PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Xander Serj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Serj
vs
Harper

170 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Xander Serj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim Harper!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harper drops his hands momentarily and Serj takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Harper tries to keep at a distance but Serj has taken the fight into the clinch.
Harper should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Serj drags the fight down to the ground.

Harper is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Serj swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Serj knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Harper on the ground.
Harper controlling from the top position.
I looks like Harper might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Serj will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Serj is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Serj swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper stopping the sweep attempt from Serj.
Serj is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Harper looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Harper stands and steps away. Serj gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Serj tries to clinch but Harper moves out of range.

Serj bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harper parries the strikes from Serj easily there. Serj is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Harper to escape.
Harper sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Serj is thwarting Harper's attempts to control the position.

Harper looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Harper looks gassed!
Harper is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Serj's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Serj's back!
Harper is controlling the position but Serj somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Harper stops Serj from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serj trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Harper is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Serj has managed to free his arm - good work.
Harper wants to pass to mount but Serj is defending the position.
Serj pushes Harper off looking to stand but Harper dives back in and keeps control.

Harper seems to be working for a kimura but Serj defends the submission attempt.
Harper is trying to control the action in half guard but Serj is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Serj pushes Harper off looking to stand but Harper dives back in and keeps control.
Harper performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Harper escapes and gets back to his feet.
Harper shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Serj counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Harper does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Serj tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Harper shoots in but no luck this time.
Serj moves in looking to clinch but Harper pushes him off.
Serj is looking to clinch but Harper is avoiding it.
Harper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Serj.

Harper shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Harper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tim Harper will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Serj feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Harper sprawling to the canvas! Harper rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Serj finish him?!

Harper is rocked!

It looks like Tim Harper has been cut.
Serj is looking to clinch.
Xander Serj is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Serj pushes Harper up against the cage in a clinch.

Serj connects with a massive knee from the clinch and Harper goes down! Serj jumps into full mount looking to finish!
Harper is still in real trouble! Can Serj finish him?
Harper is desperately trying to improve his position but Serj has a good base and remains in mount.
Harper wants to control but Serj is having none of it.
Harper seems to have recovered his senses.
Harper is wriggling around trying to escape.
Serj can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Harper is looking to escape.
Harper is breathing heavily.
Harper tries to lock up and control but Serj gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper tries to reverse the position but Serj maintains control.
Harper is squirming around, avoiding Serj's attempts to control the action.
Serj is really struggling to control Harper but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Harper is desperately trying to improve his position but Serj has a good base and remains in mount.
Serj can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Harper is looking to escape.
Harper tries to hold on but Serj pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Harper is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Harper is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tim Harper just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Serj fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Harper, pushing him back against the cage.
Serj lands a nice knee to the body.

Serj manages to pull guard.
Harper slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Serj trying to remain calm as Harper controls from the top position.
Harper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Serj keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Serj is trying to escape the mount but Harper keeps good control and instead manages to take Serj's back.
Serj is keeping busy.

Serj fending off the submission attempt from Harper.
Serj holding both Harper 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Harper working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Serj is doing well to defend. Harper seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Serj is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tim Harper!