PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Harden (ranked 5427 p4p, 527 weight class) and Octavio Saades (ranked 2993 p4p, 360 weight class). James Harden has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harden
vs
Saades

185 cm
23
192 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

185 cm
23
203 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Harden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Octavio Saades!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saades pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Harden back to the cage. Saades follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like James Harden has been cut.
Saades misses with a body kick.
Saades tried to score with a low kick but Harden checks it.
Saades circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saades tries to land a leg kick but Harden saw it coming and moves away.
Saades misses with a straight left.
Harden shoots in and drives through. Saades sprawls well.
Saades is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Octavio Saades seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harden misses with a takedown attempt - Saades sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Saades throws a lazy head kick

and Harden counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Saades misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saades slows down the pace here.
Saades gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Harden.
Our sources have told us that Harden has been working on his elbows in the gym.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Harden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saades tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Saades.
Harden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Saades.
Saades lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Harden or not.
Harden drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saades gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saades lands a nice uppercut.
Saades scores with a shot to the side of Harden's head.
Saades working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Saades tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Harden has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saades is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Saades fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Harden wants a takedown.
A short right from Saades on the inside.
Harden has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Saades after a bit of a struggle.
Harden blocking some punches.
Harden wants a takedown.
Harden tries for a takedown but Saades manages to get underhooks.
Saades lands a shoulder strike.
Harden has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saades is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Harden is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saades lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short right from Saades.
Saades throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hardens head.
Saades lands a body shot.
Harden drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saades gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saades gets through Harden's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Harden is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saades pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Harden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saades lands a really nice looking cross but Harden seems unphased.

James Harden's cut is getting worse.
Octavio Saades is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saades sees an opening and throws a straight punch right through Harden's defenses. It connects perfectly with Harden's jaw and knocks him out cold! Wow - that's a contender for knockout of the year - absolutely brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Octavio Saades!
In defeat, James Harden stepped up to the mic, saying 'Back to the drawing board for me folks, this is just a bump in the road. I'll be back better than before soon!'.