PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reiner Brawn (ranked 23335 p4p, 678 weight class) and James Harden (ranked 3942 p4p, 394 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Brawn
vs
Harden

188 cm
20
188 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
192 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Reiner Brawn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Harden!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brawn clinches with his opponent.

Harden manages to break the clinch.
Harden lands a nice looking body kick.
Harden fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Brawn.

Brawn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Harden has a couple of punches blocked by Brawn.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Harden.
Harden prevents a takedown attempt there.
Harden is working Brawn over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brawn tries to score a body lock takedown but Harden shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Harden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Harden.
Harden controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden pushes Brawn back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Harden lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Brawn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reiner Brawn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harden lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Harden.
A head punch on the inside from Harden fails to land.
Harden has Brawn pushed against the cage.
Harden dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Harden creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Harden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harden.
Harden lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Harden lands a right hand.
Harden lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Harden.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brawn tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short right from Harden.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Brawn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Harden.
Harden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Harden manages to break the clinch.
James Harden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Brawn wants to clinch but Harden slips to the side
and Harden counters with an inside leg kick.
Harden lands a nice shot that snaps Brawn's head back.
Brawn tries to clinch
and Harden counters with a nice uppercut.

Harden closes the distance and clinches.
Harden is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Harden.
Harden lands a left hand.
Brawn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Harden pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Harden works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Brawn tries for a takedown but Harden manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harden lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harden lands a right hand that snaps the head of Brawn backwards.
Brawn drops down looking for an ankle pick but Harden pulls his leg out and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Harden.
Brawn tries to clinch up but Harden circles away and keeps his distance.
Brawn tries to clinch up but Harden circles away and keeps his distance.
Harden lands a leg kick that knocks Brawn off balance momentarily.
Harden fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Brawn closes the distance looking to clinch
and Harden counters with a leg kick.
Harden scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like Reiner Brawn has been cut.
Harden thumps Brawn with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Harden dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Reiner Brawn's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Brawn moves to clinch but Harden breaks away
and Harden counters with a leg kick.

Harden forces Brawn back against the cage and clinches.
Harden works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Brawn tries for a takedown. No joy.
Harden content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Harden tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Brawn's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Harden fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Harden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harden misses with a hook to the ribs.
Brawn tries to pull guard but Harden holds him up against the cage and eventually Brawn drops back down to his feet.
Harden misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden lands a left hand.

Brawn turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Brawn manages to end up in side control.
The referee asks Brawn politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Brawn prefers to stall for the moment though.
Harden is trying to improve his position.
Brawn content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harden can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harden is looking to regain half guard here but Brawn keeps moving and retains side control.

Brawn decides to stand back up.
Brawn wants to clinch but Harden slips to the side
and Harden counters with a leg kick.

Harden instigates a clinch.
Harden misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brawn blocking some punches.
Brawn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Brawn tries to pull guard but Harden holds him up against the cage and eventually Brawn drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reiner Brawn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harden cracks Brawn with a nice body shot.
Brawn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Harden blocking some punches.
Harden lands a shoulder strike.
Harden lands a body shot in the clinch.
Harden gets through Brawn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Harden stops a takedown attempt from Brawn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harden has Brawn pressed against the cage.
Harden is leaning against Brawn and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Harden is pushing Brawn up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Harden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Brawn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Harden gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice left hand lands by Harden.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Harden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Reiner Brawn's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Brawn looks to clinch
enabling Harden to counter with a crisp jab.
Brawn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Harden to counter with a crisp jab.
Harden moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Harden lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Brawn is rocked!
No luck for Brawn with that takedown attempt.
Oh Brawn is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Harden fires a straight punch through the middle that cracks Brawn square on the jaw! Damn, Brawn is out cold on his feet and topples face first to the canvas! Wow, I haven't seen a knockout that brutal in a long time!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). James Harden!
James Harden bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.