PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Harada (ranked 1766 p4p, 204 weight class) and Louis Princip (ranked 2602 p4p, 286 weight class). Princip is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Lord of This World by Black Sabbath. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Harada
vs
Princip

169 cm
26
166 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

183 cm
27
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sportivité
UnderGround Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Harada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Louis Princip!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Princip throws an overhand right that lands on Harada's shoulder, as Harada tries to avoid the shot.
Princip lands a jab to the head.

Harada has Princip up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Harada creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Princip tries to throw a body punch but Harada avoids it by throwing Princip back against the cage.
Harada looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Harada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've been informed that Princip has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Princip lands a nice uppercut.
Princip pushes Harada back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Princip tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Harada's elbow.
Princip lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Princip lands a nice uppercut.
Princip fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Harada blocks a body shot from Princip.
Harada lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short body shot lands from Princip as the two fighters clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harada stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada tries to circle away but Princip has him pinned against the cage.
Princip blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Harada tries to land knees in the clinch but Princip avoids the damage to the body.
Princip lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Princip struggles to land a body shot inside as Harada controls his hands.
Princip tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Harada is pushing Princip up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Princip can't find room to land a body shot as Harada controls the action.
Harada is looking to break free of the clinch but Princip has double underhooks.
Harada is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Princip.
Harada lands a hook to the side of the head.
Princip makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Harada blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Princip works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Princip misses with the head strike.
Princip has a couple of punches blocked by Harada.
Harada wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Harada throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Princip blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Princip misses with some punches.
Harada is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Princip is keeping busy.
Princip misses with the head strike.
Harada lands a hook to the side of the head.
Harada is trying to break the clinch but Princip is controlling him.
Harada blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Princip misses with a punch on the inside.
Princip misses with a shot to the kidneys.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Princip lands a right hand.

Harada breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Princip lands a jab to Harada's midsection.
Princip listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Princip throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've been told by Harada's head coaches at 3Band MMA ($800/week) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Princip connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Princip throws a shot to the body.
Princip avoids a punch combination nicely.
Princip works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Princip throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harada.
Harada uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Princip.
Harada walks into a left hand.
Harada misses with the combination.
Princip cracks a nice hook into Harada's ribs.
Harada lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Harada takes one on the button.
Harada misses with the combination.
A jab from Princip misses.
Princip scores with a one two! Harada had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A right-left combo lands from Princip.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Princip misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harada.
Princip takes a swing at Harada's ribcage but misses.
Princip is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Princip stuns Harada with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Princip keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Harada.
A jab from Harada misses.
Harada avoids the body shot from Princip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Princip.
Harada throws a head kick but Princip moves out of range.
Harada throws a push kick but Princip slaps the foot to one side.
Harada takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Princip ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harada moves away.
Princip blocks a jab.
Princip looks to land a left hand but Harada moved out of range nicely.
Harada takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Princip throws a body punch but Harada moves out of range.
Princip lands a really nice looking cross but Harada seems unphased.
Harada takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Harada scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Harada misses the shot to the body.
Harada is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harada wants to clinch.
Harada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Princip.
Princip throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Princip dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harada misses with a series of wild punches.
Princip throws a series of punches but Harada moves out of range.
Harada lands with a straight right. Princip didn't see that one coming.
A big left from Harada misses.
Harada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Princip.
Princip tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harada was well out of range. Poor timing from Princip.
A swing and a miss from Princip.
Harada misses with a hook.
Harada throws an overhand right that lands on Princip's shoulder, as Princip tries to avoid the shot.

Princip gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Princip lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Harada blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Princip misses with a hook from the clinch.
Princip has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Princip working aggressively here.
Princip tries to throw a body punch but Harada avoids it by throwing Princip back against the cage.
Princip lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Harada is trying to push Princip away but Princip has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Princip misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Princip.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Harada manages to break the clinch.
Harada will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Harada ducks under a wild hook from Princip.
Princip has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Harada missing with a left hand there. Princip was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Princip scores with a nice right hand.
Princip takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Harada has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Princip throws a body punch but Harada moves out of range.
Princip on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Harada misses with a right hand
and Princip counters with a right hand to the body.
Princip scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
An inside leg kick from Harada misses.
Harada takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Harada misses with a straight left.
Louis Princip seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Harada misses with a shot to the body
and Princip counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harada is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Princip.
Princip connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Harada uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Princip.
Princip connects with a nice looking jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harada on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Louis Princip seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harada moves out of range of the strikes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Princip misses with a wild combination.
Princip lands with a hook. Harada tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Harada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Harada on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Princip throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Harada moves out of range of the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Harada.
Harada takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Harada thows a left - swing and a miss!
Princip lunges at Harada with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Harada's hand.
Harada slips a straight right by Princip.
Princip misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harada.
Princip ducks under a wild hook from Harada.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harada takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Harada takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Harada slips under a jab.
Princip moves away from the strike by Harada.
Harada pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Princip jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Princip misses with a straight right.
Harada throws a body kick that misses.
Princip swats away the attempt to clinch by Harada.
Harada thuds his right hand into Princip's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Princip looks to land a left hand but Harada moved out of range nicely.
Harada throws a hook but Princip blocks it.
Harada looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Princip misses with a straight right.
Princip stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Princip moves out of range of the strikes.

