PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bell
vs
Harper

210 cm
18
309 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
312 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mathew Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Charlie Harper!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Harper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harper misses with an uppercut.
Harper misses with a few strikes there.
Harper throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Bell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bell thows a huge punch but Harper dodges it nicely.
Bell scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bell controlling the action here.
Bell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mathew Bell just wasn't active enough.
Bell ducks under a wild hook from Harper.
Bell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harper as he avoids it easily.
Bell defending well as Harper loads up on a big left hand.
Bell shoots in but Harper avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bell blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Harper tries to clinch there but Bell circles away.
Charlie Harper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bell moves out of range of the body kick.

Bell changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Harper looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bell 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 is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bell has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Bell taking a breather here.
Bell's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mathew Bell wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Bell ducks straight into an uppercut from Harper and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Bell manages to regain guard straight away.

It looks like Mathew Bell has been cut.
Bell pulls Harper in close to his closed guard and prevents Harper from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harper is one step ahead there.
Harper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Charlie Harper will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mathew Bell's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harper knocks Bell to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?
Bell wants to control but Harper postures up.
Bell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bell gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bell is looking for a sweep. Harper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Harper tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bell controls his leg.
Bell tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Harper has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell is working to get back to half guard.
Bell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bell is trying to escape the mount.
Bell tries to lock up and control but Harper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bell is desperately trying to improve his position but Harper has a good base and remains in mount.
Bell is working hard here to advance position.
Bell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bell tries to get out of the position.
Bell is squirming around, avoiding Harper's attempts to control the action.
Bell is desperately trying to improve his position but Harper has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harper trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell is desperately trying to improve his position but Harper has a good base and remains in mount.
Bell slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Harper is working away from the top position though.
Bell wants to improve his position but Harper is controlling well.
Bell is trying to maintain the position but Harper is very close to passing his half guard.
Bell tries to roll over but Harper keeps him under control.

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.
Bell is trying to maintain the position but Harper is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harper walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bell checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Harper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bell closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Harper did well to prevent Bell getting side control.
Bell controlling the pace.

Bell escapes and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Harper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mathew Bell's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bell shoots in for a takedown but Harper shows good takedown defense.
Bell walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
An inside leg kick from Harper misses.
Harper misses with a few strikes there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Harper enables Bell to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Harper manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bell wants to pass the guard but Harper is keeping the position.
Harper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bell controls the pace.
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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Harper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bell is controlling him.
Harper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell passes into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bell connects with a nice short shot to Harper's temple.
Bell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Harper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bell.
Mathew Bell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Charlie Harper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper is trying to stand.
Harper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bell wants to work for an arm triangle but Harper is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Bell seems content to control.
Bell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bell content to control rather than advance.
Bell is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bell throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bell throws a big right hand that misses.
Bell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bell content to stall in guard here.
Bell throwing strikes from guard but Harper blocks nicely.
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harper is keeping the position for now.
Harper has momentary wrist control but Bell slips an elbow through the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Bell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Harper has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Harper!