stephens is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Harrell has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stephens uses from the top position.
Harrell throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Harrell has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Stephens has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Harrell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Stephens is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Harrell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Harrell has escaped and now he's on top!

Harrell stands up and waves to Stephens to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harrell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Harrell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stephens has managed to free his arm - good work.

Harrell decides to stand and escape the position.
Stephens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Harrell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like Harrell was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrell misses with a few strikes there.

Stephens fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Harrell to the ground. Stephens is now in Harrell's guard.

Harrell has his feet on Stephens's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Harrell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Stephens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Harrell looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Harrell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stephens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harrell keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Harrell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Harrell's cut.
That's time! Harrell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Harrell shoots in and bounces Stephens off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harrell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harrell is in close to Stephens's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harrell scoring with some ground and pound.

Harrell stands and steps away. Stephens gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Harrell has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Stephens is on him like a limpet, forcing Harrell back against the cage.
Stephens is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Harrell jumps guard and drags Stephens to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Harrell looking for a sweep. Not yet Harrell, not yet.
Harrell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens looking to sit in guard and control but Harrell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Harrell stands up and waves to Stephens to follow him.

Stephens gets a takedown into half guard.

Harrell kicks Stephens off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Harrell uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Harrell drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Harrell stands up and beckons Stephens to his feet.
Harrell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stephens.
Stephens tries to clinch up but Harrell circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries to clinch but Harrell is having none of it.
Chris Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A right-left combo lands from Harrell.
Harrell moves out of range of the strikes.
Harrell throws a push kick but Stephens slaps the foot to one side.
Stephens with the counter takedown but Harrell avoids it easily.
Harrell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Stephens shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Harrell napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Harrell sneaks out the side door and pushes Stephens away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Stephens throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Harrell was covering up waiting for the punch and Stephens finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Harrell kicks Stephens off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stephens tries to clinch up but Harrell circles away and keeps his distance.
Harrell is looking for a counter combo.

Stephens feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Harrell pushes Stephens off and scrambles back to his feet.
Harrell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephens can do to turn this around?
Danga de danga de dang - Stephens scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Harrell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on David Harrell's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Harrell swinging wildly here.

Stephens fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Harrell sprawls well initially but Stephens persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Harrell manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Stephens drives through with a takedown into Harrell's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Harrell is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Stephens presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Stephens has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Harrell uses from the top position.

Harrell gets to his feet. Stephens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harrell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stephens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a body shot but no joy.
Stephens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Harrell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harrell tries to counter by clinching up but Stephens breaks away and moves out of range.

Stephens closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Harrell quickly recovers to half guard.

Harrell pushes Stephens off and gets back to his feet.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Harrell has one foot on Stephens's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stephens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Harrell!

Harrell throws Stephens to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Stephens was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Harrell explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Stephens shoots in and bounces Harrell off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Harrell uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harrell appears to be looking for a big counter.
Harrell throws a right and a left that Stephens avoids nicely.
Despite the aggression on Stephens's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Stephens closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stephens lands in his opponent's guard.
Stephens preventing the sweep.

Harrell pushes Stephens off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Stephens gets a takedown into half guard.

Harrell kicks off Stephens and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stephens.

Harrell sneaks out the side door and pushes Stephens away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Chris Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David Harrell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stephens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Harrell manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Harrell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Harrell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Harrell!