PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Colm Liddel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Liddel
vs
Harper

188 cm
22
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Knock Out Fight Gear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Colm Liddel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Harper!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jonathan Paton and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Liddel to the mat! Liddel manages to get full guard.
Harper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Liddel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Harper is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Liddel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Harper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Harper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Harper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Liddel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Liddel tries to strike from the bottom.
Liddel is breathing heavily.
Liddel thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Liddel looking for a guillotine here but Harper defends easily.
Harper stays in close to Liddel's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Liddel throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Harper looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

Harper stands up and waves to Liddel to follow him.

Harper shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harper gets to his feet - Liddel follows without any prompting.

Harper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Liddel to the mat! Liddel manages to get full guard.
Harper not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Liddel doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Liddel has his foot on Harper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Harper works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddel throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Harper scoring with some ground and pound.

Liddel working for a triangle but Harper defends it easily.

Harper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Liddel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Harper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Liddel to the mat! Liddel manages to get full guard.

Liddel working for a triangle but Harper defends it easily.

Liddel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Harper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Liddel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Liddel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Liddel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Harper is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Harper regains half guard.
Liddel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harper can do anything to dispel that myth.
Liddel prevents Harper from improving his position.
Harper moves into full guard.

Liddel has gone for a leg lock! Harper slips out almost immediately though and dives into Liddel's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liddel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Harper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harper trying to stand up but can't free himself from Liddel's guard.
Harper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Liddel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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.
Harper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Liddel is looking for a triangle but Harper pushes his legs off easily.

Liddel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harper trying to control but Liddel is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddel looking for a guillotine here but Harper defends easily.

Liddel had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Harper is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Liddel Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Harper's back instead.
Harper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Liddel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Liddel lands a shot to the body.

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.

Harper defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Liddel is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Harper knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Harper for a finish.

Liddel has got his arm under Harper's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Harper has spun round into Liddel's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

Liddel looking for a guillotine here but Harper defends easily.

Liddel had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Harper is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Liddel Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Harper's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colm Liddel dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Liddel gets caught flat footed, as Harper shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Liddel trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Harper looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

Liddel looking for a guillotine here but Harper defends easily.
Robert Harper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harper landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Harper wants to control from the top but Liddel keeps moving.

Liddel had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Harper is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Liddel Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Harper's back instead.
Harper looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

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.

Liddel has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Harper has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Liddel doesn't have the hooks in and Harper manages to turn into his guard.
Liddel keeping moving, preventing Harper from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Liddel misses with a takedown

and Harper counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Liddel!
Liddel wants to control but Harper is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Liddel throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Liddel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Harper is taking a breather. Liddel 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 should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Liddel is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Harper pulls his head out easily.
Liddel is refusing to be controlled, as Harper sits in half guard.

Liddel actively working from the bottom here.

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

Liddel is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Harper pulls his head out easily.

Harper moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Liddel.
Liddel throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harper lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Liddel manages to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Harper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harper has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Harper!