PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phil Harrass (ranked 1218 p4p, 64 weight class) and Rodrigo Machado (ranked 2067 p4p, 101 weight class). Harrass comes to the cage accompanied by Tomorrow. Machado has chosen Arcade Fire - Power Out as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rodrigo Machado is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Harrass
vs
Machado

171 cm
30
148 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

185 cm
31
145 lbs
15 - 12 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

RAGS of a RONIN

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 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Harrass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Rodrigo Machado!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Harrass misses.
Harrass misses with a hook.
Machado slips a straight right by Harrass.

Harrass closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Machado quickly recovers to half guard.
Machado won't allow Harrass to pass to mount.
Harrass takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Harrass throwing shots but Machado is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harrass seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Machado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Harrass not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Harrass in particular looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Harrass. Those never looked like landing.
Harrass shoots in for a double leg but Machado sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A telegraphed right hand from Harrass misses the target.
Machado chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Harrass can pounce on him.
Harrass falls off balance throwing a combination
and Machado counters with a straight right hand.
Machado bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Harrass throws a right hand that Machado ducks under and follows up with a left that Machado also avoids with ease.
Machado steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Harrass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrass misses with a straight right.
Machado staying out of range there.
Harrass swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harrass shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Machado as he avoids it easily.
Machado lands a jab to the head.

Harrass instigates a clinch.
Harrass lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Harrass.
Harrass is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machado gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Harrass. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harrass blocks an elbow strike.
Machado has Harrass pressed against the cage, preventing Harrass from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Harrass breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machado moves out of range of the strikes.
Harrass walks into a stiff left hand from Machado.

Harrass shoots in and bounces Machado off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
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.
Harrass wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.
Machado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Harrass throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Harrass working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harrass is one step ahead there.
Harrass might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Harrass stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machado swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four 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.
Harrass controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Harrass trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Harrass loads up on a big right hand but Machado slips the punch.
Machado misses with an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harrass throws a low kick but Machado moves out of range easily.
Harrass scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Harrass scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Machado ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Harrass dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Harrass takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Harrass is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Machado can do to turn this around?
Machado takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Machado is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Machado gets tackled into the cage by Harrass. Harrass maintains the clinch.
Harrass tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Harrass lands a right hand.
Harrass trying to control the position but instead, Machado has worked for underhooks and has pushed Harrass into the cage.
Machado gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Machado misses with a short punch on the inside.
Machado lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Harrass.
Harrass blocks the elbow strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Machado misses with a short punch on the inside.
Harrass tries a body shot but Machado blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrass avoids a wild elbow strike from Machado.
Harrass lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Harrass swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Harrass lands a body punch in the clinch.
Machado keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harrass's efforts to push away.
Harrass lands a body punch.
Harrass blocks an elbow strike from Machado.
Harrass throws a punch but it's blocked by Machado.
Harrass misses with a body punch.
Harrass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Harrass lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Machado backwards.
Harrass tries for a takedown. No joy.
Machado scores with a shoulder strike.
Harrass avoids the elbow strike from Machado, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Machado just misses with a elbow thrown towards Harrass's brow.
A short right from Harrass.

Machado is rocked!
Harrass lands a right hand that snaps the head of Machado backwards.
Machado is still on wobbly legs! Can Harrass finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrass changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Machado fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rodrigo Machado is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Harrass gets a double leg takedown into Machado's guard.
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!
Machado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harrass is one step ahead there.
Harrass throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harrass throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harrass cracks Machado with a solid left hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harrass accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harrass throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harrass has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Harrass throwing strikes from guard but Machado blocks nicely.
Harrass trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Machado is breathing heavily.
Harrass throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Harrass 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.
Harrass is working Machado over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Harrass with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Harrass accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harrass with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrass postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harrass gets to his feet and stands over Machado, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Machado felt that one! Harrass unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Machado from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Phil Harrass!
Phil Harrass was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.