PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phil Harrass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waldo Claudiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrass comes to the cage accompanied by Tomorrow. Phil Harrass has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Harrass
vs
Claudiano

171 cm
27
148 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

160 cm
27
149 lbs
6 - 8 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Harrass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Waldo Claudiano!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Claudiano misses with an attempted mid kick.
Harrass scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Claudiano doesn't seem bothered though.
Harrass looks to score with a jab to the body but Claudiano is just out of range.
Claudiano misses with a hook
and Harrass counters with a nice uppercut.
Harrass misses with a looping right.
Harrass bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Claudiano drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Harrass'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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Claudiano cracks Harrass with a solid left hand.

Harrass has an active guard here but Claudiano has managed to pass into half guard.
Claudiano drops an elbow to the side of Harrass's head.
Claudiano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Claudiano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Harrass wants to get back to full guard but Claudiano has passed into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harrass is not content to let Claudiano control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrass takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Claudiano wants to control but Harrass is keeping him busy.
Harrass sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Harrass gets full guard.
Harrass avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Harrass has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Claudiano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Claudiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Harrass looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano distracts Harrass with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Claudiano trying to control but Harrass is working from the bottom.
Harrass is trying to hold Claudiano in close to prevent damage but Claudiano has managed to pass into half guard.
Claudiano trying to control the action but Harrass is working from the bottom.
Claudiano scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Claudiano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harrass does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Harrass looking for submissions off his back.

Harrass is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Claudiano pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano working over Harrass with some ground and pound. Harrass looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Harrass wants to control but Claudiano is keeping busy.
Claudiano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Harrass taking some punishment here, with Claudiano in his half guard.
Claudiano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Harrass with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Harrass regains full guard. Nicely done.
Harrass trying to keep a closed guard but Claudiano is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Claudiano wants to control from the top but Harrass keeps moving.

Harrass is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harrass is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harrass is working for a submission of some sort.
Claudiano tries to get to full guard but Harrass has control of the leg.
Claudiano works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harrass is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Harrass stopping the sweep attempt from Claudiano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Harrass missing with a left hand there. Claudiano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Claudiano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Harrass manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Claudiano doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Harrass to counter with a crisp jab.
Claudiano lands a nice hook to Harrass's body. Harrass takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Claudiano thuds a left hand into Harrass's body.
Claudiano works the jab nicely.

Claudiano shoots in and gets a takedown into Harrass's guard.

Harrass is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Claudiano is aware though and is defending well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Claudiano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Claudiano's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Claudiano 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.
Waldo Claudiano has got the better of the ground game so far.

Harrass is looking for a triangle but Claudiano pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano postures up and lands a big shot to Harrass's brow.

Harrass looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Claudiano passes into side control.
Claudiano lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Harrass down.
Claudiano connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Harrass some visible discomfort.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Claudiano working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Claudiano looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Harrass taking punishment in the form of punches.
Harrass is looking to reverse the position.

Claudiano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Harrass is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano is working Harrass over with some ground and pound from side control.

Claudiano is trying to get an arm triangle but Harrass is defending well.
Claudiano scores with a couple of short elbows.
Harrass is trying to improve his position.
Harrass is working hard here to advance position.
Harrass struggling a bit here.
Claudiano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harrass is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Claudiano goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Harrass rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Claudiano's guard! Nice work there by Harrass!
Claudiano pulls Harrass in to control the position.
Claudiano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harrass is one step ahead there.
Claudiano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Harrass's guard.

Harrass manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Claudiano manages to get himself to full guard.

Harrass trying to control but Claudiano is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrass stopping the sweep attempt from Claudiano.
Claudiano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Harrass controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Claudiano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harrass is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Harrass's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Harrass misses the jab.
Harrass ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A quick step to the side and Harrass tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harrass lands a glancing blow to the side of Claudiano's head.
Claudiano fails with a takedown attempt.
Harrass misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Claudiano.
A looping hook to the body misses from Claudiano. Harrass does a little dance to reset his feet.
Waldo Claudiano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Claudiano misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claudiano misses with a looping right.
Claudiano scores with a sloppy right hand. Harrass should have avoided that one.
Harrass walks into a jab.
Harrass looks to throw the jab but Claudiano is out of range.
Harrass looks to land a left hand but Claudiano moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano throws a shot from downtown. Harrass moves away and avoids it.
Claudiano has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Claudiano there as he acknowledges the shot.
Harrass blocks a head kick by Claudiano.
Claudiano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Harrass counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Claudiano thinking.
Harrass throws a body punch but Claudiano moves out of range.
Harrass throws a hook to the side of Claudiano's head but Claudiano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harrass circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harrass lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Claudiano at a distance.
Claudiano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Claudiano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Claudiano keeps the fight on the outside.
Phil Harrass has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano misses with a right hand
and Harrass counters with a nice uppercut.
Claudiano tries to clinch but Harrass moves out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Claudiano.
Claudiano throws a nice looking combination but Harrass bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Harrass blocks a leg kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Harrass misses its target.
Harrass throws a big shot that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harrass moves out of range of the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Harrass on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Harrass uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Claudiano.
Claudiano moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Harrass bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Claudiano's head backwards.
Harrass cracks Claudiano with an open hand slap.
Phil Harrass is winning the standup battle so far.
Harrass throws a right hand that misses
and Claudiano finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano slips a jab from Harrass.
Phil Harrass is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Claudiano scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Claudiano getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Harrass dips to his left and cracks Claudiano with an uppercut!
Claudiano moves away from the strike by Harrass.
Claudiano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Harrass.
Harrass sets himself, and Claudiano steps forward looking for the clinch! Harrass avoids it this time.
Claudiano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harrass as he avoids it easily.
Claudiano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Harrass.
Claudiano thuds a left hand into Harrass's body.
Harrass is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Harrass stuffs the takedown.
Phil Harrass has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Waldo Claudiano.
Claudiano closes the distance and clinches up with Harrass, looking for a takedown. Claudiano pushes Harrass against the cage but Harrass circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Harrass on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Harrass misses with a left hand
and Claudiano counters with a right hand to the body.
Harrass lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano looks to score with a jab to the body but Harrass is just out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Claudiano throws a nice head kick!
Claudiano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Claudiano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Claudiano bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Claudiano throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Harrass tries to improve position but can't.
Claudiano is chipping away with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Waldo Claudiano.
I've got Claudiano winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Waldo Claudiano!