PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josiah Harlan (ranked 549 p4p, 1766 weight class) and Bo Hogan (ranked 84 p4p, 266 weight class). Bo Hogan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Josiah Harlan's chin.

Harlan
vs
Hogan

190 cm
21
210
7 - 1 - 0

181 cm
27
222
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

The Dirty Needle Project
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josiah Harlan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bo Hogan!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hogan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harlan counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Bo Hogan has been cut.
Harlan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hogan's coach down at Alpha Brasil was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hogan's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Harlan connects with a nice looking jab.
Hogan fails with the takedown.
Hogan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Harlan.
Harlan lands a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harlan throws a poor cross that misses

and Hogan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hogan wants to pass the guard but Harlan is keeping the position.
Hogan trying to control but Harlan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harlan wants to sweep but no luck.
Hogan stands and throws Harlan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Harlan's coaches at GWad's Playpen have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Harlan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hogan on the ground.

Hogan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Harlan, who protects the arm well.

Hogan goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Harlan has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hogan but great work by Harlan.
Hogan looking for a sweep but Harlan has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Harlan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hogan is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hogan is trying to get back to full guard.
Hogan is controlling Harlan's trapped leg to prevent Harlan from advancing to side control.
Hogan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hogan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hogan.

Hogan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Harlan passes into side control.
Harlan controlling from side mount.
Hogan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hogan is keen to just control but Harlan is a slippery customer.
Harlan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogan is trying to control. Harlan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hogan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Harlan haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Harlan wants to improve his position but Hogan is controlling well.
Hogan is looking to advance position but Harlan won't allow it.

Hogan is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Harlan still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Harlan has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hogan tries to bench press Harlan off him but Harlan keeps the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Harlan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bo Hogan's cut.
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.

Harlan slaps away a takedown attempt from Hogan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hogan slips a jab from Harlan.
Josiah Harlan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harlan clobbers Hogan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Harlan misses with an uppercut. Hogan saw that one coming.
Hogan shoots in for a double leg but Harlan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hogan wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harlan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hogan drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Harlan defends it well.
A big right from Harlan misses.
Hogan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Harlan.
Hogan tries for a takedown but Harlan circles away easily
and Harlan counters with a stiff right hand.

That has opened up Bo Hogan's cut even more.
Josiah Harlan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bo Hogan.
Harlan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hogan with the counter takedown but Harlan avoids it easily.
Harlan circles away from the clinch attempt
and Harlan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Hogan is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harlan lands hard precision jab right on the jaw that stiffens Hogan up and sends him tumbling to the mat! The ref grabs Harlan from behind before he can pounce. Some folks in the crowd didn't like that stoppage, but I saw Hogan's eyes roll way back in his head, he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Josiah Harlan!
Josiah Harlan retains his light heavyweight title!
Josiah Harlan was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.