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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Gower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zander Harland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harland has chosen Bawitdaba as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!
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| 165 cm
21
156 lbs
8 - 1 - 0 |
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165 cm
22
152 lbs
6 - 5 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeff Gower!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zander Harland!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harland throws an off balance right hand
and Gower counters with a right hand to the body.
Harland is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gower's half guard.
Gower tries to roll over but Harland keeps him under control.
Ground and pound from Harland.
Gower keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gower is looking for a sweep. Harland is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Harland there.
Harland throwing shots but Gower is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harland throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gower to regain full guard.
Harland won't allow Gower to sweep him here.
Harland throwing strikes but missing.
Harland preventing the sweep.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gower wants to get back to his feet but Harland is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Harland is stalling in the full guard.
Gower 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harland works over Gower with some ground and pound from guard.
Harland stopping the sweep attempt from Gower.
Harland trying to control the position from guard on top but Gower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harland throwing strikes but missing.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Harland working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
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.
Harland keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gower's head.
Harland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gower's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gower is adopting a defensive guard.
Harland wants to control from the top but Gower keeps moving.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gower tries to sprawl but Harland drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gower trying to control from the bottom.
Gower tries to roll over but Harland keeps him under control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harland lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harland lands a nice short elbow.
Harland seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Harland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Harland has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Harland wants to control but Gower is keeping him busy.
Harland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gower on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Harland throwing shots but Gower is blocking nicely.
Harland scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Harland not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harland looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gower with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Harland looks to land a strike but Gower avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Harland being controlled here momentarily.
Harland postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Harland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harland preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harland postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harland trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Zander Harland dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Harland misses with a wild body shot.
Harland throws a lazy uppercut
and Gower counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gower swings for the body but Harland moves out of range.
We've been told by Gower's head coaches at Grindhouse that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Harland has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Gower misses the target.
Nice takedown defense from Gower. No joy for Harland on that attempt.
Harland on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gower throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Harland on the side of the head.
Gower ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harland moves away.
Harland appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Gower misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gower stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gower wants it to stay on the feet.
Decent striking displayed by Gower there.
Decent striking displayed by Gower there.
Harland looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gower!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Harland.
Harland throws a strike aimed at the side of Gower's head but Gower avoids it well.
Zander Harland has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harland working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Harland looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gower is avoiding damage well.
Harland throws a strike aimed at the side of Gower's head but Gower avoids it well.
Harland landing strikes.
Harland fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Harland working away.
Harland lands some shots froms side control.
Harland looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gower is avoiding damage well.
Gower can't do much from the bottom here.
Harland working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harland throwing strikes but Gower manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Harland is looking to reverse the position.
Gower decides to stand up, so the ref orders Harland to his feet.
Gower lands a head shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gower.
Gower just misses with a punch to the body.
Gower lands a nice looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harland takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gower punishes Harland's body with a nice straight punch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harland has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gower.
Gower changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gower misses with a right hand
and Harland counters with a nice uppercut.
Harland drives through with a takedown into guard.
Harland with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harland is looking to work some ground and pound but Gower has wrist control.
Harland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harland is looking to work some ground and pound but Gower has wrist control.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Gower manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Harland is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gower is keeping busy.
Gower misses with a hook from the clinch.
Harland works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gower preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Harland stopping the sweep attempt from Gower.
Harland missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gower has momentary wrist control but Harland slips an elbow through the middle.
Harland lands a couple of elbows.
Harland scoring with punches to the head and body.
Harland working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gower looking for a sweep. Not yet Gower, not yet.
Harland postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gower wants to sweep but no luck.
Gower avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gower working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Harland.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jeff Gower dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Harland throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gower wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Harland shoots in looking for a takedown. Gower tries to sprawl out of it but Harland keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gower manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gower connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harland looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gower went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gower misses with an uppercut.
Gower lands with a hook. Harland tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Harland scores with a takedown into Gower's guard.
Gower not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gower utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gower is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Harland wants to control but Gower is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harland tries to get to full guard but Gower has control of the leg.
Harland moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Harland is controlling Gower's posture.
Harland has a closed guard, preventing Gower from standing up.
