PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Randy Harper (ranked 5802 p4p, 243 weight class) and Denis Denisov (ranked 6169 p4p, 256 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Harper
vs
Denisov

169 cm
22
129 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Randy Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Denis Denisov!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denisov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harper sprawls well. Harper wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Denisov gets slowly back to his feet.
Harper keeps the fight on the outside.
Harper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Denisov shoots for a double leg takedown but Harper sprawls well. He's pushed Denisov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Randy Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Denisov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Harper. No joy for Denisov on that attempt.
Harper half committed to a counter leg kick.
Denisov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harper as he avoids it easily.
Harper swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Denisov doesn't manage to clinch there - Harper circles away.
It appears Harper was looking to counter with a kick there.
Denisov shoots in for a takedown but Harper shows good takedown defense.
Harper was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov with a poor takedown
and Harper counters with a nice uppercut.
Denisov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harper but Harper pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Denisov has managed to clinch.
Denisov blocks a body shot from Harper.
Denisov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Harper is defending well.
Denisov is looking to take this one to the mat.

Harper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Denisov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A solid body kick from Harper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harper circles away.
Harper seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Denisov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Harper throwing a counter right hand but Denisov manages to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Denisov.

Denisov takes the fight into the clinch.
Denisov can't get the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Denisov has Harper pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Harper manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Denisov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Harper fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Harper swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Harper dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Denisov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harper avoids it really well and circles away.
A good leg kick by Harper.
Harper lands with a good body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harper. Denisov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harper on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Harper fails to land with a series of punches.
Denisov misses with a takedown
and Harper counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Harper.
Denisov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Randy Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Denisov.
Harper dodges the punch combination from Denisov.
Harper swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Denisov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Denisov lands in his opponent's guard.

Harper has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Denisov is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Denisov can do to turn this around?
Denisov has Harper pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Harper manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Harper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harper throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Denisov tries to clinch but Harper moves out of range.
Denisov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Harper finds it's way round the side to connect with Denisov's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Denisov.
Denisov with a poor takedown
letting Harper counter with a right hand.
Denisov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harper was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Harper dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Denisov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Denisov has a takedown stuffed.
Harper throws a body punch but Denisov moves out of range.
Harper lunges at Denisov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Denisov's hand.

Denisov has Harper up against the cage in a clinch.
Denisov goes for a takedown attempt but Harper pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Denis Denisov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harper misses with an attempted mid kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Denisov or perhaps it was just good defense by Harper, which made it look bad.
Randy Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Denisov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov wants to clinch up but Harper keeps it at a distance.
Harper appears to be looking for a big counter.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Harper here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Denisov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Harper napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Harper explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Harper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Denisov.
Denisov shoots and misses
and Harper counters with a head kick. That will keep Denisov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Denisov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Denisov fails with the takedown
and Harper counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Randy Harper is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denisov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Harper has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Denisov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harper as he avoids it easily.
Denisov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Denisov misses with a hook
and Harper counters with a good low kick that Denisov was not able to check.
Denisov throws a series of punches but Harper avoids them all with ease.
Harper thinks about countering with a body kick.
Harper with a hook.
Denisov misses the body punch
and Harper connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Denisov misses with a hook.
Harper jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Harper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harper, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Randy Harper!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Randy Harper!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Randy Harper!

Randy Harper wins by unanimous decision!