PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francis Dean (ranked 8184 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Harden (ranked 5845 p4p, 0 weight class). James Harden is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Dean
vs
Harden

185 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Francis Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Harden!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Darius Henderson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dean closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Harden to the mat! Harden manages to get full guard.
Dean engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Dean drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dean jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Dean drops back looking for a leg! Harden is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Harden manages to kick Dean off! Dean jumps back into Harden's guard.
Dean controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean scoring with punches to the head and body.
Harden wants to control the position but Dean says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Harden is trying to stand back up but Dean is controlling him
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Dean stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Harden to get to his feet.
Harden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Harden connects with a leg kick. Dean looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A clash of legs there as Dean blocks the low kick.
It looked like Dean was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Dean goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Harden throws a head kick that misses.
Harden walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dean checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dean throws a big counter combination but Harden scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harden misses with a low kick as Dean jumps back.
Dean avoids the head kick by Harden.
Dean went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Harden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dean throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harden's waist but Harden gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dean off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Harden as Dean shoots in.
Harden leaves Dean with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Dean. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harden slaps away a takedown attempt from Dean, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Harden misses with a head kick.
James Harden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Harden, right into the meat.
Harden looks to land a body kick but Dean moved away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dean shoots in for a takedown but Harden shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dean avoids the head kick by Harden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dean shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Harden manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Harden is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dean dives into side control.

Harden wants to control but Dean postures up.

Dean tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dean has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Harden wants to control but Dean postures up.
Harden taking a bit of punishment here - Dean scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dean tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harden is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dean landing a few strikes.
Dean cracks Harden with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dean stands up.
Dean tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
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 Francis Dean will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Harden throws a head kick but Dean moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dean checks a leg kick.
A head kick by Harden misses

and Dean counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Harden!

Dean tries for a kimura but Harden is defending well.
Dean grinds an elbow into Harden's temple.
Dean working away.
Dean works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Dean stands up.
Harden lands a head kick. Dean smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harden lands a big head kick that sends Dean tumbling to the mat! Harden takes a step backwards and waves Dean back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Dean is rocked!

It looks like Francis Dean has been cut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Harden.
Oh Dean is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Crack! A monster head kick from Harden and Dean falls like a tree - timbeeeeeeeeeeerrrr! A highlight reel knockout by Harden!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). James Harden!