Harland controls Gower momentarily but Gower frees himself.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harland tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harland fails with a takedown attempt.
Jeff Gower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zander Harland.
Gower throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gower throws a jab when Harland was well out of range.
Jeff Gower is winning the standup battle so far.
That's four 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.
Gower on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Harland takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gower looks to throw the jab but Harland is out of range.
Harland staying out of range there.
Harland drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gower defends it well.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gower, as that shot connected.
Gower avoids the body shot from Harland.
Gower was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gower lands an overhand right.
Gower misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harland.
Harland shoots in looking for a takedown. Gower tries to sprawl out of it but Harland keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gower manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harland shoots for a takedown but Gower saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jeff Gower clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Harland takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gower lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Harland circles away quickly and effectively.
It seemed like Harland was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Harland shoots in looking for a takedown. Gower tries to sprawl out of it but Harland keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gower manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harland on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harland keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harland is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Harland.
Harland needs to keep his hands up - Gower had a free shot at his head there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gower is looking to clinch.
Harland with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gower to score with a decent uppercut.
Harland circles away from the clinch attempt.
No joy there for Gower, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gower connects with a good right hand that stumbles Harland. Harland circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gower.
Gower moves out of range as Harland strikes.
Gower clinches up against the cage.
Gower tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Harland's elbow.
A short right from Gower on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Harland.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harland pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gower lands a left hand that snaps the head of Harland backwards.
Harland taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Gower.
Gower misses with the head strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harland drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jeff Gower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zander Harland.
A short right from Gower.
A head punch on the inside from Gower fails to land.
Gower trying to stall but Harland improves his position.
Gower fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gower prevents a takedown attempt there.
Harland displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gower up against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harland blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Harland gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Harland is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gower is defending well.
Harland drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gower gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Harland is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gower works on Harland's body with a couple of short punches.
Harland is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Harland drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gower pushes Harland back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gower goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gower swings wildly with an uppercut but Harland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gower blocks an elbow strike from Harland.
Gower tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gower.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gower.
Harland blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gower has a couple of punches blocked by Harland.
Gower lands a hook that snaps the head of Harland backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Gower fails to land.
Gower blocking some punches.
Gower misses with a hook to the ribs.
Harland tries to throw a body punch but Gower avoids it by throwing Harland back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jeff Gower had his way with Zander Harland in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Harland shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gower fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Harland manages to avoid it.
Gower swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Harland blocks a jab.
Gower missing with a left hand there. Harland was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Harland looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Harland keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gower.
Gower blocks a jab.
As Harland tries to get set, Gower tries to push him back and clinch up but Harland manages to avoid the attempt.
Jeff Gower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gower lands with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harland smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Gower dips to his left and cracks Harland with an uppercut!
Nice uppercut lands for Gower. That snapped Harland's head back.
Harland shoots in looking for a takedown but Gower manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Harland's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Harland blocks a jab.
Harland moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gower lands a jab to Harland's midsection.
Gower connects with a single shot there.
Harland shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Harland showed some decent athleticism there.
Gower manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd cheers as Gower lands an impressive looking overhand right. Harland doesn't seem phased though.
Gower has closed the distance and engaged Harland in a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gower.
Jeff Gower is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harland can't find room to land a body shot as Gower controls the action.
Harland pushes off an throws an elbow but Gower leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Harland taking a breather.
Harland tries for a takedown but Gower manages to get underhooks.
Zander Harland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harland wants a takedown.
Jeff Gower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zander Harland.
Harland looks to throw an elbow but misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gower takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Harland has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A right hook to the body lands for Gower.
Gower misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Harland is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gower pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Harland can't find room to land a body shot as Gower controls the action.
Jeff Gower has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee is keeping an eye on Harland - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
That's four 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.
Harland has Gower pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gower manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Harland misses with a punch on the inside.
Harland looking for a takedown.
Harland pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Harland can't get the takedown.
Gower blocks a body shot from Harland.
Harland throws a head punch that misses.
And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Gower showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gower 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 James Glass scores the fight 49:46
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 49:46
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Gower!
Jeff Gower retains his featherweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Jeff Gower thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
44% |
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