PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Leroux (ranked 436 p4p, 61 weight class) and Tom Harper (ranked 526 p4p, 79 weight class). Tom Harper is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Leroux
vs
Harper

179 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

181 cm
23
175 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Leroux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Harper!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Harper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leroux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Harper.
Harper wants to clinch up but Leroux keeps it at a distance.
Harper misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leroux misses with a looping left.
Leroux lands with a right hand.
Leroux throws a hook to the side of Harper's head but Harper sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harper fails with a takedown attempt.
Leroux was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Harper throws a hook but Leroux blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harper on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Leroux lands a jab to Harper's midsection.
Leroux walks into a straight right hand from Harper.
Harper just misses with a punch to the body.
Harper takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A punch lands to the side of Leroux 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harper closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Harper lands in his opponent's guard.
Harper throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leroux preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harper throws a strike but Leroux rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Harper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leroux is one step ahead there.

Harper looking for a guillotine here but Leroux defends easily.
Leroux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harper had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leroux defends it easily.
Harper is trying to control the position but Leroux postures up.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Leroux from controlling successfully.
Leroux slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Leroux wants to control from the top but Harper keeps moving.
Harper looking for a sweep. Not yet Harper, not yet.
Harper working a defensive guard here.

Harper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Leroux is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leroux trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.
Leroux won't allow Harper to sweep him here.

Harper has his foot on Leroux's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leroux works his way back into a safe position though.
Leroux is stalling in the full guard.
Leroux trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Harper dives in for a single leg takedown but Leroux sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johnny Leroux has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Harper.
Harper looks to throw the jab but Leroux is out of range.
Leroux missing with a left hand there. Harper was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Harper changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nice straight punches there by Leroux. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Leroux.
Harper throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Leroux takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Harper clinches with his opponent.
Harper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leroux is looking for a takedown.
Harper gets through Leroux's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Leroux gets control of Harper's arms and successfully pulls guard. Leroux will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Harper postures up in Leroux's guard and throws a big left but Leroux blocks it.
Leroux looking for a sweep. Not yet Leroux, not yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leroux bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Harper's guard.

Harper trying to control the position.
Leroux trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leroux landing some decent shots from guard.
Harper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harper looking for a sweep. Not yet Harper, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Leroux will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harper takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Leroux misses with a straight left.
Leroux lands a nice shot that snaps Harper's head back.
Leroux misses the body punch

and Harper counters with a takedown into side control.
Leroux gets back to half guard.
Harper winds up and cracks Leroux with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Harper throwing shots but Leroux is blocking nicely.
Leroux is pressing down on Harper's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Harper throwing strikes from guard but Leroux blocks nicely.
Leroux looking for a sweep. Not yet Leroux, not yet.
Leroux has Harper pulled in close to control his posture.
Leroux tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper trying to control but Leroux is working from the bottom.
Leroux keeping full guard, as Harper tries to pass.
Harper trying to control the position from guard on top but Leroux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tom Harper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harper postures up and lands a big shot to Leroux's brow.
Harper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harper content to stall in guard here.
Leroux looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harper is one step ahead there.
Leroux utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Harper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leroux had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Harper defends it easily.
Leroux is trying to keep Harper in close.
Harper slips nicely into half guard.
Leroux taking some punishment here, with Harper in his half guard.
Leroux is pressing down on Harper's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Harper distracts Leroux with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Harper preventing the sweep.
Leroux is trying to control the position but Harper postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Harper lands a couple of digs.

Leroux had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Harper defends it easily.
Harper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Harper keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Leroux's head.

Leroux working for a triangle but Harper defends it easily.
Harper landing with the ground and pound.
Harper scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Harper scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leroux working for a triangle but Harper defends it easily.
Harper scoring with some ground and pound.
Harper makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Harper scoring with some ground and pound.
Harper with a nice head shot there.
Harper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leroux pulls Harper in to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leroux looking for a sweep. Not yet Leroux, not yet.
Harper throws a big right hand that misses.
Leroux looking for a sweep. Not yet Leroux, not yet.
Leroux keeping moving, preventing Harper from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Harper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Leroux just misses with a punch to the body.

Harper forces Leroux back against the cage and clinches.

Leroux jumps guard.
Harper with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Leroux is trying to keep Harper in close.
Harper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Leroux controlling Harper's posture.
Harper with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leroux looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Harper slips nicely into half guard.
Harper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Leroux makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Leroux.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leroux avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leroux manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Harper manages to get himself to full guard.

Harper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leroux manages to get himself to full guard.

Leroux utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leroux wants to sweep here but Harper controlling him for the moment.
Leroux is working hard here to advance position.
Leroux is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Harper trying to control but Leroux postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper is trying to get back to full guard.
Leroux wants to take a breather but Harper is having none of it.
Harper makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Harper.

Harper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leroux can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leroux preventing the sweep.
Harper keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leroux cracks Harper with a solid left hand.
Leroux stopping the sweep attempt from Harper.

Harper throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Leroux escapes and throws Harper's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Leroux grinds an elbow into Harper's temple.

Leroux is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Harper is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Harper on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Harper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harper takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Leroux landing strikes.
Harper felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leroux lands an elbow.
Leroux working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Leroux working away.
Harper is not content to let Leroux control the position.
Leroux lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Leroux lands a few punches from side control.
Harper manages to work his way to half guard, despite Leroux's best efforts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leroux working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leroux is nestled in close to Harper, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Leroux is looking to advance position but Harper won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Leroux showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Leroux has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Leroux!
Johnny Leroux tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.