Princip gets tackled into the cage by Harada. Harada maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Princip tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Princip scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Princip tries to throw a body punch but Harada avoids it by throwing Princip back against the cage.
Harada tries to stall but Princip uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Princip fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Princip tries to throw a body punch but Harada avoids it by throwing Princip back against the cage.
Princip lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Harada backwards.
Harada has a couple of punches blocked by Princip.
Princip throws a punch but it's blocked by Harada.
Princip tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Princip.
Princip doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Princip struggles to land a body shot inside as Harada controls his hands.
Princip throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haradas head.

Harada breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice shot by Princip.
Harada scores with a nice strike.
Harada thows a left - swing and a miss!
Harada walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Princip bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Princip on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Princip showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Princip dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Princip fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Harada looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Princip keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Harada.
Princip bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice shot by Princip.
Princip throws an off balance right hand
and Harada counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Princip fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Harada manages to avoid it.
Harada misses with a straight left.
Harada takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Harada darts in and clinches Princip up against the cage.
Princip misses with a hook to the ribs.
Harada prevents a body shot from Princip.
Princip cracks Harada with a nice body shot.

Harada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harada takes a jab right on the kisser.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Princip tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Harada paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Princip lands with a right hand.
A swing and a miss from Harada.
Harada misses with a wild combination.
A countering left hand to the body from Princip misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Princip waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Harada.
The fighters circling - Harada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Princip ducks under a wild hook from Harada.
Harada bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Princip goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Princip misses with a wild body shot.
Princip throws a shot to the body.
Harada throws a hook but Princip blocks it.
Harada misses with a hook.
Princip uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Harada misses the target.
Harada misses with a series of wild punches.
A little jabbing left from Princip on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Princip. Harada does a little dance to reset his feet.
Princip ducks under a wild hook from Harada.
Harada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Princip let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Princip scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harada throws a jab but it's blocked by Princip.
Princip throws out a counter right but Harada avoids it with no problem.
Princip lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Harada circles away quickly and effectively.
Princip jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Princip misses the jab.
Princip scores with a hook to the body. Harada takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Harada misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Princip was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Princip shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Harada eats them both and turns towards Princip to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Harada instigates a clinch.
Harada misses with some punches.
Princip lands with a right to the head.
Princip throws a head punch that misses.
Princip swings wildly with an uppercut but Harada uses good head movement to avoid it.
Louis Princip seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Princip.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Harada.
Princip throws a head punch that misses.
Princip throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haradas head.
Princip pushes Harada back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Princip struggles to land a body shot inside as Harada controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Harada.
A short left from Harada.
Princip throws a head punch that misses.
Princip fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Harada lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Princip backwards.
Akira Harada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harada blocking some punches.
Princip misses with a body punch.
Princip pushes Harada back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Princip misses with the head strike.
Harada missing with knees to the body.
Harada trying to land knees to the body.
Harada misses with a knee to the head.
Princip can't find room to land a body shot as Harada controls the action.
Harada with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Harada is pushing Princip up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Princip throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haradas head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harada breaks from the clinch.
A slow jab from Harada misses its intended target.
Princip dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Princip on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A swing and a miss from Harada.
Harada misses with an uppercut. Princip saw that one coming.
Harada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Princip.
Princip unleashes a big counter combination but Harada bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Princip uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Harada.
A big right from Harada misses.
Princip lands with a right hand.
Princip scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Princip uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Harada.
Princip scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Princip lands a two punch combo.
Princip tries to clinch but Harada is having none of it.
Princip thuds his right hand into Harada's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Harada ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Princip moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Louis Princip comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Princip 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Louis Princip!
During a confident post fight interview, Louis Princip thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.