PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takuji Kawashima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawashima is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Colossal - Wolfmother. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Takuji Kawashima enters the cage!

Harper
vs
Kawashima

183 cm
21
263 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
280 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Sydney BEAST Clothing

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Patrick Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Takuji Kawashima!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kawashima finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Harper rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kawashima counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Harper has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kawashima not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kawashima wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harper keeps working.
Kawashima throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kawashima wants to control but Harper is keeping him busy.
Kawashima stops Harper from getting back to his feet.

Kawashima is looking for a kimura here.
Kawashima wants to pass to mount but Harper is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawashima missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kawashima throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kawashima slips a nice elbow through Harper's hands, connecting with Harper's forehead.
Kawashima sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Harper defending well though.

Kawashima is looking for a kimura here.

Kawashima seems to be working for a kimura but Harper defends the submission attempt.
Harper pushes Kawashima off looking to stand but Kawashima dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima trying to control from half guard but Harper is working away.
Harper is looking to escape.
Kawashima lands with a punch from half guard.

Harper has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Kawashima is on him like a limpet, forcing Harper back against the cage.
Harper pushes Kawashima back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Harper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kawashima tests Harper's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kawashima misses with a head kick.
A combination from Harper does no damage.
Kawashima misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harper.
Harper avoids the head kick by Kawashima.
Kawashima misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima lands a right hook to the body.
Harper blocks the body kick.
Harper moves forwards but Kawashima connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Harper throws a push kick but Kawashima slaps the foot to one side.
Harper pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kawashima is out of range and Harper settles back down.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Harper checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kawashima swings widly with a right hand

and Harper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kawashima's guard.
Kawashima is trying to keep Harper in close.
Harper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Harper is fighting to break Kawashima's control of his arms but Kawashima is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
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!

Kawashima looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harper gets to his feet - Kawashima follows without any prompting.
Harper throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kawashima's head.

It looks like Takuji Kawashima has been cut.
Harper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kawashima paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Harper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kawashima missing with knees to the body.

Harper manages to break the clinch.
Harper lands a jab to Kawashima's midsection.
Harper misses with a low kick as Kawashima jumps back.
Patrick Harper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Kawashima fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Harper sprawls well initially but Kawashima persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kawashima looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Harper with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kawashima controlling the action here.
Kawashima wants to control but Harper is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takuji Kawashima will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Takuji Kawashima's cut.
That's time! Harper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kawashima will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kawashima misses with a straight right.
Harper lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kawashima lands the left hand.
Harper ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kawashima moves away.
Kawashima shoots in for a takedown but Harper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Harper throws a body punch but Kawashima moves out of range.

Harper has taken the fight to the clinch.

Harper breaks from the clinch.
Harper wants to clinch up but Kawashima keeps it at a distance.
Kawashima misses with a body shot.
Harper throws out a loose jab but Kawashima uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kawashima fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Harper manages to avoid it.
Harper looks to score with a jab to the body but Kawashima is just out of range.
Patrick Harper is winning the standup battle so far.
Harper throws a right and a left that Kawashima avoids nicely.

Kawashima closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Harper did well to prevent Kawashima getting side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kawashima is looking for a kimura here.
Harper is trying to stand back up but Kawashima is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawashima missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kawashima not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kawashima throwing shots but Harper is blocking nicely.
Kawashima is trying to control. Harper wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kawashima is looking for a kimura but Harper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kawashima to get the leverage.
Kawashima not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Harper to regain full guard.
Kawashima in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harper wants to stand but Kawashima is controlling the position.
Kawashima has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kawashima trying to move into half guard but instead Harper has managed to sweep!
Kawashima looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kawashima manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Harper manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Harper uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Harper throws a wild body kick that Kawashima sees coming a mile off.
Kawashima swats away the attempt to clinch by Harper.
Patrick Harper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harper misses with a series of wild punches.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Harper - that will leave a mark!
Harper with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kawashima to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kawashima shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harper as he jumps to the side.
Patrick Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takuji Kawashima.
Harper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Harper works over Kawashima's head and body with a nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Harper moves into range and clinches up with Kawashima.

Harper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A nice combination there by Harper.

Harper clinches with his opponent.

Harper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kawashima.
No joy there for Harper, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kawashima thuds a left hand into Harper's body.
Kawashima shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Harper defends it nicely.
Kawashima throws a leg kick but Harper checks it.
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 Patrick Harper will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Takuji Kawashima's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kawashima connects with a crisp jab.
Harper throws a front kick aimed at Kawashima's knee but Kawashima avoids it well.
Harper throws a series of punches but Kawashima avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Kawashima.
Harper slips under a jab.
Kawashima shoots in for a takedown but Harper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kawashima takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Harper throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kawashima on the side of the head.

Kawashima gets a takedown into half guard.
Harper tries to kick Kawashima off but Kawashima keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Well, if Kawashima is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Harper looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kawashima working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kawashima misses with a head shot. Harper uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kawashima with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kawashima throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harper works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kawashima trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kawashima throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harper works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima throwing strikes from guard but Harper blocks nicely.
Kawashima slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harper wants to get back to his feet but Kawashima is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kawashima throws an elbow that misses. Harper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kawashima's guard. Nice move by Harper!
Harper wants to stand but Kawashima has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harper decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kawashima throws a leg kick that misses.

Kawashima throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Harper was covering up waiting for the punch and Kawashima finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kawashima is stalling in the full guard.
Harper is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kawashima tries to free his leg and advance position but Harper is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima throws a big elbow that misses.
Harper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Kawashima from controlling successfully.
Kawashima stops Harper from standing up.
Kawashima not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kawashima throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawashima lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kawashima distracts Harper with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takuji Kawashima comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kawashima 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takuji Kawashima!
Takuji Kawashima very nearly forgot to thank Kore Fight Nutrition [TG] amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
The defeated Patrick Harper had this to say: 'He's a good fighter, and I will learn a lot from this experience. I'll be back stronger and better than I am now!'.