PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Shapiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malik Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shapiro
vs
Howard

187 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Deadly Clothing
Beast Body

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jim Shapiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malik Howard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shapiro closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shapiro lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard looking to control.
Shapiro sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shapiro trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Shapiro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shapiro controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard tries to bench press Shapiro off him but Shapiro keeps the position.

Shapiro decides to stand up, so the ref orders Howard to his feet.
Shapiro throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Howard's waist but Howard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shapiro off to one side.
Howard checks a low kick from Shapiro.
Howard lands with a nice body punch.
Howard shoots and misses

so Shapiro counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shapiro is breathing heavily.
Shapiro won't allow Howard to sweep him here.
Shapiro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Howard trying to keep a closed guard but Shapiro is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shapiro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Howard trying to control the position.
Shapiro is looking to work some ground and pound but Howard has wrist control.
Shapiro looking to pass the guard.
Shapiro has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Howard is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Howard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shapiro counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Howard!
Howard is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shapiro avoids the attempt from Howard to control.
Howard is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shapiro lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Shapiro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Shapiro lands a heavy elbow.
Howard working to try and regain half guard.

Shapiro moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Howard has worked his arm free - good work by Howard!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shapiro working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Shapiro dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Howard tries to clinch

and Shapiro counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Howard pushes Shapiro off and gets back to his feet.

Shapiro moves into the clinch.

Howard breaks from the clinch.

Shapiro closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Howard tries to kick Shapiro off but Shapiro keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shapiro wants to stand up but Howard has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shapiro is trying to control the action in half guard but Howard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shapiro is working away from the top position though.
Shapiro takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Howard tries to kick Shapiro off but Shapiro keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jim Shapiro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shapiro trying to control the action but Howard is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Howard throws a hook but Shapiro blocks it.

Shapiro forces Howard back against the cage and clinches.
Shapiro looking for a takedown.
Shapiro tries for a takedown but Howard manages to get underhooks.

Howard breaks from the clinch.
Howard with a poor takedown

and Shapiro counters with a single leg into guard. Howard didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shapiro wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.
Howard wants to stand up but Shapiro is controlling him.
Shapiro wants to stand but Howard is controlling his posture from full guard.

Shapiro is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Howard has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Shapiro is looking to defend but Howard has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Shapiro! Howard pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Shapiro taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Malik Howard!