PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Cheese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Howard
vs
Cheese

179 cm
22
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Richard Cheese!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Howard.
Howard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cheese pinned against the cage. Cheese gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Cheese moves into range and clinches up with Howard.
Cheese stalling against the cage.

Cheese pulls guard effortlessly.
Howard prevents Cheese from getting back to his feet.
Cheese can't keep his opponent in guard - Howard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Howard is working for a submission of some sort.

Howard is working for a submission of some sort.
Cheese wants to improve his position but Howard is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheese has a hand on Howard's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Howard takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Howard has control of Cheese's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Cheese regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Howard with shots to the head and body - Cheese looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cheese tries to lock up and control but Howard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cheese keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Howard controlling the pace for now.
Howard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Howard working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Cheese wants to try and get back to his feet.
Cheese taking shots to the head.
Cheese is trying to escape the mount.

Howard working for a guillotine from mount but Cheese is in no mood to give up.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cheese is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cheese is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Howard working for a submission but Cheese is keeping him at bay.
Cheese wants to hold on but Howard pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheese is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Howard is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Cheese has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Howard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cheese is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Howard with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Cheese is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Cheese sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cheese is trying to stand back up but Howard is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cheese looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cheese wants to improve his position but Howard is controlling well.
Cheese is trying to stand.
Howard trying to mount his opponent but Cheese defends it.
Cheese manages to get to full guard.
Cheese wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cheese throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Cheese. No joy for Howard on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Howard 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.

Cheese feints and as Howard raises his hands in defense, Cheese changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Howard striking from the bottom.

Cheese decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Howard tries for a takedown but Cheese circles away easily

and Cheese holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Howard tries to pull guard but Cheese won't allow it.
Cheese avoiding damage.
Howard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cheese fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howard has his takedown stuffed

and Cheese counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cheese prevents a takedown attempt there.

Cheese escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howard fails with the takedown

and Cheese counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cheese with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cheese prevents the takedown attempt.
Howard is working for takedown but Cheese is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cheese drags the fight down to the ground.

Howard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cheese trying to control the position.
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Cheese is retaining full guard.

Cheese is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cheese working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Howard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Howard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Howard looking to pass the guard.
Howard landing some decent shots from guard.
Howard landing with the ground and pound.
Howard prevents Cheese from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Howard pushes down on Cheese's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Justin Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Howard.

Howard wants to work for an arm triangle but Cheese is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cheese manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Howard fails with the takedown

and Cheese counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cheese.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Howard is on top in guard.
Howard stopping the sweep attempt from Cheese.
Howard trying to control but Cheese is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cheese working for a triangle but Howard defends it easily.
Howard advances to half guard.
Howard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cheese knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Howard controlling the pace.

Howard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cheese tries to get to full guard but Howard has control of the leg.
Howard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cheese knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Howard wants to take a breather but Cheese is having none of it.

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.
Howard prevents Cheese from standing back up.
Cheese tries to get to full guard but Howard has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cheese moves into the clinch.
Cheese gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Cheese.
Cheese unloads a knee to the mid-section. Howard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Howard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cheese landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cheese prevents the takedown attempt.
Cheese makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Howard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cheese fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cheese gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Howard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cheese.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cheese showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cheese closes the distance and clinches.
A short left from Cheese.
Nice elbow from Cheese.

It looks like Justin Howard has been cut.
Cheese crunches a lovely knee into Howard's ribcage.

Cheese decides to pull guard.

Cheese looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cheese had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Howard is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cheese Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Howard's back instead.
Howard manages to reverse the position and now he's in Cheese's guard. Nice work there by Howard.

Howard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Howard landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howard chips away with some ground and pound.
Howard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Howard 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard prevents Cheese from escaping the position.
Howard lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cheese down.
Cheese is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cheese tries to roll over but Howard keeps him under control.
Cheese wants to get back to his feet.

Howard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Howard seems to be working for a kimura but Cheese defends the submission attempt.

Howard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cheese is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Howard winds up and cracks Cheese with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Howard is working for a kimura but Cheese is defending it quite comfortably.
Cheese tries to roll over but Howard keeps him under control.
Cheese is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Howard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Howard's back!
Cheese is trying to stick to Howard's back but Howard is turning into Cheese. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cheese's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Howard.
Cheese throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Howard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cheese swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cheese looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cheese is looking for a triangle but Howard pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard chips away with some ground and pound.
Howard trying to control but Cheese is working from the bottom.

Cheese throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cheese is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Cheese rushes Howard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cheese breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cheese closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cheese wants to stand up but Howard has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Howard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cheese gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Cheese to counter with a crisp jab.
Howard tries for a takedown but Cheese circles away easily

and Cheese decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Howard's guard.
Howard thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Howard is on top in guard.
Howard stands and throws Cheese's legs to the side, diving into side control.
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!

Cheese bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Cheese tries to clinch up but Howard circles away and keeps his distance.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt

and Cheese counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cheese.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cheese pulls guard successfully.
Howard won't allow Cheese to get back to his feet.

Howard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cheese is looking to stand up but Howard isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Cheese comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cheese has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Cheese!