PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McKenzie comes to the cage accompanied by Norma Jean- Memphis Will be Laid to Waste. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McKenzie
vs
Howard

182 cm
25
160 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

174 cm
24
166 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul McKenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christian Howard!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKenzie misses with a hook.
McKenzie lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Jab, jab by McKenzie - just one landing.
McKenzie lands a with a good body shot.

McKenzie drops Howard with a beautiful combination! Howard stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - McKenzie is looking for the KO!

Howard is rocked!
McKenzie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howard was well out of range. Poor timing from McKenzie.
Howard is still on wobbly legs! Can McKenzie finish him?
Howard avoids the body shot from McKenzie.
Howard seems to have recovered his senses.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.

McKenzie lands a left and a right that send Howard crashing to the mat, dazed. McKenzie thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
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!
A punch combination from McKenzie misses.
A big right from McKenzie misses.

McKenzie feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Howard sprawling to the canvas! Howard rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can McKenzie finish him?!
McKenzie looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Howard ducks under a wild hook from McKenzie.
Howard wants to clinch up but McKenzie keeps it at a distance.
McKenzie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howard moves away.
McKenzie missing with a left hand there. Howard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howard ducks under a wild hook from McKenzie.
Howard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McKenzie.
McKenzie looks to land a right hand but Howard moved out of range.
A low kick from Howard is predictable there
and McKenzie counters with a right hand to the body.

Howard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Howard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Howard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
McKenzie is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Howard.
Howard avoids the attempt from McKenzie to control.
Howard controlling the position easily from mount.
McKenzie wants to control but Howard is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Howard is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
McKenzie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Howard controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Howard avoids the attempt from McKenzie to control.
McKenzie is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul McKenzie 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.

Howard takes a jab right on the kisser.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
McKenzie connects with a looping right hand.
McKenzie circles away from the clinch attempt
and McKenzie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice body punch from McKenzie.
Howard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McKenzie swivels and escapes.
McKenzie lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Howard throws an overhand right that lands on McKenzie's shoulder, as McKenzie tries to avoid the shot.
McKenzie tries to bum rush Howard with a series of wild strikes but Howard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Howard clinches but McKenzie breaks the clinch
and McKenzie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McKenzie looks to score with a jab to the body but Howard is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie misses with a looping right.
McKenzie scores with a jab. Howard acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McKenzie misses with a looping left.
McKenzie throws a right and a left that both miss.
Howard darts in trying to clinch
and McKenzie finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Howard shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McKenzie napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McKenzie is looking for a sweep.
Howard working away.
Howard tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
McKenzie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
McKenzie trying to control from the bottom.
Howard is looking to advance position but McKenzie won't allow it.
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.
McKenzie is trying to get back to full guard.
McKenzie tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Howard has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
McKenzie is squirming around, avoiding Howard's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McKenzie is trying desperately to improve position.
Howard controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul McKenzie dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McKenzie with a hook.
McKenzie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howard.
Howard looks for the body kick but McKenzie saw that one coming.
McKenzie misses with a few strikes there.
Howard wants to clinch.

Howard gets a takedown into half guard.
McKenzie is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie wants to control but Howard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Howard thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing McKenzie to regain full guard.
McKenzie wants to control but Howard passes easily into half guard.
Howard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Howard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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.
Howard wants to stand up but McKenzie is controlling the position.
Christian Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McKenzie is looking for a sweep. Howard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McKenzie is trying to maintain the position but Howard is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie wants to get back to full guard.
Paul McKenzie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McKenzie avoids the head kick by Howard.
Howard misses the shot to the body.
McKenzie cracks Howard with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McKenzie looks to land a right hand but Howard moved out of range.
Howard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McKenzie but McKenzie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McKenzie is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McKenzie misses with the combination.
McKenzie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McKenzie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Howard slips under a jab from McKenzie.
Howard closes the distance and clinches up with McKenzie, looking for a takedown. Howard pushes McKenzie against the cage but McKenzie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Howard takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McKenzie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McKenzie connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Howard momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard tries to close the distance and clinch but McKenzie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Howard loads up on a big right hand but McKenzie slips the punch.
A head kick misses from Howard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Christian Howard.
I think McKenzie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

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