PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bilbo Baggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Harbor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Baggins
vs
Harbor

180 cm
36
190 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

184 cm
28
193 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bilbo Baggins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Harbor!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baggins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Harbor misses with a wild body shot.
Harbor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baggins manages to avoid it.
Baggins throws out a leg kick but Harbor moves out of range and Baggins only half commits.

Baggins fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Harbor to the ground. Baggins is now in Harbor's guard.
Harbor keeping moving, preventing Baggins from controlling successfully.
Baggins throws a big right hand that misses.
Harbor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Baggins has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Baggins throwing strikes but missing.

Harbor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harbor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baggins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Baggins distracts Harbor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harbor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baggins is one step ahead there.
Baggins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Baggins wants to control from the top but Harbor keeps moving.
Baggins sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Harbor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baggins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Baggins wants to control from the top but Harbor keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Baggins is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Harbor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harbor is controlling Baggins's posture.
Harbor has momentary wrist control but Baggins slips an elbow through the middle.
Baggins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Baggins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Baggins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baggins connects with a couple of short punches.
Baggins works over Harbor with some ground and pound from guard.
Harbor 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baggins trying to control the position from guard on top but Harbor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baggins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Harbor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baggins chips away with some ground and pound.
Baggins controls from within his opponent's guard.

Harbor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baggins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harbor keeping moving, preventing Baggins from controlling successfully.
Baggins is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Harbor is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

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.
Baggins stopping the sweep attempt from Harbor.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Harbor trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baggins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Harbor counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Baggins keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Baggins ducks under a wild hook from Harbor.
Baggins lands with an uppercut that bounces Harbor off the cage and back into range.
James Harbor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baggins ducks under a wild hook from Harbor.
Nice straight punches there by Baggins. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Baggins.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baggins shoots and misses
and Harbor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Baggins throws a body punch but Harbor moves out of range.
Baggins uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Harbor.
Harbor moves out of range as Baggins strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bilbo Baggins dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Baggins throws a lazy right hand but Harbor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No luck for Baggins with that takedown attempt.
Baggins with a hook.
Harbor cracks Baggins with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Harbor works Baggins's body with a nice hook.
Baggins avoids the body shot from Harbor.
A punch lands to the side of Baggins 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Some wild striking there from Baggins.
Baggins feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Harbors jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Harbor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baggins.
Baggins lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Baggins cracks Harbor with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baggins with a hook.
Baggins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harbor can do to turn this around?
Baggins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baggins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Harbor.
Baggins swinging wildly here.
Harbor connects with a body shot.
Baggins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice defenses there by Harbor.
Baggins misses with a body shot.
Baggins attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bilbo Baggins is winning the standup battle so far.
Harbor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Baggins just misses with a punch to the body.
Baggins lands a slapping body shot.

Baggins shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Harbor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harbor is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harbor is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harbor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Harbor moves into full guard.
Baggins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harbor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baggins trying to control but Harbor is working from the bottom.
Baggins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harbor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baggins.
Baggins throws a big right hand that misses.
Baggins cracks Harbor with a solid left hand.
Harbor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Baggins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baggins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

Harbor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Baggins with a nice head shot there.
Baggins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baggins works over Harbor with some ground and pound from guard.
Baggins trying to control the position from guard on top but Harbor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harbor 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.
We've been hearing good reports from Baggins's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Baggins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baggins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harbor as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bilbo Baggins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from Baggins misses.
Harbor throws a body shot but no joy.
Baggins swinging wildly here.
Baggins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baggins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baggins fails to land with a series of punches.
Baggins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Harbor misses with a hook.
Baggins has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bilbo Baggins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Baggins avoids the body shot from Harbor.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Baggins, as that shot connected.
Baggins with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harbor counters with a nice body shot.

Harbor tries to sprawl but Baggins drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Harbor is refusing to be controlled, as Baggins sits in half guard.
Harbor is trying to maintain the position but Baggins is very close to passing his half guard.
Harbor is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Baggins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Baggins's back!
Harbor cracks Baggins with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Baggins from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Baggins rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baggins is not content to let Harbor control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baggins is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harbor seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Baggins trying to control here.

Harbor is trying to work for a kimura but Baggins is defending well.
Harbor is pressing down on Baggins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Baggins is holding on for now.
Baggins gets full guard.
Harbor trying to control but Baggins is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Baggins is trying to keep Harbor in close.

