PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harold Harmbe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dong Navarro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harold Harmbe has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Harmbe
vs
Navarro

196 cm
25
196 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
197 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harold Harmbe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dong Navarro!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Navarro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Harmbe wants to clinch
and Navarro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Navarro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Harmbe closes the distance but Navarro moves to the side
and Navarro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Harmbe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Navarro lands a jab to the nose.
Navarro keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harmbe moves out of range of the strikes.

Harmbe moves into the clinch.
Harmbe tries to land a knee to the head but Navarro blocks with his arms.
Harmbe is stalling here.
Harmbe struggles to land a body shot inside as Navarro controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harmbe is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Navarro lands with a light punch inside.
Harmbe lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Dong Navarro has been cut.
Harmbe just leaning against Navarro, taking a breather.
Navarro throws a punch but it's blocked by Harmbe.
Harmbe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Harmbe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Harmbe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Navarro misses with a body punch.
Harmbe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Harmbe landing knees to the head.
Harmbe looking to throw knees to the head but Navarro is blocking nicely.
Harmbe misses with a knee strike.
Navarro's coach down at Island Top Team was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Navarro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Harmbe will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Navarro up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harmbe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Harmbe blocks a body shot from Navarro.
Navarro tries to break the clinch but Harmbe is controlling the position.
Harmbe crunches a lovely knee into Navarro's ribcage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Navarro scores with a shoulder strike.
Navarro throws a head punch that misses.
Harmbe scores a nice knee to the body.
Harmbe controlling the action here for a moment.
A short left from Navarro.
Navarro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Harmbe will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Navarro up against the cage.
Navarro working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Navarro fails to land.
Navarro blocks an elbow strike from Harmbe.
Navarro misses with a punch to the body.
Navarro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Navarro scores with a shot to the side of Harmbe's head.
Harmbe content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Navarro avoiding damage as Harmbe throws knees to the body.
Harmbe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Navarro's face.
Harmbe dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Harmbe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Navarro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Navarro working aggressively here.
Navarro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harmbe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Navarro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Navarro throws a head punch that misses.
Harmbe tries to land a knee to the head but Navarro blocks with his arms.
Harmbe content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Navarro misses with a body punch.
Harmbe landing knees to the head.
Harmbe effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Navarro throws a head punch that misses.
Navarro letting Harmbe take a breather here.
Harmbe connects with a knee to the head.
Navarro is trying to push Harmbe away but Harmbe has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knees in the clinch landing for Harmbe.
Harmbe just leaning against Navarro, taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Harold Harmbe will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dong Navarro's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Harmbe tries to clinch but Navarro moves out of range.
Harmbe wants to clinch
and Navarro counters with a stiff right hand.
Navarro swats away the attempt to clinch by Harmbe.
Harmbe tries to clinch but Navarro is having none of it.
Navarro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Harmbe. Harmbe circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Navarro, as that shot connected.
Navarro works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarro slips a jab and a cross from Harmbe.
Harmbe 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.
Navarro circles away from the clinch attempt
and Navarro counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Navarro punishes Harmbe's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harmbe moves away.
Harmbe staying out of range there.
A little feinted left hand from Harmbe on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Navarro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Navarro throws a body shot but no joy.
Navarro changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Harmbe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Navarro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Navarro uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Harmbe has time to react.
Harmbe tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Navarro counters with a stiff right hand.
Navarro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harold Harmbe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harmbe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Navarro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Decent striking displayed by Navarro there.
Harmbe wants to clinch
and Navarro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harmbe wants to clinch but Navarro slips to the side
and Navarro counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A jab from Navarro misses.
Harmbe was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Navarro moves into range and connects with a jab.
Harmbe closes the distance looking to clinch
and Harmbe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Harold Harmbe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Navarro with a hook.
Navarro scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jab from Navarro.
Harmbe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Navarro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harmbe misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harmbe tries to clinch up
and Navarro counters with a nice uppercut.
Navarro takes a swing at Harmbe's ribcage but misses.
Harmbe tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Navarro to counter with a crisp jab.
Navarro misses with a straight left.
Harmbe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Navarro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Harmbe tries to clinch but Navarro moves away
and Navarro counters with a straight right hand.
Navarro cracks a nice hook into Harmbe's ribs.
Navarro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Navarro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harmbe moves away from the strike by Navarro.
Harmbe is looking to counter the offense by Navarro and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harmbe closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Harmbe is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Harmbe looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Harmbe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Navarro.
Navarro misses with the head strike.
Navarro lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Navarro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Harmbe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Navarro blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Navarro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Harmbe's elbow.
Harmbe throws an elbow that misses.
Harmbe looking to throw knees to the head but Navarro is blocking nicely.
Harmbe trying to control the position but instead, Navarro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Harmbe into the cage.
Navarro takes a knee to the side of the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dong Navarro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dong Navarro's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Navarro.
Navarro connects with a looping right hand.
Harmbe misses with a straight right.
Navarro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Harmbe rushes Navarro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Harmbe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Harmbe.
Navarro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Harmbe unloads a knee to the mid-section. Navarro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Harmbe just misses with a elbow thrown towards Navarro's brow.
Harmbe content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Navarro lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Harmbe is trying to stall.
Navarro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro pushes Harmbe back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Harmbe has Navarro pressed against the cage, preventing Navarro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Harmbe misses with a punch to the body.
Harmbe blocks a body shot from Navarro.
A knee to the head by Harmbe.
Harmbe manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Navarro lands a left hand that snaps the head of Harmbe backwards.
Navarro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Harmbe blocking some punches.
Navarro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Harmbe landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Harmbe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harmbe blocks an uppercut.
Navarro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Harmbe connects with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Harmbe.
Harmbe trying to control the position but instead, Navarro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Harmbe into the cage.
Navarro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Harmbe has Navarro pressed against the cage.
Harold Harmbe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Navarro can't find room to land a body shot as Harmbe controls the action.
Navarro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Harmbe leaning against his opponent.
Navarro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
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!
Harmbe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Navarro is defending well for now.
Harmbe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Navarro's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro misses with a punch to the body.
Harmbe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Navarro throws a head punch that misses.
Harmbe with a knee to the head.
Harmbe looking to throw knees to the head but Navarro is blocking nicely.
Navarro misses with some punches.
Navarro working hard to break the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Harmbe.
Navarro tries to break the clinch but Harmbe is controlling the position.
Harmbe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Harmbe throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Harmbe blocking some punches.
Harmbe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Harmbe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Navarro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Navarro throws a head punch that misses.
Harmbe misses with a knee to the head.
Navarro misses with some punches.
Harmbe has Navarro pressed against the cage, preventing Navarro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Harmbe keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Navarro's efforts to push away.
Harmbe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Navarro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Harmbe stalling.
Harmbe throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Harmbe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Harmbe.
Harmbe misses with a knee strike.
Harmbe with an attempt at a knee that 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 Harold Harmbe.
I think Harmbe 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Harold Harmbe!
Harold Harmbe took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.