PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Christmas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Hara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hara has chosen The Who - Eminence front as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Christmas
vs
Hara

175 cm
25
185 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

185 cm
33
210 lbs
29 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Vanquish Fight Wear
Hellbent

Hellbent
Hellraiser FightGear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lee Christmas !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Hara!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Christmas .

Hara changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Christmas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hara throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hara sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Christmas is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Hara seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hara lands a few punches from side control.
Hara cracks Christmas with a big elbow.
Christmas is trying to escape the position but Hara is controlling the position.
Hara creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Christmas sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Christmas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hara.
Hara landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hara lands some shots froms side control.
Christmas is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hara off and has taken his back!
Christmas is hanging on to Hara's back as he tries to escape.
Hara rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hara wants to control but Christmas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hara trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Christmas manages to pass to mount!
Hara bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hara looking to sit in guard and control but Christmas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Christmas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hara working for a triangle but Christmas defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christmas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hara working for submissions but it's allowed Christmas to get to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hara actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Christmas trying to control from half guard but Hara is working away.
Hara trying to control but Christmas postures up.

Hara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Christmas in particular looking to stall.

Hara has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Christmas escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Christmas !

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hara is looking to reverse the position.
Hara is letting Christmas control him for a moment.
Hara is looking to regain half guard here but Christmas keeps moving and retains side control.
Hara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Christmas working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hara dominated that 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.

Christmas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Christmas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab lands there for Christmas .
Christmas misses with a head kick.
Hara shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Christmas but Christmas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Christmas throws a jab but it's blocked by Hara.
Hara avoids the head kick by Christmas .
Christmas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hara avoids the head kick by Christmas .
Christmas throws a jab but it's blocked by Hara.
Hara tries to score a power double leg takedown but Christmas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hara somewhat.
Hara has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hara avoids the head kick by Christmas .
Christmas throws a head kick that misses
and Hara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christmas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hara.
Christmas with a nice cross.

Hara dives in and scores a takedown into Christmas 's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hara is in close to Christmas 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hara trying to control but Christmas is working from the bottom.
Hara looking to sit in guard and control but Christmas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christmas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hara is keeping the position for now.
Christmas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hara sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Hara looking for submissions off his back.

Hara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Christmas stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hara is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lee Christmas will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Christmas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hara.
Christmas lands with a kick to the temple. Hara shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A left lands for Christmas .

Hara shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hara was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Christmas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Christmas regains half guard, as Hara was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hara passes the guard and advances to mount!
Hara trying to control but Christmas is having none of it.
Hara is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hara looking to finish Christmas with some ground and pound. This is bad for Christmas !
Christmas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hara controlling his opponent.
Hara misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Hara moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Christmas has worked his arm free - good work by Christmas !
Hara throws an elbow but Christmas slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christmas is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hara is controlling him well.
Hara landing a few strikes.
Hara is looking to take a break and control but Christmas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hara just content to control the position.
Christmas is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hara off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christmas trying to control momentarily.
Hara can't escape the position.
I would not like to be Hara right now.
Christmas is not going to allow Hara to sit and survive in this position.
Christmas is trying to stick to Hara's back but Hara is turning into Christmas . He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Christmas 's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hara.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Christmas keeping moving, preventing Hara from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hara really dominated that round.
That's time! Christmas 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Christmas tries a head kick but it misses.
Christmas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Christmas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hara on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Christmas slaps away a takedown attempt from Hara, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hara misses with a series of wild punches.
Lee Christmas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas throws a head kick but Hara moves out of range.
Lee Christmas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hara.
Christmas scores with the left hand. Hara knows he should have avoided that one.
Christmas throws a jab when Hara was well out of range.
A swing and a miss from Christmas .
Hara throws a wild body kick that Christmas sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christmas closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Christmas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Christmas throws a head kick that misses

and Hara decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Christmas 's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Josh Hara has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hara sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hara postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hara trying to control the position from guard on top but Christmas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hara throwing strikes from guard but Christmas blocks nicely.
Hara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hara is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Christmas is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Christmas has escaped and now he's on top!
Hara is trying to control the position but Christmas postures up.

Hara working for a triangle but Christmas defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hara can't keep his opponent in guard - Christmas advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hara trying to get back to full guard but Christmas takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Hara is looking to improve his position but Christmas isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hara sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Lee Christmas will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Christmas scores with a nice strike.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hara.
Hara dives in for a single leg takedown but Christmas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Christmas 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hara throws a nice looking combination but Christmas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hara defending well as Christmas loads up on a big left hand.
A head kick by Christmas misses

and Hara counters with a single leg into guard. Christmas didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas managing to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hara's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Christmas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hara looking to sit in guard and control but Christmas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hara wants to control the position but Christmas says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Hara actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christmas slows the pace down in half guard.
Hara is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Hara looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Christmas sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hara is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Christmas is aware though and is defending well.

Hara has his foot on Christmas 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Christmas works his way back into a safe position though.
Hara is trying to control the position but Christmas postures up.
Christmas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Christmas won't allow Hara to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christmas tries to free his leg and advance position but Hara is retaining full guard.
Christmas wants to control from the top but Hara keeps moving.

Hara has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Christmas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hara is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hara has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Christmas is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hara.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Josh Hara.
I think Hara 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 47:49
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 47:49
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Hara!
Josh Hara really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.