PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Harper (ranked 1273 p4p, 182 weight class) and Tracy Minaj (ranked 1604 p4p, 212 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Harper
vs
Minaj

181 cm
22
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

187 cm
28
181 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tracy Minaj!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minaj lands a really nice looking cross but Harper seems unphased.

Harper closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Minaj quickly recovers to half guard.
Minaj missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Minaj keeps working.
Minaj works his way to full guard. Good work.
Harper cracks Minaj with a solid left hand.
Minaj looking to control.
Minaj keeping moving, preventing Harper from controlling successfully.
Harper 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.
Harper throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harper being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harper throwing strikes but missing.
Harper working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Minaj's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minaj is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Harper wants to improve his position but Minaj is controlling well.
Minaj lands with a punch from half guard.
Minaj throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Harper wants to improve his position but Minaj is controlling well.
Minaj lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Harper wants to get back to full guard.

Harper actively working from the bottom here.
Minaj not landing any meaningful shots this time.
I've been told that Minaj has been drilling his wrestling of late, which has already helped him take this fight to the mat. Let's see how much of an impact it has on the outcome of the ground game.
Harper wants to improve his position but Minaj is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minaj is nestled in close to Harper, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Minaj missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harper moves into full guard.

Harper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Harper throws his legs up looking for a submission but Minaj uses it to pass to side control.
Harper managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Minaj.
Minaj throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Minaj works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harper manages to get back to half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Minaj takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Minaj takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Harper is pressing down on Minaj's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Minaj is looking to work some ground and pound but Harper has wrist control.
Minaj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Minaj missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Minaj.
Minaj is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Minaj throwing strikes but missing.
Minaj must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Harper has his foot on Minaj's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Minaj works his way back into a safe position though.
Minaj keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Harper's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Minaj's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Minaj missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harper is trying to control the position but Minaj postures up.
Minaj throwing strikes from guard but Harper blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minaj distracts Harper with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Harper is trying to control the position but Minaj postures up.

Harper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Harper wants to sweep but no luck.
Minaj scoring with some ground and pound.

Harper working for a triangle but Minaj defends it easily.
Minaj postures up.
Minaj slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Minaj throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Harper wants to control but Minaj postures up.
Minaj lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tracy Minaj dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Harper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Minaj throws out a loose jab but Harper uses good head movement to avoid it.
Minaj stuns Harper with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Harper paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Harper scores with a nice strike.
Harper takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tracy Minaj seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harper thows a left - swing and a miss!
Minaj throws a body shot but no joy.
Harper tries to counter with a takedown but Minaj is quick to defend against it.
A jab from Minaj misses.
Minaj looks to score with a jab to the body but Harper is just out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Minaj takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Minaj lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Harper takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minaj smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Harper shoots in for a takedown but Minaj shows good takedown defense.
Harper throws the left hand but Minaj avoids the punch easily.
Minaj throws a body punch but Harper moves out of range.
Harper half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Harper jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Minaj misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper with a jab.
Minaj misses with a shot to the body

and Harper counters with a single leg into guard. Minaj didn't expect that.
Minaj throws a couple of heel strikes.
Harper working some strikes from top position.
Harper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Minaj swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Minaj is rocked!
Harper sitting in guard here, content to control.
Minaj is still in real trouble! Can Harper finish him?
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Harper's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Minaj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Minaj controls Harper momentarily but Harper frees himself.
Minaj tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Harper gets to his feet and stands over Minaj, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Minaj felt that one! Harper unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Minaj from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Harper!
Our winner, Tom Harper, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.