PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Toshi Harada (ranked 7784 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 2263 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Harada might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Killing In The Name. Anthony Pettis is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Harada
vs
Pettis

173 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
36
143 lbs
27 - 16 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Toshi Harada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Damien Edna and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harada showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pettis.
Pettis tries for a takedown but Harada sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Harada misses the shot to the body.
Pettis shoots in looking for a takedown. Harada tries to sprawl out of it but Pettis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harada manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pettis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pettis showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis controlling the pace.
Pettis is thwarting Harada's attempts to control the position.
Pettis not doing much here.
Harada is trying to stand up here but Pettis is controlling him well.
Harada keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two 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.
Harada tries to kick Pettis off but Pettis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Harada is looking to improve his position.
Pettis looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pettis darts in looking for a takedown but Harada gets double underhooks and turns Pettis into the cage.
Toshi Harada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pettis.
Pettis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harada pinned against the cage. Harada gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Pettis fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Harada to the ground. Pettis is now in Harada's guard.
Harada is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pettis dives into side control.
Harada definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harada is trying to buck Pettis off.
Pettis remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Harada tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pettis moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Harada is trying to get back to half guard.

Pettis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Harada is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pettis takes a little break here. Harada wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harada wants to get back to his feet but Pettis is dominant here and he's now got Harada's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pettis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harada avoids it really well and circles away.
Pettis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Harada counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Harada throws a head kick that misses.
Pettis feints the counter takedown.
Pettis shoots in looking for a takedown but Harada manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pettis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Toshi Harada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pettis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Harada wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pettis tries for a takedown but Harada circles away easily
and Harada counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada throws a right hand that Pettis ducks under and follows up with a left that Pettis also avoids with ease.
Pettis scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Harada doesn't seem bothered though.
Pettis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harada swivels and escapes.
Harada displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Harada. No joy for Pettis on that attempt.
Harada stuffs the takedown attempt from Pettis. Pettis gets slowly back to his feet.
Pettis fails with the takedown
and Harada counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis shoots and misses
and Harada connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pettis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harada counters with a nice uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pettis.
Harada is looking for a counter combo.
Pettis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Harada wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pettis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Harada counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pettis shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Harada defends it nicely.
Toshi Harada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pettis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Pettis with a poor takedown
and Harada cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pettis looks for a takedown but Harada sprawls well.
Harada swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harada dips to his left and cracks Pettis with an uppercut!

Pettis shoots in and gets a takedown into Harada's guard.
Harada is looking to stand back up but Pettis counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Harada.

Pettis controlling the pace.
Harada has his hands clasped together around Pettis's back. He's all about the action.
Harada tries to roll over but Pettis keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toshi Harada dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Harada stuffs the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Harada on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Pettis closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Harada's guard.

Harada has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pettis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harada trying to keep a closed guard but Pettis is proving a slippery customer.
Harada is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis stopping the sweep attempt from Harada.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada wants to hit a switch here but Pettis passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Harada there!
Pettis is trying to take his opponent's back.
Harada tries to control Pettis's body but Pettis pushes him off. Harada squirms to his side and now Pettis has his back!
Harada is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Harada wants to escape the position.

Harada wants to get back to his feet. He's half way up but Pettis drags him back down with a jolt, managing to get his forearm deep under Harada 's chin! Harada is in real trouble! His face is turning bright red and he's forced to tap! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Anthony Pettis!
A very excited looking Anthony Pettis made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Toshi Harada spoke after the fight, saying 'What a joke. I am here to develop my skills, it is a shame you have older experienced fighters run by gutless managers hiding in QFC looking for mismatches to get easy wins. Gutless, pathetic losers!'.