PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Luiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Allan Harper (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.

Luiz
vs
Harper

190 cm
18
276 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Luiz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Allan Harper!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harper has a takedown stuffed.
Harper shoots in for a takedown but Luiz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Harper has eaten all the pies!
No luck for Luiz with that takedown attempt.

Harper moves into the clinch successfully.
Luiz wants a takedown but no success here.

Harper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Harper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Luiz tries to avoid it but Harper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Luiz to the ground. Luiz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ricardo Luiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Allan Harper.
Harper misses with a takedown attempt - Luiz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Luiz keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Luiz stuffs the takedown.
Luiz looks for a takedown but Harper sprawls well.
Harper fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Luiz avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Luiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harper swivels and escapes.
Luiz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Harper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Luiz.
Luiz shoots in looking for a takedown but Harper manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Luiz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Harper gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Harper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Luiz closes the distance and clinches up with Harper, looking for a takedown. Luiz pushes Harper against the cage but Harper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Harper gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Luiz to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Luiz from controlling successfully.

Harper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Harper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Luiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Harper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Luiz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Harper pushes Luiz off and gets back to his feet.
Harper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Luiz closes the distance and pushes Harper back into the cage.
Luiz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Harper gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The referee calls for Harper to work.
Luiz tries for a takedown but Harper manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luiz has Harper pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Harper manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Luiz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Harper gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Luiz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Harper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Luiz shoots for a double leg takedown but Harper sprawls well. He's pushed Luiz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Luiz looks to land a left hand but Harper moved out of range nicely.
Luiz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harper moves away.
Harper misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luiz closes the distance and clinches up with Harper, looking for a takedown. Luiz pushes Harper against the cage but Harper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Luiz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harper's waist but Harper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Luiz off to one side.
Luiz is breathing heavily.
Harper shoots in but Luiz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Allan Harper will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Harper misses with a head kick.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harper misses with a head kick.
Luiz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Harper shoots in for a takedown but Luiz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Luiz stuffs the takedown attempt from Harper. Harper gets slowly back to his feet.
Luiz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Luiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luiz throws a front kick aimed at Harper's knee but Harper avoids it well.
Luiz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Luiz fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Luiz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harper shoots for a double leg takedown but Luiz sprawls well. He's pushed Harper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Harper will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harper fails with the takedown.
Harper doesn't manage to clinch there - Luiz circles away.
Luiz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harper tries to avoid it but Luiz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harper to the ground. Harper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Luiz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Luiz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Luiz wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harper closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Luiz quickly recovers to half guard.
Harper prevents Luiz from improving his position.
Luiz wants to control but Harper is keeping busy.
Still in half guard, Harper seems content to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Luiz trying to hold on to Harper's head to control him but Harper postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Harper misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luiz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harper tries to avoid it but Luiz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harper to the ground. Harper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ricardo Luiz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Harper gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Harper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harper is looking to clinch.
Ricardo Luiz is winning the standup battle so far.

Luiz gets tackled into the cage by Harper. Harper maintains the clinch.
Harper drops down looking for an ankle pick but Luiz pulls his leg out and moves away.

Luiz instigates a clinch.
Luiz looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper misses with some punches.
Luiz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Luiz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Harper landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Harper pulls guard successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Luiz manages to get himself to full guard.
Luiz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Luiz tries to get out of the position.
Harper is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Allan Harper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Luiz wants to slow Harper down by chopping away at his legs.
Luiz shoots in looking for a takedown. Harper tries to sprawl out of it but Luiz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Luiz tries to keep at a distance but Harper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Luiz prevents the takedown attempt.

Harper jumps into guard, dragging Luiz to the mat.

