PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Knox (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.

Harper
vs
Knox

185 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mickey Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrew Knox!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A big right from Harper misses.
Knox blocks a head kick by Harper.
A head kick by Knox misses
and Harper counters with a nice uppercut.
Harper throws a head kick that misses.
Harper buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Harper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good leg kick by Harper there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Knox takes the fight into the clinch.
Knox prevents Harper from breaking the clinch.
The referee calls for Knox to work.
Knox prevents Harper from breaking the clinch.

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Knox.
Harper pivots, looking for a leg kick but Knox is out of range and Harper settles back down.
Harper fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Knox.
A chopping leg kick lands by Harper.
Knox moves out of range of the body kick from Harper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper throws a quick inside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knox scores with a nice hook to the head.

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Harper goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knox on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Harper. Harper obviously looking to wear him down.
Knox looks gassed!
Knox waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Harper.
Mickey Harper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harper misses with a hook. Knox ducked under it nicely.
A slow jab from Harper misses its intended target.
Harper misses with a head kick.

Knox closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Harper wants to get back to his feet.
Harper tries to roll over but Knox keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox is taking a breather. Harper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Harper is looking for a sweep. Knox is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Knox stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harper is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper won't allow Knox to pass to mount.
Harper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Knox 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 looking for a kimura from the bottom but Knox passes into side control!
Harper is looking for a sweep.
Knox landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Knox takes a little break here. Harper wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Knox decides to stand up, so the ref orders Harper to his feet.
Knox scores with a kick to the midsection.

Knox clinches up with Harper and pushes him back against the cage.

Knox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harper walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Knox checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Knox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harper circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knox throws a sloppy head kick and Harper moves out of range easily.
Harper walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Knox checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Knox dips to his left and cracks Harper with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Harper 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.

Knox fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Harper sprawls well initially but Knox persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Harper looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Knox content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Knox's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Knox trying to control from half guard but Harper is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Knox in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper is looking to escape.

Knox is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Knox is trying to control the action in half guard but Harper is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Harper gets full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Harper has an active guard here but Knox has managed to pass into half guard.
Well, if Knox 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 looking for submissions off his back.
Harper is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Knox scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knox decides to stand and escape the position.
Andrew Knox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knox lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Knox.
A head kick by Harper misses

and Knox counters with a nice double leg into side control. Harper won't be happy with that.
Harper is trying to get back to his feet.
Knox takes a little break here. Harper wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Knox stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Knox blocks the low kick.
Knox keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Knox darts in and clinches Harper up against the cage.

Knox gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Harper regains guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox wants to control from the top but Harper keeps moving.

Harper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Knox won't allow Harper to sweep him here.
Andrew Knox has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knox looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Knox trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Knox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Harper throws a low kick, looking for Knox's leg but Knox calmly moves out of range.
Knox tries to clinch but Harper is having none of it.
Knox chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Harper can pounce on him.
Knox misses with the combination.
Harper moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Harper lands a jab to the head.
Harper lands a body shot.
Harper throws a big shot that misses.
Harper throws a leg kick that is checked

and Knox counters with a nice double leg into side control. Harper won't be happy with that.
Harper wants to get back to his feet.
Harper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Knox wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Knox wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Knox is staying tight to Harper's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Knox gets to mount! Harper was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Harper wants to hold on but Knox pushes him away.
Harper is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee warns Harper that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Knox controlling his opponent.
Harper really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Knox tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Harper is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper is working hard here to advance position.
Knox content just to control the position here.
Harper really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Knox lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Harper is working to get back to half guard.
Knox takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Knox avoids the attempt from Harper to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Knox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Knox 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Knox!