PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Marshal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshal has chosen Psycho by Puddle of Mud as his entrance music. Daniel Harper has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Harper
vs
Marshal

162 cm
20
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Diego Marshal!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Marshal. No joy for Harper on that attempt.
Marshal looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Marshal moves in looking to clinch but Harper pushes him off.
Jab, jab by Harper - just one landing.
Harper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marshal's waist but Marshal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harper off to one side.
Harper fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Harper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marshal pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Marshal tries to keep at a distance but Harper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marshal tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Harper just stands there and leans against the cage.
Harper looking for a takedown.

Harper has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Marshal uses from the top position.

Harper looking for a guillotine here but Marshal defends easily.
Harper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Marshal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Harper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Harper controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harper decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Harper has managed to clinch.

Harper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marshal shoots for a takedown but Harper saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Harper scores with a takedown into Marshal's guard.
Marshal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Harper trying to control but Marshal is working from the bottom.
Harper advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshal looking for a sweep but Harper has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Harper throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Marshal because Harper loaded up on that one.
Marshal is trying desperately to improve position.
Harper throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Harper is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Harper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marshal circles away.
Harper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marshal circles away.
Harper will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harper could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Harper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A jab lands there for Harper.
Harper throws a series of punches but Marshal moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal tries to bum rush Harper with a series of wild strikes but Harper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Harper wants to clinch.
Marshal with a poor takedown

and Harper counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Harper pushing down on Marshal's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Marshal is refusing to be controlled, as Harper sits in half guard.
Harper passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Marshal!
Harper avoids the attempt from Marshal to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harper lands a heavy elbow.
Harper tries to control but Marshal wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper cracks Marshal with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Harper working for a submission but Marshal is keeping him at bay.
Marshal tries to control Harper's body but Harper pushes him off. Marshal squirms to his side and now Harper has his back!

Harper has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshal staying busy and making it hard for Harper to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harper punches the canvas rather than the man.
Marshal prevents Harper from getting a body triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Harper dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Harper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marshal tries to avoid it but Harper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marshal to the ground. Marshal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Harper fails to land the takedown.
Marshal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Harper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marshal swats away the attempt to clinch by Harper.
Marshal closes the distance and clinches up with Harper, looking for a takedown. Marshal pushes Harper against the cage but Harper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marshal staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harper throws a leg kick but Marshal sees it coming and moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marshal scores with a hook to the body. Harper takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Harper misses with a hook to the body
and Marshal counters with a series of strikes. Harper will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters circling a little - Harper finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Harper closes the distance and clinches.
Marshal gets underhooks to prevent Harper's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harper manages to pull guard.
Harper has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Harper looking for a guillotine here but Marshal defends easily.

Marshal drops back, looking for a kneebar! Harper looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Harper looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Harper!
Harper is looking to take a break and control but Marshal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Harper tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Daniel Harper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Harper stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper tries for a takedown but Marshal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marshal throws a nice looking combination but Harper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marshal shoots and misses

and Harper counters by moving into the clinch.

Harper successfully pulls guard.
Harper is pulling down on Marshal's head. It's preventing any offense from Marshal, at least for the moment.
Harper is trying to hold Marshal in close to prevent damage but Marshal has managed to pass into half guard.
Harper tries to get to full guard but Marshal has control of the leg.
Harper has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marshal is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal wants to control but Harper is keeping him busy.
Harper works his way to full guard. Good work.
Marshal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Harper trying to keep a closed guard but Marshal is proving a slippery customer.
Harper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Marshal looks like he's trying to stand up.
Harper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Harper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marshal does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Marshal is defending against the submission attempts here by Harper.
Marshal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Harper.
Harper works his way into side control.

Harper is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Marshal is trying to escape and Harper transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Marshal is forced to tap! Nice work there by Harper! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Daniel Harper!