PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josiah Harlan (ranked 5698 p4p, 4676 weight class) and Sam Makkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Harlan
vs
Makkonen

190 cm
18
210
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
204
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josiah Harlan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sam Makkonen!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makkonen on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Harlan moves into the clinch successfully.
Makkonen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Harlan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Harlan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Harlan misses with the head strike.
Harlan works on Makkonen's body with a couple of short punches.
Makkonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Makkonen tries to break free but Harlan pushes him back against the cage.
Harlan misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Makkonen breaks the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Harlan.

It looks like Sam Makkonen has been cut.
Makkonen wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makkonen shoots in looking for a takedown. Harlan tries to sprawl out of it but Makkonen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harlan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Josiah Harlan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Makkonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harlan circles away.
It looked like Harlan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Makkonen.
Some wild striking there from Makkonen.
Makkonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harlan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Harlan swinging wildly here.
Harlan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Harlan scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harlan lands a big right hand that sends Makkonen crashing to the mat! Harlan stays standing though and waves Makkonen back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harlan connects with a body shot that sends Makkonen's belly button to the back.
Sam Makkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makkonen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Harlan counters with a huge right that knocks Makkonen out cold! Harlan is running around with a crazed look on his face - you can see how much that meant to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Josiah Harlan!