PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fiyero Lermontov (ranked 594 p4p, 75 weight class) and Derek Harris (ranked 357 p4p, 49 weight class). Harris has chosen Not again - You all ready dropped? as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lermontov
vs
Harris

180 cm
25
165 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

173 cm
36
161 lbs
31 - 20 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Conviction

UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Fiyero Lermontov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek Harris!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lermontov scores with a nice head shot.

Lermontov instigates a clinch.
Harris misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Harris tries to work over Lermontov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harris lands a nice uppercut.
Lermontov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris won't allow it.
Harris tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lermontov avoids it.
Harris misses with the head strike.
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris holds him up against the cage and eventually Lermontov drops back down to his feet.
Lermontov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lermontov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Harris smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fiyero Lermontov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris tries to work over Lermontov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harris tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Lermontov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Harris uses from the top position.
Harris wants to control from the top but Lermontov keeps moving.

Lermontov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harris defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris looking to pass the guard.
Harris landing with the ground and pound.
Harris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lermontov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lermontov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Lermontov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Harris has passed into half guard!
Harris not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Harris lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Harris wants to pass to mount but Lermontov is defending the position.

Lermontov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harris pulls his head out easily.
Harris controlling the action here.
Harris has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris thowing shots but they're missing.
Harris is trying to control here but Lermontov has managed to regain half guard.
Lermontov is looking to improve his position.

Lermontov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harris pulls his head out easily.

That's four 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.
Harris controlling the action here.

Lermontov actively working from the bottom here.
Lermontov wants to control but Harris is keeping busy.
Harris is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Harris decides to return to a standing position.
Harris throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lermontov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Harris swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Harris dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lermontov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harris keeps the fight on the outside.
Harris swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Harris ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Harris throws a leg kick which misses Lermontov's front leg but catches the back leg as Lermontov tries to avoid it.
Harris slips under a jab.
Lermontov misses with an uppercut. Harris saw that one coming.
Harris chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Good shot there by Harris.
Lermontov tries to score with a low kick but Harris moves his leg out of the way.
Harris tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lermontov throwing a counter right hand but Harris manages to avoid it.
Harris wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Harris uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lermontov.
Harris swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Lermontov pushes Harris up against the cage in a clinch.
Lermontov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Harris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lermontov.
Harris trying to control the position but instead, Lermontov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Harris into the cage.
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lermontov is trying to pull guard but Harris has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fiyero Lermontov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harris blocks an uppercut.
Harris tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Harris tries a body shot but Lermontov blocks it.
Lermontov is trying to pull guard but Harris has him pressed against the cage.
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris holds him up against the cage and eventually Lermontov drops back down to his feet.
Lermontov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harris to keep the fight standing.
Harris using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lermontov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Harris blocks a body shot from Lermontov.
Harris with a knee to the head.
Harris misses with the head strike.
Harris looking to throw knees to the head but Lermontov is blocking nicely.
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris won't allow it.
Harris misses with some punches.
Lermontov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Lermontov pulls Harris into guard.
Harris engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harris trying to control but Lermontov is working from the bottom.
Harris looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Harris wants to control from the top but Lermontov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Harris is looking to work some ground and pound but Lermontov has wrist control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Lermontov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Harris is aware though and is defending well.

Harris stands up and waves to Lermontov to follow him.
Lermontov throws a body punch but Harris moves out of range.
Lermontov tries to clinch but Harris is having none of it.
Lermontov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Harris. Harris obviously looking to wear him down.
Harris wants to land a leg kick but Lermontov is out of range.
Lermontov misses with a low kick as Harris jumps back.

Lermontov moves into the clinch.
Lermontov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harris misses with a short punch on the inside.
Harris connects with a knee to the head.
Lermontov fails to pull guard.
Lermontov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Harris to keep the fight standing.
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris holds him up against the cage and eventually Lermontov drops back down to his feet.
Harris blocks a body shot from Lermontov.
Lermontov lands a nice uppercut.
Harris works on Lermontov's body with a couple of short punches.
Lermontov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lermontov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harris doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lermontov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Harris working aggressively here.
Harris looking to throw knees to the head but Lermontov is blocking nicely.
Lermontov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lermontov throws a punch but it's blocked by Harris.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lermontov.
Lermontov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lermontov fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Harris.
Harris uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lermontov.
Harris doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Harris misses with a head kick.
Harris throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Harris throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lermontov throwing a counter right hand but Harris manages to avoid it.
Derek Harris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lermontov tries to land a front kick but Harris steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lermontov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Harris.
Harris misses with a body kick.
A slow jab from Lermontov misses its intended target.
Harris throws a body shot but no joy.
Lermontov works the jab nicely.
Lermontov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Lermontov pushes Harris up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris swings wildly with an uppercut but Lermontov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harris connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lermontov's face.
Harris crunches a lovely knee into Lermontov's ribcage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Harris.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harris misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lermontov is trying to pull guard but Harris has him pressed against the cage.
Lermontov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Harris lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Harris blocks an uppercut.
Lermontov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Harris misses with a short punch on the inside.
Harris misses with the head strike.
Harris lands a hook that snaps the head of Lermontov backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lermontov.
Harris doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Harris.
Lermontov jumps guard but Harris turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lermontov is trying to pull guard but Harris turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fiyero Lermontov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harris is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lermontov is defending well for now.
Harris scores with a shot to the side of Lermontov's head.
Harris lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lermontov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris holds him up against the cage and eventually Lermontov drops back down to his feet.
Lermontov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lermontov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Harris walks away with a smile on his face. Lermontov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lermontov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Harris rushes Lermontov and presses him up against the cage.
Lermontov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Harris lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Derek Harris seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Harris works on Lermontov's body with a couple of short punches.
Harris lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Lermontov is rocked!
Lermontov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Oh Lermontov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lermontov tries to pull guard but Harris won't allow it.
Lermontov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Harris lands with a short shot to the head.
Harris misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lermontov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lermontov seems to have got his legs back now.
Lermontov takes a knee to the side of the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lermontov.
Harris lands a shoulder strike.

Lermontov pulls guard effortlessly.
Lermontov being controlled here, momentarily.

Lermontov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Harris doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Harris manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris with a flurry of punches that miss.
Derek Harris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Lermontov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harris defends well.
Harris's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fiyero Lermontov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Derek Harris has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lermontov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Harris is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harris stopping the sweep attempt from Lermontov.
Harris chips away with some ground and pound.
Harris stays in close to Lermontov's body and controls the position.

Harris gets to his feet - Lermontov follows without any prompting.
Harris is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lermontov rather than just go for the knockout.
Harris throws a body punch but Lermontov moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lermontov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Harris has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Harris and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Harris now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Harris checks the leg kick nicely there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Harris! But no joy.
Lermontov tries a low kick but Harris avoids it.
Harris throws a sloppy head kick and Lermontov moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lermontov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lermontov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Harris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harris has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Harris!
A very excited looking Derek Harris 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.