PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Harper (ranked 659 p4p, 76 weight class) and Android Gero (ranked 3207 p4p, 300 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gero's choice of entrance music: Slash street boys: I'll kill you that way. 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?

Harper
vs
Gero

168 cm
20
150 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

160 cm
20
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Miguel Harper!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Android Gero!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harper blocks a head kick by Gero.
Harper attempts a counter takedown but Gero avoids it well and moves away.

Harper closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gero quickly recovers to half guard.
Harper working Gero over with strikes.
Harper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harper scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Harper is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gero defends it well.
Harper drops an elbow to the side of Gero's head.
Harper is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gero trying to control here.
Harper is taking a breather. Gero says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Harper is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Harper is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gero sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Harper slips a nice elbow through Gero's hands, connecting with Gero's forehead.
Gero has hold of Harper's hands but Harper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Harper is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gero is just riding it out for now. Harper eventually gives up the hold.
Harper content to control rather than advance.
Harper's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Harper.
Harper drops an elbow to the side of Gero's head.
Gero is looking to improve his position.
Harper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Harper is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gero has managed to free his arm - good work.
Harper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harper looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gero wants to control but Harper is keeping busy.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gero is looking for a sweep. Harper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gero taking some punishment here, with Harper in his half guard.
Gero taking some punishment here, with Harper in his half guard.
Harper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Harper winds up and cracks Gero with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Harper looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Harper wants to work for an arm triangle but Gero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Harper prevents Gero from improving his position.
Harper controlling the action here.
Harper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gero is trying to get back to full guard.
Gero on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gero looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gero tries to roll over but Harper keeps him under control.

Harper seems to be working for a kimura but Gero defends the submission attempt.
Harper works his way into side control.
Harper working the head with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harper is looking to take a break and control but Gero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Harper landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gero rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Harper moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Harper bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Gero tries to keep at a distance but Harper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Harper has Gero pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gero manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Harper has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gero clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Harper slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Harper cracks Gero with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Gero from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Harper is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gero has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gero defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Harper's arms.

Gero defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Harper's arms.
Harper has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Gero.
Gero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Harper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gero fending off the submission attempt from Harper.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Harper. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Harper is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Harper lands strikes to the head.
Harper is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Gero covers up after that shot from Harper.

Harper looking to break Gero's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gero remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Harper will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gero is trying to get back to his feet but Harper has full control of the position and if anything, Gero has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Miguel Harper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gero is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Harper.
Harper is punishing Gero with strikes - can he finish him?!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harper biding his time, controlling Gero.

Harper has got one arm under Gero's chin. This could be trouble... Gero trying to control the other hand but Harper gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Gero has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Miguel Harper!
Miguel Harper retains his featherweight title!
After winning the bout, Miguel Harper thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.