Harper looking for a guillotine here but Luiz defends easily.
Luiz wants to stand and escape but instead Harper has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper trying to control the position from guard on top but Luiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Harper decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Luiz, up you get!
Harper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Harper throws a wild body kick that Luiz sees coming a mile off.
Harper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harper wants it to stay on the feet.
Luiz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Harper.
Harper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick misses from Luiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harper gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Harper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Luiz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Harper walks away with a smile on his face. Luiz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Luiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harper closes the distance and clinches up with Luiz, looking for a takedown. Harper pushes Luiz against the cage but Luiz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Luiz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Luiz is looking to clinch but Harper is avoiding it.
Luiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harper swivels and escapes.

Luiz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harper doesn't manage to clinch there - Luiz circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Luiz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Harper.
Luiz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Harper smiles and moves away.

Harper clinches up with Luiz and pushes him back against the cage.
Luiz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Harper.
Harper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Luiz's efforts to push away.

Harper jumps into guard, dragging Luiz to the mat.
Luiz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Harper on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luiz won't allow Harper to sweep him here.
Harper trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Harper is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Luiz looking to sit in guard and control but Harper gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Harper stands up and waves to Luiz to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Allan Harper really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Luiz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Harper fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Harper moves out of range of the body kick.
Harper tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Luiz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Luiz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Luiz leaves Harper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Harper avoids a kick to the body.
Harper shoots in but Luiz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ricardo Luiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Allan Harper.
Harper is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper tries for a takedown but Luiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Luiz shoots in and drives through. Harper sprawls well.
Harper stuffs the takedown attempt from Luiz. Luiz gets slowly back to his feet.
Luiz misses with a takedown attempt - Harper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Luiz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Harper manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Luiz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harper's waist but Harper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Luiz off to one side.

Harper clinches with his opponent.

Harper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Harper dodges the punch combination from Luiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper shoots in and drives through. Luiz sprawls well.
Harper walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Luiz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Harper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Luiz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Harper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Luiz.
Harper shoots in and drives through. Luiz sprawls well.
Harper fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Luiz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Harper tries to clinch
and Luiz counters with a nice uppercut.
Harper tries to clinch there but Luiz circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper blocks a head kick by Luiz.
Harper thuds a left hand into Luiz's body.

Luiz tries to keep at a distance but Harper has taken the fight into the clinch.

Harper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Luiz doesn't manage to clinch there - Harper circles away.
Harper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Luiz as he avoids it easily.
Harper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Luiz swivels and escapes.
Harper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Luiz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper takes a swing at Luiz's ribcage but misses.
Luiz tries to clinch but Harper is having none of it.
A punch combination from Harper misses.
Horrible takedown by Luiz or perhaps it was just good defense by Harper which made him look bad.
Luiz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Harper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Luiz to the mat! Luiz manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harper is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harper throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Allan Harper dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Harper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harper is trying to pull guard but Luiz has him pressed against the cage.
Harper scores a nice knee to the body.

Harper jumps into guard, dragging Luiz to the mat.
Luiz wants to pass the guard but Harper is keeping the position.

Harper has his foot on Luiz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Luiz works his way back into a safe position though.
Luiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Luiz manages to get himself to full guard.
Luiz trying to control the position.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Allan Harper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harper pushes down on Luiz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Harper prevents Luiz from improving his position.
Harper not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Harper stands up and beckons Luiz to join him on the feet.

Harper moves into range and clinches up with Luiz.
Luiz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Harper has him pressed against the cage.

Harper breaks the clinch.
Harper tries a head kick but it misses.
Harper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Luiz swivels and escapes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Luiz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harper as he jumps to the side.
Luiz darts in trying to clinch

and Harper moves into the clinch.

Luiz jumps guard.

Luiz is working an open guard so Harper takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Luiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Harper misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Luiz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Harper shoots for a takedown but Luiz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ricardo Luiz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Allan Harper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper slaps away a takedown attempt from Luiz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Luiz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harper tries to avoid it but Luiz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harper to the ground. Harper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Harper fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Luiz avoids it really well and circles away.
Harper tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luiz leaves Harper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Luiz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Allan Harper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harper has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 46:50
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Allan Harper!
Allan Harper is the new heavyweight champion!
Allan Harper seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.