PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lester Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Turko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Howell
vs
Turko

180 cm
22
217 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

187 cm
21
208 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lester Howell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ivan Turko!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Dean Styles and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turko is looking to clinch but Howell is avoiding it.
Howell misses with a body shot.
Howell keeps the fight on the outside.
Turko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Turko tries to clinch there but Howell circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Turko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Turko wants to clinch up but Howell keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turko is looking to clinch but Howell is avoiding it.
Turko doesn't manage to clinch there - Howell circles away.

Howell tries to keep at a distance but Turko has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turko throws an elbow but it misses.
Turko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Turko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Howell is defending well for now.
Turko throws an elbow that misses.
Turko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Howell is stalling here.
Howell dodges an elbow strike from Turko.
Howell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Turko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Howell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Turko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Turko.
Howell avoids a wild elbow strike from Turko.
Howell wants a takedown but no success here.
Turko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howell blocks an elbow strike.
Turko pushes off an throws an elbow but Howell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Howell is struggling to control the position.
Turko misses with a knee strike.
Howell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Turko pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Howell stalls.
Turko is trying to stall.

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.
Turko tries to break free but Howell pushes him back against the cage.
Turko throws an elbow that misses.
Turko landing knees to the head.

It looks like Lester Howell has been cut.
Howell misses with a hook from the clinch.
Turko tries to land a knee to the head but Howell blocks with his arms.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Howell is leaning against Turko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Turko missing with knees to the body.
Howell prevents Turko from breaking the clinch.
Turko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Howell's defenses.
Howell works on Turko's body with a couple of short punches.
Howell has Turko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Turko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Howell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Howell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Howell manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Howell goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howell pushes Turko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Howell lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Howell prevents Turko from standing back up.
Turko looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell winds up and cracks Turko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Turko is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Howell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Howell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Turko defending well though.
Howell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Turko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Turko can do anything to dispel that myth.
Howell trying to control the action but Turko is working from the bottom.

Howell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Turko defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Turko is trying to stand up here but Howell is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Howell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Turko looks to land a combination but Howell avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lester Howell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lester Howell's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Howell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Turko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Howell.
Howell wants to control but Turko is keeping him busy.
Howell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Howell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Turko defending well though.
Turko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Howell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Howell is trying to control. Turko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turko wants to control but Howell is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Turko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Turko moves in looking to clinch but Howell pushes him off.

Turko rushes Howell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Turko throws an elbow but misses.
A hook to the body from Howell.
Howell is leaning against Turko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Howell tries a body shot but Turko blocks it.
Howell blocks an elbow strike.
Howell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Turko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Howell misses with a body punch.
Turko is looking to break free of the clinch but Howell has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Turko manages to break the clinch.
Howell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Turko was well out of range. Poor timing from Howell.
Howell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Turko moves away.
Turko tries to close the distance and clinch but Howell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Turko is looking to clinch but Howell is avoiding it.
Howell is looking to clinch but Turko is avoiding it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howell. Turko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howell swings for the body but Turko moves out of range.

Howell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Turko napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Howell creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell misses with the ground and pound.
Turko defending against the ground and pound.
Howell fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Howell fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Howell.
Turko is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Turko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Turko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Howell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Turko was well out of range. Poor timing from Howell.
A shot to de liver by Howell. Beautiful body shot.

Turko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Howell throwing strikes from guard but Turko blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lester Howell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lester Howell's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Turko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howell.
Howell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Turko connects with a body shot.
Ivan Turko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howell looks to score with a jab to the body but Turko is just out of range.
Ivan Turko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Turko jabs Howell right on the nose. Howell blinks but takes it well.
Howell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Turko closes the distance looking to clinch
and Howell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turko throws a nice looking combination but Howell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Turko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Howell counters with a shoot takedown. Turko fights it but they end up in guard.
Turko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Turko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howell sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Howell postures up and lands a big shot to Turko's brow.
Howell sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Howell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turko being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lester Howell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Howell thows a big elbow that misses.

Howell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Howell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four 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.
Howell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howell won't allow Turko to get back to his feet.
Howell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Howell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Turko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ivan Turko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howell is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lester Howell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Howell, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lester Howell!