PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Blake Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Serra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Harris
vs
Serra

182 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Blake Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Serra!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Serra scores with a takedown into Harris's guard.
Serra stopping the sweep attempt from Harris.

Harris working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Serra doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Serra manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Serra trying to control but Harris is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Serra won't allow Harris to sweep him here.
Harris trying to control the position.
Serra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harris is keeping the position for now.

Harris looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Serra tries to free his leg and advance position but Harris is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Serra tries to clinch up but Harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Serra throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Serra shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harris pinned against the cage. Harris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Serra throws a push kick but Harris slaps the foot to one side.
Harris tries to clinch up but Serra circles away and keeps his distance.

Serra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Harris escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Serra gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Serra won't allow Harris to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris wants to hit a switch here but Serra passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Harris there!
Harris is in all sorts of trouble here.
Harris is trying to stand.
Serra 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.
Harris is breathing heavily.
Serra tries to control but Harris wriggling away.
Harris gets back to half guard.
Serra trying to control the action but Harris is working from the bottom.
Harris gets back to full guard.
Harris looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Harris is wriggling around but Serra manages to pass to half guard.
Harris wants to improve his position but Serra is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serra seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Serra wants to control but Harris is keeping him busy.

Harris pushes Serra off and gets back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Harris instigates a clinch.
Harris tries a knee to the head but Serra blocks it.
Harris avoiding damage as Serra throws knees to the body.
Serra goes for a takedown in the clinch but Harris prevents it.
Serra scores with a hook to the body.
Serra fails to pull guard.
Blake Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Serra.
Serra blocks an elbow strike.
Serra jumps guard but Harris stands there with Serra around his waist. Serra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Serra drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harris lands a damaging elbow.
Harris misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serra changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Harris fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Serra is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harris takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Serra will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Serra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Serra gets to his feet - Harris follows without any prompting.
Harris fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harris doesn't manage to clinch there - Serra circles away.

Harris feints and as Serra raises his hands in defense, Harris changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Harris will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Serra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harris preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Harris closes the distance and clinches.
Serra tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Harris lands an elbow inside that Serra shrugs off.
Harris lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Matt Serra has been cut.
Serra changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Harris fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Harris stuffs the takedown attempt from Serra. Serra gets slowly back to his feet.

Harris rushes Serra and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nice elbow from Harris.
Harris lands a knee to the head.

Harris wants the takedown. Serra is fighting it off but Harris persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Serra's guard against the cage.
Harris is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Harris gets to his feet. Serra looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Harris moves into the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Harris - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Serra is breathing heavily.
Harris gets underhooks to prevent Serra's takedown attempt.
Blake Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Serra.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harris is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Serra can't fight it off and eventually Harris manages to take the fight to the floor. Serra looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Harris drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Serra dives on top into guard.
Serra stopping the sweep attempt from Harris.
Harris managing to control the position.
Harris not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Harris looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Harris has his feet on Serra's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serra doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Harris counters with an outside leg kick.

Harris closes the distance and clinches.
Harris blocks a body shot from Serra.
Harris with a knee to the head.
Serra fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Harris connects with a nasty looking knee right to Serra's face.
Harris lands a nice knee to the body.
Harris unloads a knee to the mid-section. Serra lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Harris throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Serra blocks it with crossed arms.
Serra drops down looking for an ankle pick but Harris pulls his leg out and moves away.

Harris takes the fight into the clinch.
Harris prevents a takedown attempt there.
Harris crunches a lovely knee into Serra's ribcage.

Harris jumps guard and drags Serra to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Harris has his foot on Serra's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Serra works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serra won't allow Harris to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harris holds on and takes a little breather.
Harris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harris looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Harris is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Harris is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Harris not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Harris throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Harris with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Harris is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blake Harris overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Serra wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Harris thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Serra's head.
Serra wants to control the action here but instead Harris manages to pass to full mount!
Harris can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Serra is looking to escape.
Serra tries to reverse the position but Harris maintains control.

Harris is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Serra is surviving well by controlling Harris's body position as best he can.
Harris throwing strikes here but Serra is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Serra is wriggling around trying to escape.

Harris is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Serra can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Harris dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Serra's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Harris tries to clinch there but Serra circles away.
Harris tries to clinch but Serra is having none of it.
Serra swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Serra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matt Serra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Harris closes the distance and clinches.
Harris landing knees to the head.
Harris landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Harris.

Harris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Harris moves into the clinch successfully.
Harris scores a nice knee to the body.
Harris connects with a nasty looking knee right to Serra's face.

Harris is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Serra is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Serra has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Serra decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Harris tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Serra counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Serra.
Serra fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Serra fails to pull guard.

Serra has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Harris uses from the top position.
Serra wants to sweep here but Harris controlling him for the moment.
Serra is trying to control the position but Harris postures up.
Harris preventing the sweep.

Harris drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Serra manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Harris has Serra in his guard.
Serra looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Serra from controlling successfully.
Serra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harris wants to sweep but no luck.

Harris is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harris looking to hit a scissor sweep but Serra is one step ahead there.
Harris seems keen to control Serra's posture.

Harris working for a triangle but Serra defends it easily.
Harris controls Serra momentarily but Serra frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harris is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Serra is pushing down on Harris's leg trying to pass to half guard. Harris is fighting to maintain full guard but Serra has managed to sneak the leg through.
Harris regains full guard. Nicely done.
Harris is trying to control the position but Serra postures up.

Harris throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Harris is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Harris stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serra gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Harris counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Blake Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Serra.
Serra is working for takedown but Harris is calmly controlling the position for now.
Serra is trying to break the clinch but Harris has him pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Harris.
Serra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Harris lands a knee to the head.

Harris has picked Serra up - he's going for a ride! Harris dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Serra wants to get back to full guard.
Harris seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Harris decides to stand and escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Serra will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Harris looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Harris pushing down on Serra's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Harris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Harris has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

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