PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akio Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harris comes to the cage accompanied by Kanye West - Jesus Walks. Takada is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica - All Nightmare Long. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Harris
vs
Takada

190 cm
19
192 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
192 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Poweful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

The Red Eye
Tesla Apparel

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akio Takada!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harris throws a front kick aimed at Takada's knee but Takada avoids it well.
Takada misses with a looping left.
Harris tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takada was well out of range. Poor timing from Harris.
Harris staying out of range there.
Harris tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takada was well out of range. Poor timing from Harris.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Takada shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harris but Harris pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takada looks to throw the jab but Harris is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Harris scores with a takedown into Takada's guard.
Harris slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris wants to control from the top but Takada keeps moving.
Harris controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Harris in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harris has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Harris controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Takada had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Harris is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Takada Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Harris's back instead.

Takada is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Harris is defending well though. Takada let's go of the attempt for now.

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.
Harris wants to control his opponent's hands but Takada gets his hands free.
Harris turns into Takada and is now in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takada has his foot on Harris's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Harris works his way back into a safe position though.
Harris slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Harris controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Harris thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Harris sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Takada defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Harris.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harris with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Takada tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Harris is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Takada throws an overhand right that lands on Harris's shoulder, as Harris tries to avoid the shot.
Takada avoids the head kick by Harris.
Harris looks to throw the jab but Takada is out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice defenses there by Harris.
Takada misses with an uppercut. Harris saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Harris 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.

A swing and a miss from Takada.
A telegraphed right hand from Takada misses the target.
Harris throws a series of punches but Takada moves out of range.
Harris fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harris uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takada.
Takada shoots and misses

and Harris counters with a single leg into guard. Takada didn't expect that.
Takada looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harris is one step ahead there.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takada keeping full guard, as Harris tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takada working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Harris doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Harris manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harris sitting in guard here, content to control.
Harris's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Harris trying to control but Takada is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Takada wants to sweep here but Harris controlling him for the moment.

Takada is looking for a triangle here but Harris uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Takada is breathing heavily.
Takada is trying to get back to half guard.
Harris controlling the position.
Harris trying to control the action but Takada is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harris stands up and beckons Takada to his feet.

Harris shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Takada tries to improve his position but instead Harris has taken his back!
Harris is hanging on to Takada's back as he tries to escape.
Harris wants to control but Takada is keeping busy.
Takada wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takada prevents Harris from getting a body triangle.
Paul Harris overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Harris is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paul Harris just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A big right from Takada misses.
Harris misses with a body shot.
Harris takes a swing at Takada's ribcage but misses.
Takada has his takedown stuffed

and Harris counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Takada!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Harris dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Takada displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Harris throws out the jab.
Takada throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Harris on the side of the head.
Harris throws a lazy right hand but Takada sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takada defending well as Harris loads up on a big left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Takada misses the target.
Takada might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Harris.
Takada is looking to clinch but Harris is avoiding it.
Takada misses with a looping right.
Takada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Harris misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Harris.

Harris gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Harris breaks the clinch.
Takada misses with a takedown
and Harris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Harris misses with a hook.
Takada throws a hook but Harris avoids it easily.
Harris slips a jab from Takada.
Akio Takada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takada throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Harris scores a takedown into full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Harris cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Harris scoring with strikes but Takada is staying in there.
Harris controlling the pace for now.
Paul Harris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris looking to control but Takada is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Harris looking to control and managing it successfully.
Harris trying to control but Takada is having none of it.
Harris with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harris sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Harris looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Harris trying to control but Takada is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paul Harris just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Harris moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Harris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Harris has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Harris!