PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Conor Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Kondo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conor Harris could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Yuki Kondo's chin.

Harris
vs
Kondo

190 cm
22
182 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
174 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Conor Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuki Kondo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Harris does no damage.
Kondo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Harris throws a leg kick
enabling Kondo to counter with a crisp jab.
A leg kick checked by Kondo.
A jab lands there for Kondo.

Harris drives through and clinches with Kondo against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Harris lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Harris is trying to pull guard but Kondo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris looking to throw knees to the head but Kondo is blocking nicely.
Kondo misses with a body punch.
Kondo is trying to stall.

Harris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harris moves into the clinch.

Harris breaks the clinch.
Harris swings for the body but Kondo moves out of range.
Kondo with the counter takedown but Harris avoids it easily.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kondo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kondo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harris jabs Kondo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Harris takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Harris tries to clinch up but Kondo circles away and keeps his distance.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kondo has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Harris throws a nice looking combination but Kondo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Harris doesn't manage to clinch there - Kondo circles away.
Kondo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kondo now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Harris misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris misses with a double jab

and Kondo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kondo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Harris working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kondo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kondo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Kondo from controlling successfully.
Harris controls Kondo momentarily but Kondo frees himself.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Kondo from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris is trying to control the position but Kondo postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kondo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kondo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harris fails in his attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kondo! But no joy.
Harris wants to clinch.
Kondo scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Harris closes the distance and clinches.
Harris looking to throw knees to the head but Kondo is blocking nicely.
Harris struggles to land a body shot inside as Kondo controls his hands.
Come on Kondo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kondo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A right hook to the body lands for Kondo.
Harris misses with a body punch.
Kondo is working for takedown but Harris is calmly controlling the position for now.
Harris tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A right hand to the body from Harris.
Kondo is trying to force a seperation but Harris has the dominant position.
Harris digs a right hand into Kondo's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kondo's gas tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Conor Harris will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Harris moves into the clinch successfully.

Harris breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Harris wants a takedown.
Harris stalling the fight.

Harris breaks from the clinch.
Harris doesn't manage to clinch there - Kondo circles away.
Conor Harris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harris wants to clinch up but Kondo keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harris clinches up with Kondo and pushes him back against the cage.
Kondo tries to break the clinch but Harris is controlling the position.
Kondo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Harris struggles to land a body shot inside as Kondo controls his hands.
Harris lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kondo backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kondo wants to break free but Harris has control.
Kondo wants a takedown.
Harris misses with a short punch on the inside.
Harris misses with a hook from the clinch.
Harris is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Harris drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kondo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Conor Harris has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Harris tries a body shot but Kondo blocks it.
Kondo working hard to break the clinch.
Kondo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Conor Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuki Kondo.
Kondo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right from Harris on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Conor Harris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harris looks to clinch
and Kondo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Harris misses with an uppercut.
Kondo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kondo swings for the body but Harris moves out of range.
Harris seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kondo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
We've been told by Harris's head coaches at Elite Fighting Temple that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kondo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harris tries to clinch up.
Harris tries to bum rush Kondo with a series of wild strikes but Kondo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A head kick misses from Harris.
Harris is looking to clinch.
Harris looks to land a combination but Kondo avoids it well.
Conor Harris is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
No joy there for Harris, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kondo defending well as Harris loads up on a big left hand.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kondo! But no joy.
Harris misses with the combination.
Kondo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Conor Harris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harris tries to clinch but Kondo moves out of range.
Kondo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Harris pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kondo is out of range and Harris settles back down.
Kondo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kondo lands a jab to Harris's midsection.
Harris is looking to score with low kicks.
Kondo appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A slow jab from Harris misses its intended target.
Kondo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harris.
A nice side step and Kondo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harris takes the fight into the clinch.
Harris is looking to control Kondo's arms but Kondo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Harris has his back to the cage.
Kondo is trying to drag Harris to the mat but Harris just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Harris unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kondo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Kondo breaks from the clinch.
Harris is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kondo can do to turn this around?
Harris throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harris tries to work over Kondo's front leg with a kick but Kondo checks it.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kondo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor Harris dominated that second 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!

Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kondo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It seemed like Kondo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kondo throws a body shot but no joy.
Kondo slips a jab from Harris.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kondo.
Kondo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harris pinned against the cage. Harris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Harris lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kondo circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris misses with a double jab.
Kondo feints the counter takedown.
Harris wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kondo slips a jab and a cross from Harris.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kondo! But no joy.
Kondo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harris closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kondo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Harris!
Kondo wants to take a breather but Harris manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kondo.
Kondo prevents Harris from getting back to his feet.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Kondo from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris wants to stand but Kondo is controlling the position.
Kondo looking to pass the guard.
Kondo trying to control the position from guard on top but Harris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harris working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kondo.
Harris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kondo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harris is fending him off so far but Kondo persists. Nope, Harris circles away and we're back to standing.
Conor Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuki Kondo.
Kondo blocks a jab.
Kondo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kondo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Harris tries to roll over but Kondo keeps him under control.
Kondo trying to control the action but Harris is working from the bottom.
Yuki Kondo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harris tries to get to full guard but Kondo has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harris pushes Kondo off looking to stand but Kondo dives back in and keeps control.
Harris is trying to maintain the position but Kondo is very close to passing his half guard.
Kondo stops Harris from getting back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Conor Harris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harris is trying to maintain the position but Kondo is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harris tries to clinch but Kondo moves away

and Kondo counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harris tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harris is holding Kondo down, trying to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuki Kondo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Harris 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

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