PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Harkleroad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin McCoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harkleroad's entrance music is I am a real American. A fine choice. McCoy has chosen Voices as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Chad Harkleroad has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harkleroad
vs
McCoy

165 cm
18
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Nature's Edge Nutrition

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chad Harkleroad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Austin McCoy!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harkleroad bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
You can see the frustration on McCoy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McCoy defending against the ground and pound.
Harkleroad is chipping away with strikes.
Harkleroad really is a fat lump.
Harkleroad works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
McCoy sneaks back into half guard.
McCoy is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Harkleroad's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Harkleroad's back!
Harkleroad trying to control the position but McCoy manages to sink in the hooks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harkleroad tries to escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCoy avoiding Harkleroad 's attempts to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCoy looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Harkleroad is controlling McCoy 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Harkleroad is looking to advance position but McCoy has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Harkleroad tries to reverse the position but McCoy maintains control.
Harkleroad wants to control but McCoy is having none of it.
Harkleroad is trying desperately to improve position.
McCoy looking to control but Harkleroad is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCoy might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Harkleroad kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McCoy cracks Harkleroad with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Harkleroad on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Harkleroad tries to get out of the position.

McCoy goes for an armbar but Harkleroad turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Harkleroad.
Harkleroadis looking to pass into half guard but McCoy pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now McCoy is in guard.
McCoy wants to control from the top but Harkleroad keeps moving.
Harkleroad looking for a sweep. Not yet Harkleroad, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCoy decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Harkleroad, up you get!

Harkleroad shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Harkleroad is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Harkleroad knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McCoy on the ground.
Harkleroad wants to pass the guard but McCoy is keeping the position.
McCoy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McCoy is trying to work for a kimura but Harkleroad is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCoy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Harkleroad sees it coming and defends easily.
Harkleroad wants to control but McCoy passes into side.
Harkleroad is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McCoy off and has taken his back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Harkleroad has got his arm under McCoy's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! McCoy has spun round into Harkleroad's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Harkleroad is breathing heavily.
McCoy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCoy stands up out of Harkleroad's guard for a moment - Harkleroad manages to land a nice upkick.
McCoy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Harkleroad is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chad Harkleroad will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Harkleroad changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McCoy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McCoy manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Harkleroad is looking to improve his position.
McCoy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Harkleroad trying to control but McCoy postures up.
McCoy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harkleroad does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McCoy thows a huge punch but Harkleroad dodges it nicely.

McCoy is working for a kimura but Harkleroad is defending it quite comfortably.
McCoy trying to pass the guard but Harkleroad defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkleroad is refusing to be controlled, as McCoy sits in half guard.
Harkleroad regains full guard. Nicely done.

McCoy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McCoy pushing down on Harkleroad's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Harkleroad keeping hold of McCoy's head, controlling as best he can.
Harkleroad is staying active underneath McCoy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCoy is working for a kimura but Harkleroad is defending it quite comfortably.
McCoy wants to control but Harkleroad is keeping him busy.

Harkleroad looking for submissions off his back.
Harkleroad is refusing to be controlled, as McCoy sits in half guard.
Harkleroad is looking to improve his position.
Harkleroad might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCoy is trying to control the action in half guard but Harkleroad is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McCoy passes the guard and advances to mount!
McCoy tries to control but Harkleroad wriggling away.
McCoy postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Harkleroad looks a forlorn figure.
McCoy lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Harkleroad has left one of his arms exposed and McCoy doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Harkleroad screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Austin McCoy!
Austin McCoy is the new light heavyweight champion!
Austin McCoy gave a mention to Nature's Edge Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).