PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chosu Viv (ranked 1492 p4p, 183 weight class) and Akira Harada (ranked 1240 p4p, 158 weight class). Akira Harada told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Viv
vs
Harada

170 cm
30
155 lbs
13 - 17 - 1

169 cm
25
167 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements

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 13 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Chosu Viv!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Harada!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Viv scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Viv missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Viv is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Harada defends it well.
Viv not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Viv seems to be working for a kimura but Harada defends the submission attempt.
Viv prevents Harada from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harada is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Viv throwing shots but Harada is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viv takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Harada has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Viv is working away from the top position though.
Viv lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Harada is defending against the submission attempts here by Viv.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Viv lands a nice short elbow.
Viv missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Viv is trying to work for a kimura but Harada is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Viv is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Viv seems to be looking for submissions.
Harada is trying to control but can't.
Harada avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Viv.
Harada makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Harada.
Viv missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Viv throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harada tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Viv is working Harada over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Harada looking to control.
Harada keeping full guard, as Viv tries to pass.
Viv stands and throws Harada's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Harada tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Viv wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Viv tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Viv has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Harada wants to control but Viv postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Viv is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Harada has escaped the position, nice work there.
Harada is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Viv's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Viv has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Harada has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Viv is working away from the top position though.

Viv wants to work for an arm triangle but Harada is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harada trying to control but Viv postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Viv defending well as Harada loads up on a big left hand.
Viv looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Harada gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Harada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harada misses with a left hand

and Viv holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Harada breaks from the clinch.

Harada takes the fight into the clinch.

Harada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Harada rushes Viv and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harada swats away the attempt to clinch by Viv.
Harada tries a quick counter leg kick but Viv is wise to it.
Harada throws a low kick, looking for Viv's leg but Viv calmly moves out of range.
Harada fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Akira Harada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harada throws a shot from downtown. Viv moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Viv counters with a single leg into guard. Harada didn't expect that.
Harada is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Viv throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harada works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Harada working a defensive guard here.
Viv throwing strikes from guard but Harada blocks nicely.
Viv working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Viv stops Harada from standing up.
Chosu Viv overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Viv is looking to work some ground and pound but Harada has wrist control.
Harada wants to stand but Viv is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viv postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Viv is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Viv working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Viv throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Viv accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Harada seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Viv is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harada can do to turn this around?
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Viv accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harada pulls Viv in to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Harada displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Viv.
Harada wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A slow jab from Harada misses its intended target.
A little feinted left hand from Viv on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Chosu Viv is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harada looks to throw the jab but Viv is out of range.
Viv feinted with a counter takedown.
Harada bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Viv's head.
Harada misses with a hook
enabling Viv to counter with a crisp jab.
Viv scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nice takedown defense from Harada. No joy for Viv on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chosu Viv. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viv dodges the punch combination from Harada.
Viv shoots for a takedown but Harada saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Viv rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Harada moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Harada bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Viv's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Harada tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Viv thows a left - swing and a miss!
Viv shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harada as he avoids it easily.
Viv shoots in for a takedown but Harada shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Viv throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harada's waist but Harada gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Viv off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Viv throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harada's waist but Harada gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Viv off to one side.
Harada throws an overhand right that lands on Viv's shoulder, as Viv tries to avoid the shot.
Harada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Viv.
Horrible takedown attempt by Viv or perhaps it was just good defense by Harada, which made it look bad.
Harada scores with a shot to the body.
Akira Harada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harada scores with a jab. Viv acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Jab from Harada.
Harada throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Viv stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Harada has closed the distance and engaged Viv in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Harada showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Viv slips a straight right by Harada.
A telegraphed right hand from Harada misses the target.
Harada pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Viv drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Harada throws a jab when Viv was well out of range.
Harada lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Viv uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Harada.
Horrible takedown attempt by Viv or perhaps it was just good defense by Harada, which made it look bad.
Harada throws out a counter right but Viv avoids it with no problem.

Harada fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Viv, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viv tries to pull guard but Harada won't allow it.
Harada using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Viv has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Harada wants to stall.
Viv goes for a takedown attempt but Harada pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chosu Viv. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Viv or perhaps it was just good defense by Harada, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada misses the jab.
Viv shoots in for a takedown but Harada shows good takedown defense.
Harada slaps away a takedown attempt from Viv, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Harada appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Viv is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harada sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Harada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Viv.
It looked like Viv wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good standup being displayed there by Harada as he connects with a hook.

Harada closes the distance and clinches.

Harada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harada throws a body kick that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Harada creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Harada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Viv loads up on a big right hand but Harada slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Viv.
Viv tries to clinch but Harada moves out of range.
Harada displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Viv.
Harada lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Harada gets a clinch.
Viv tries to pull guard but Harada won't allow it.

Harada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Viv lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Harada circles away quickly and effectively.
Viv needs to keep his hands up - Harada had a free shot at his head there.

Viv is rocked!
Harada fakes the leg kick and throws a superman punch. It's knocked Viv out cold! Brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Akira Harada!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Akira Harada waved his t-shirt featuring OLIMPO's logo in front of the cameras.