PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Knight (ranked 25454 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Harvey (ranked 8319 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Knight
vs
Harvey

183 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

187 cm
18
248 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leo Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthew Harvey!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Lou da Vinci and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harvey throws a head kick but Knight moves out of range.
Knight seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Harvey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Knight shoots for a takedown but Harvey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Harvey moves into the clinch successfully.
Knight tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Harvey avoids it.
Knight fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Knight goes for a takedown in the clinch but Harvey prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight is looking to take this one to the mat.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knight.
Knight wants a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harvey has Knight pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Harvey pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Knight tumbling to the mat - Harvey dives into Knight's guard.

Knight is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harvey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harvey throws a big right hand that misses.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Harvey from controlling successfully.

Knight has his feet on Harvey's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Harvey slaps away a takedown attempt from Knight, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Harvey steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Knight.

Knight gets tackled into the cage by Harvey. Harvey maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Harvey pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Knight wants a takedown.

Knight works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Knight trying to control the position from guard on top but Harvey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harvey looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Knight looking to sit in guard and control but Harvey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Harvey drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Knight manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Harvey has Knight in his guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knight tries to stand but Harvey is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harvey looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Knight is looking to work some ground and pound but Harvey has wrist control.
Harvey being controlled here, momentarily.
Harvey looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Harvey is looking for a triangle but Knight pushes his legs off easily.
Harvey looks winded!
Knight scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Knight working some strikes from top position.
Knight wanted to stand there but Harvey had control of the position.

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.
Knight engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Knight has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Harvey is proving hard to escape from.

Knight thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knight in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Harvey gets a takedown into half guard.

Knight kicks Harvey off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Harvey will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Knight.
Knight shoots in but Harvey avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Harvey throws a series of strikes that have Knight backpedaling.

It looks like Leo Knight has been cut.

Harvey takes the fight into the clinch.
Harvey wants to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harvey gets underhooks to prevent Knight's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Harvey manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Knight controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight wants to control from the top but Harvey keeps moving.
Knight throws an elbow that misses. Harvey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Knight's guard. Nice move by Harvey!

Harvey controlling from the top position.
Harvey trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Knight wants to stand but Harvey is controlling the position.
Knight controls Harvey momentarily but Harvey frees himself.

Harvey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knight has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Harvey has managed to get both his arms back between Knight's legs - danger averted.

Knight isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Harvey stacks Knight on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Harvey!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harvey taking a breather here.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet.
Harvey postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Harvey with the ground and pound but Knight regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Knight gets back to full guard.

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

Harvey stands up from Knight's guard - Harvey perhaps looking for a knockout.

Harvey shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Harvey is breathing heavily.
Harvey keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knight missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Harvey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leo Knight's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Knight closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Harvey to the mat! Harvey manages to get full guard.

Harvey kicks Knight off and gets to his feet.
Harvey scores with a nice strike.
Nice sprawl there from Harvey as Knight shoots in.
Knight fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Harvey dives in and scores a takedown into Knight's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harvey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harvey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harvey wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Knight tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harvey wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.
Harvey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Knight looking for a guillotine here but Harvey defends easily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Knight wants to stand up but Harvey is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Harvey throws a sloppy head kick and Knight moves out of range easily.
It looked like Knight was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Harvey gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Harvey turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Harvey manages to end up in side control.
Knight is trying to get back to half guard.
Knight is working hard here to advance position.
Knight pushes Harvey away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Harvey gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight tries to improve position but can't.
Harvey taking a break here but Knight is having none of it and regains half guard.
Knight looks like he's trying to stand up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Knight could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Harvey shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Knight manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harvey shoots in and bounces Knight off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Knight wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Harvey manages to pass to side control.
Leo Knight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matthew Harvey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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!
Knight gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Harvey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Harvey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Harvey!