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

Baggins working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Harbor has passed into half guard!
Harbor slips a nice elbow through Baggins's hands, connecting with Baggins's forehead.
Baggins is staying active underneath Harbor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Harbor prevents Baggins from improving his position.
Baggins is staying active underneath Harbor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Baggins trying to hold on to Harbor's head to control him but Harbor postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baggins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baggins wants to control but Harbor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A slow jab from Baggins misses its intended target.

Harbor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Harbor wants to sweep but no luck.
Baggins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harbor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baggins with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harbor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baggins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Baggins trying to control the position from guard on top but Harbor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baggins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harbor scores with a punch to the head.
Baggins looks to throw the jab but Harbor is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Bilbo Baggins did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baggins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Harbor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Baggins misses with a low kick.
Baggins with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harbor counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Baggins misses with a lunging right hand
and Harbor counters with a right hand to the body.
Harbor jabs Baggins right on the nose. Baggins blinks but takes it well.
Harbor tries to bum rush Baggins with a series of wild strikes but Baggins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Harbor looks to score with a jab to the body but Baggins is just out of range.
Harbor misses with a hook. Baggins ducked under it nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Harbor. No joy for Baggins on that attempt.
Bilbo Baggins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baggins throws a hook to the side of Harbor's head but Harbor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harbor sizes up Baggins with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Baggins throws a hook to the side of Harbor's head but Harbor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harbor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Baggins misses.
Harbor ducks under a wild hook from Baggins.
Baggins looks to land a right hand but Harbor moved out of range.
Bilbo Baggins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baggins dives in and grabs Harbor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harbor pushes down on Baggins's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bilbo Baggins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Baggins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Harbor.
Harbor lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Harbor has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Harbor scores with a sloppy right hand. Baggins should have avoided that one.

Baggins drives through with a takedown into Harbor's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Harbor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Baggins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Baggins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harbor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baggins has managed to get both his arms back between Harbor's legs - danger averted.
Harbor working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baggins wants to pass the guard but Harbor is keeping the position.
Baggins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harbor is trying to control the position but Baggins postures up.
Baggins tries to free his leg and advance position but Harbor is retaining full guard.

Harbor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Harbor is looking for a triangle but Baggins pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baggins wants to control from the top but Harbor keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harbor looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harbor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Baggins throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Baggins connects with a right hand. Harbor shakes it off.
Harbor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Baggins.
Baggins lands the left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Baggins misses the target.
Baggins misses with a wild body shot.
Harbor throws a series of punches but Baggins avoids them all with ease.
Harbor takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Baggins connects with a good right hand that stumbles Harbor. Harbor circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Baggins lands an impressive looking overhand right. Harbor doesn't seem phased though.
Baggins tries for a takedown but Harbor circles away easily
and Harbor counters with a nice body shot.
Baggins darts in looking for a takedown but Harbor gets double underhooks and turns Baggins into the cage.
Harbor lands with a short shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Harbor fails to land.
Baggins drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harbor lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Baggins.
Harbor working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Harbor dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Harbor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baggins.
Baggins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Harbor throws out the jab.
Baggins throws a lazy right hand but Harbor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Baggins looks to score with a jab to the body but Harbor is just out of range.
Baggins tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Harbor defends well and Baggins ends up having to push Harbor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Harbor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harbor drops his hands momentarily and Baggins takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Harbor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baggins throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baggins digs a good hook to Harbor's body.
Harbor misses with a right hand

and Baggins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Harbor is trying to maintain the position but Baggins is very close to passing his half guard.
Harbor wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baggins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Harbor trying to control from the bottom.
Baggins with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Harbor keeping hold of Baggins's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Harbor is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baggins darts in looking for a takedown but Harbor gets double underhooks and turns Baggins into the cage.
Harbor misses with a punch to the body.
Harbor tries to work over Baggins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harbor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baggins backwards.

Harbor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Baggins finds it's way through Harbor's defenses.
Baggins punishes Harbor's body with a nice straight punch.
Baggins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harbor pinned against the cage. Harbor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bilbo Baggins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baggins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harbor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harbor wants it to stay on the feet.
Harbor misses with a body shot.
Harbor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Baggins.
Harbor misses the shot to the body.
Harbor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baggins.
Baggins misses with a wild body shot.
Baggins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Baggins drives through with a takedown into guard.

Harbor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baggins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Baggins with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harbor looking to control.
Baggins trying to control but Harbor is working from the bottom.
Baggins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bilbo Baggins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Harbor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Harbor pulls Baggins in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baggins trying to control but Harbor is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bilbo Baggins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Baggins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 49:46
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 49:47
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bilbo Baggins!
Bilbo Baggins retains his middleweight title!