PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Harris

182 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonathan James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Harris!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James cracks Harris with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
James scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Harris doesn't seem bothered though.
Harris shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
Harris defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.

Harris scores with a takedown into James's guard.
Harris won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Harris wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
James controls Harris momentarily but Harris frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jonathan James.
James lands a nice shot to the body.
Harris sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
James throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A slapping body kick lands there for James.
Harris looks gassed!
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Harris just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and James duly obliges.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Horrible takedown by Harris or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
James misses with the combination.
Harris looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Harris tries a head kick but it misses.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.
A nice combination there by James.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Harris circles away.
Decent striking displayed by James there.
James lands with a slapping head kick.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a head kick.
Harris throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
James fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James throws a sloppy head kick and Harris moves out of range easily.
Harris takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Harris closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
Harris controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Harris drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and James dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

James stands up from Harris's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James tries for a takedown but Harris circles away easily

and Harris holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan James dominated that round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Harris throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Harris shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Harris drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
James is trying to break the clinch but Harris is controlling him.
Harris avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.

Harris has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics James uses from the top position.
Harris keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harris controlling James's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but James has passed into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James decides to stand up, so the ref orders Harris to his feet.
James connects with a right hand. Harris shakes it off.
Harris fails to land the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from James misses.

Harris closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. James did well to prevent Harris getting side control.
Harris frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
James manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by James, under a barage of strikes from Harris.

Harris stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Harris looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for James!
Harris controlling his opponent.
James tries to lock up and control but Harris gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Harris misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to stand but he's just given Harris his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Paul Harris has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Harris has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Harris looking to score a takedown here. James is defending well but Harris drives through and ends up in James's guard.
Harris throws and elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Harris's guard. Nice move by James!
James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is fighting to break Harris's control of his arms but Harris is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Harris wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control but Harris is working from the bottom.

Harris throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! James escapes and throws Harris's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Harris tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but James wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Harris wants to control but James postures up.
James tries to stand but Harris is controlling his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to take a break and control but Harris is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Harris sneaks back into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Harris gets back to full guard.
Harris is pulling down on James's head. It's preventing any offense from James, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to stand up but Harris won't let him.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Harris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jonathan James just wasn't active enough.

Harris looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Harris wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James looking for a guillotine here but Harris defends easily.
Harris content to stall in guard here.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Harris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Harris 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Harris!