PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between CJ Tripp (ranked 711 p4p, 683 weight class) and Scot Harwath (ranked 104 p4p, 101 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tripp
vs
Harwath

189 cm
35
174
23 - 11 - 0

182 cm
25
175
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

Altitude Clothing

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 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, CJ Tripp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Scot Harwath!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harwath takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tripp with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A big left from Tripp misses.
A big right from Tripp misses.
Tripp jabs at Harwath's body.
Tripp scores with a jab to the body.
Tripp misses with a body kick.
Harwath tries to counter by closing the distance.
Tripp is looking to land body kicks.
Tripp throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tripp scores with a sloppy right hand. Harwath should have avoided that one.
Tripp throws a leg kick that misses.
Tripp misses with a head kick.
Tripp throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Harwath stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tripp scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripp throws a leg kick but Harwath sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tripp throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Crunch! Tripp slams his shin into Harwath's torso.
Harwath moves out of range of the body kick.
Harwath tries to counter with a clinch but Tripp shakes him off and moves away.
Harwath wants to clinch up but Tripp keeps it at a distance.
Harwath throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Harwath moves into the clinch.
Harwath lands with a left to the head.
Tripp misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tripp blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Harwath blocks a body shot from Tripp.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tripp.
Harwath misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Harwath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harwath throws a punch but it's blocked by Tripp.
Tripp lands a hook that snaps the head of Harwath backwards.
Tripp fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Harwath goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Tripp breaks the clinch.
Harwath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tripp manages to avoid it.
Tripp keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tripp catches Harwath with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tripp misses the shot to the body.
Harwath tries to clinch but Tripp is having none of it.
CJ Tripp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harwath swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tripp moves forwards but Harwath connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Tripp throws the kick towards the body but Harwath avoids it.
Tripp is looking to chop away at Harwath's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tripp.
Harwath lands a jab to Tripp's midsection.
Harwath takes a kick to the side of the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Harwath blocks the leg kick.
Tripp bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Harwath's head.
Tripp moves out of range of the strikes.
It appears Tripp was looking to counter with a kick there.
Harwath takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tripp misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tripp swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Harwath.
Tripp slips a jab from Harwath.
Harwath misses with a straight right.
Tripp is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tripp avoids the body shot from Harwath.
Harwath thuds a left hand into Tripp's body.
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!
Tripp wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tripp lands a nice leg kick that just misses Harwath's sensitive parts.
Tripp lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tripp swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tripp looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tripp lands the left hand.
Tripp throws a combination. Harwath tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tripp tests Harwath's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tripp lands the left hand.
Harwath chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tripp can pounce on him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Tripp dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Tripp throws a hook to the side of Harwath's head but Harwath sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Harwath in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Harwath just misses with a punch to the body.
Tripp motions for Harwath to come forward. Tripp throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Harwath throws the left hand but Tripp avoids the punch easily.
Tripp plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A jab from Harwath does it's job there.

It looks like CJ Tripp has been cut.
Tripp misses with a body kick.
Harwath throws the left hand but Tripp avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Tripp. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tripp.
Tripp scores with a nice strike.
Tripp lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Harwath at a distance.
Donk. Tripp catches Harwath right on the button with a cross.
CJ Tripp is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harwath doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A leg kick checked by Harwath.
Tripp throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tripp cracks Harwath with a right hand to the side of the head.
Harwath just misses with a punch to the body.
Tripp digs a good body shot into Harwath's ribs.
Tripp throws a hook to the side of Harwath's head but Harwath sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harwath swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tripp misses with a head kick.
Tripp sets himself, and Harwath steps forward looking for the clinch! Tripp avoids it this time.
Harwath misses with a lunging right hand
and Tripp counters with a nice uppercut.
Tripp scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tripp walks into a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harwath blocks a leg kick.
Harwath throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harwath lunges at Tripp with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tripp's hand.
Good work by Harwath as he checks the leg kick.
Tripp lands with a shot to the body.
Tripp tries to land a front kick but Harwath steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Harwath tries to counter with a clinch but Tripp shakes him off and moves away.
The fighters circling - Harwath throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Harwath looks to score with a jab to the body but Tripp is just out of range.
Tripp scores with a nice body kick.
Harwath 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harwath throws a body punch but Tripp moves out of range.
Tripp catches Harwath with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A jab from Tripp does it's job there.
Harwath takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Nice shot lands for Harwath.
Harwath tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tripp was well out of range. Poor timing from Harwath.
Tripp fires out a quick counter leg kick but Harwath just manages to avoid it.
Harwath takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tripp thows a left - swing and a miss!
Harwath doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Tripp moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tripp is looking to slow Harwath down with leg kicks.
Tripp uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harwath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Harwath, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harwath tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tripp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harwath will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tripp thumps Harwath with a low kick.
Harwath stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tripp.

Harwath moves into range and clinches up with Tripp.
A short left from Tripp.
Harwath struggles to land a body shot inside as Tripp controls his hands.
Harwath works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Harwath misses with a punch on the inside.
Harwath has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tripp.
Harwath makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Tripp dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on CJ Tripp's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Harwath chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tripp can pounce on him.
Harwath doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Harwath lands a slapping body shot.
Harwath lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tripp at a distance.
Tripp scores with a nice strike.
Nice cross by Tripp.
Harwath is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tripp rather than just go for the knockout.
Some wild striking there from Tripp.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tripp looks for the body kick but Harwath saw that one coming.
Tripp sets himself, and Harwath steps forward looking for the clinch! Tripp avoids it this time.
Tripp throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Tripp throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripp scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Harwath is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harwath's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Harwath lands a jab.
Harwath on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tripp. Tripp obviously looking to wear him down.
Tripp misses with a body kick.
Tripp staying out of range there.
It appears Tripp was looking to counter with a kick there.
Harwath misses with a body shot.
Tripp throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Scot Harwath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Harwath checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tripp is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harwath can do to turn this around?
Harwath blocks a leg kick.
Tripp keeps Harwath at a distance using the push kick.
Tripp jabs Harwath to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tripp ducks under a wild hook from Harwath.
Tripp throws a half hearted mid kick.

Harwath gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Harwath misses with the head strike.
Harwath misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Harwath misses with a hook to the ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice left hand lands by Harwath.
Harwath misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tripp fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tripp creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tripp.
Harwath gets through Tripp's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Harwath tries a body shot but Tripp blocks it.
Good body shot from Tripp.
Harwath tries a body shot but Tripp blocks it.
Tripp blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Harwath swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Scot Harwath seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Harwath keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tripp's efforts to push away.
A short uppercut from Harwath.
Tripp misses with a hook from the clinch.
Harwath throws a punch but it's blocked by Tripp.
Harwath swings wildly with an uppercut but Tripp uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harwath misses with a punch to the body.
Harwath working aggressively here.
Nice body punch from Tripp.
Harwath misses with a punch to the body.
CJ Tripp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harwath.
Harwath has a couple of punches blocked by Tripp.
Harwath tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tripp's elbow.
Harwath lands with a short shot to the head.
Tripp tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tripp blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Harwath tries to throw a body punch but Tripp avoids it by throwing Harwath back against the cage.
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!
Harwath scores with a nice hook to the head.
Harwath tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tripp's elbow.
Harwath swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Harwath prevents a body shot from Tripp.
Harwath misses with a hook from the clinch.
Harwath doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tripp lands with a light punch inside.
Tripp throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Harwaths head.
Tripp lands a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to CJ Tripp.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tripp, 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CJ Tripp!
During a confident post fight interview, CJ Tripp thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.