PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnson Juarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malik Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juarez comes into the arena with SYSTEM OF A DOWN - Prison Song blaring out of the sound system. Malik Howard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Juarez
vs
Howard

194 cm
23
280 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
220 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

啓発 Shaolin Clothing
Deadly Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnson Juarez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malik Howard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Juarez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malik Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard tries to clinch but Juarez moves out of range.

Juarez gets the takedown into side control.
Juarez happy to just control the position for now.

Juarez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Howard rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Juarez's guard! Nice work there by Howard!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Juarez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Juarez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Howard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Juarez is pulling down on Howard's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Juarez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Juarez looking for a guillotine here but Howard defends easily.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Juarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Howard preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnson Juarez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Juarez feints and as Howard raises his hands in defense, Juarez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Juarez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Juarez wants to pass the guard but Howard is keeping the position.
Juarez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Juarez looking to pass the guard.
Juarez is working hard here to advance position.
Juarez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Juarez from controlling successfully.
Juarez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Juarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Johnson Juarez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Howard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Howard throws a leg kick but Juarez checks it.
Howard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Howard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Juarez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juarez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Howard!

Juarez 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!
Juarez controlling the position.
Juarez taking a break here but Howard is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Juarez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Juarez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Juarez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four 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.
Juarez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Howard for as long as he can get away with.
Juarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Howard keeps working.
Juarez trying to control the pace.
Howard wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnson Juarez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Howard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Howard has his takedown stuffed

and Juarez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Juarez is controlling the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Johnson Juarez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Juarez closes the distance and pushes Howard back into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Howard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Juarez lands a nice shot to the body.
Howard throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Howard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Juarez gets a trip takedown into half guard.
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!
Juarez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Juarez.
Juarez controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Juarez working for a submission but Howard is keeping him at bay.
Juarez controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four 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 prevents Juarez from taking his back.
Juarez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Johnson Juarez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Howard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Juarez moves into the clinch.
Howard wants a takedown but no success here.
Johnson Juarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malik Howard.
Juarez tries for a takedown. No joy.

Juarez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Juarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnson Juarez clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Howard wants to clinch but Juarez slips to the side

and Juarez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson Juarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard wants to stand and escape but Juarez is having none of it.
Howard can't keep his opponent in guard - Juarez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Juarez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Juarez is looking for a kimura but Howard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Juarez to get the leverage.
Juarez is looking to advance position but Howard won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juarez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Juarez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Well, if Juarez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two 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.

Juarez seems to be looking for submissions.

Juarez is working for a submission of some sort.
Juarez prevents Howard from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Juarez is working for a kimura but Howard is defending it quite comfortably.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Juarez has control of the leg.
Juarez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Juarez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Juarez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnson Juarez had his way with Malik Howard in that round.
That's time! Juarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Howard throws a head kick that misses.
Howard darts in trying to clinch

and Juarez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Juarez.
Juarez controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juarez pushes down on Howard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Juarez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Johnson Juarez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Howard fails with the takedown

and Juarez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Juarez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juarez trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Juarez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Juarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juarez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Juarez stands and throws Howard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Johnson Juarez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Howard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Howard looks to clinch

and Juarez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Juarez is working for takedown but Howard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Howard missing with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Howard.
Juarez is pushing Howard up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Howard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Juarez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Howard is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Juarez turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Juarez manages to end up in side control.
Juarez wants to take a breather but Howard manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Juarez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnson Juarez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Juarez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:44
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 50:44
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnson Juarez!
Johnson Juarez is the new heavyweight champion!