PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Howard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Howard
vs
Thompson

178 cm
26
185 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
27
191 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mickey Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard misses with the combination.
Howard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thompson.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense.
Thompson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Thompson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Howard is trying to defend but Thompson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thompson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mickey Thompson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
John Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Thompson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howard pinned against the cage. Howard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Thompson closes the distance and pushes Howard back into the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howard.
Thompson working hard to break the clinch.
Thompson avoids the elbow strike from Howard, against the ropes.
Thompson can't break the clinch.
Howard throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Howard scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Howard just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thompson's brow.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Howard throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thompson counters with a takedown into side control.
The referee asks Thompson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Thompson prefers to stall for the moment though.
Howard tries to escape but Thompson is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to move to mount but Howard blocks the move with his legs.
Thompson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Howard is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Howard wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Thompson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Thompson advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Howard because Thompson loaded up on that one.
Howard is trying to stand.
Howard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thompson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

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 is bucking up trying to escape but Thompson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Howard is bucking up trying to escape but Thompson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Thompson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Thompson 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 misses with a left hand

and Thompson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thompson.
Howard prevents Thompson from breaking the clinch.
Howard keeps control of Thompson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howard misses with some punches.
Thompson wants to get back to striking at distance but Howard won't allow it.
Howard swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thompson looks for a takedown but Howard sprawls well.
Thompson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thompson counters with a three punch combo that has Howard backing up. Howard nods at Thompson to acknowledge the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard slips a jab and a cross from Thompson.
Thompson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
John Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Thompson.
Thompson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Howard throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Thompson counters by clinching up.
Howard working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard throws an elbow that misses.
Howard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Howard lands a right hand.
Howard pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Thompson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Howard pushes off an throws an elbow but Thompson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Howard misses with some punches.
Howard has Thompson pressed against the ropes, preventing Thompson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thompson is trying to force a seperation but Howard has the dominant position.
Howard pushes off an throws an elbow but Thompson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Howard keeps control of Thompson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Howard loads up on a big right hand but Thompson slips the punch.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense.
Howard doesn't manage to clinch there - Thompson circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thompson tries to clinch there but Howard circles away.
Thompson 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 Thompson off to one side.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Thompson.
Thompson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Howard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thompsons head.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt
and Howard counters with a stiff right hand.
Howard is looking to clinch.
Thompson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howard.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Howard misses with a left hand

so Thompson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Howard wants to get back to his feet but Thompson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thompson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Howard is keeping the position for now.
Thompson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Thompson won't allow Howard to get back to his feet.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mickey Thompson.
Nice sprawl there from Howard as Thompson shoots in.
Howard feints a jab promting Thompson to slip. Howard then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thompson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Howard stuffs the takedown attempt from Thompson. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
Thompson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Howard is fending him off so far but Thompson persists. Nope, Howard circles away and we're back to standing.
Mickey Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to clinch up

so Thompson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Howard is trying to hold Thompson in close to prevent damage but Thompson has managed to pass into half guard.
Thompson 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.
Howard wants to improve his position but Thompson is controlling well.
Thompson is keen to just control but Howard is a slippery customer.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howard wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thompson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mickey Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mickey Thompson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Howard tries to clinch but Thompson moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Howard looks to land a right hand but Thompson moved out of range.
Thompson shoots in looking for a takedown but Howard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thompson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Howard but Howard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thompson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howard swivels and escapes.
John Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Thompson.
Thompson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howard defends it nicely.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
Thompson shoots in and drives through. Howard sprawls well.
Howard tries to clinch up.
A big right from Howard misses.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Howard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson shoots in but Howard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howard throws the left hand but Thompson avoids the punch easily.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Howard rushes Thompson and presses him up against the ropes.
Howard throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Howard working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson dodges an elbow strike from Howard.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thompson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thompson is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.

Howard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Howard swings wildly with an uppercut but Thompson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Thompson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howard sprawls well. Howard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
Howard is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Thompson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Howard throws a nice looking combination but Thompson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

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.
Howard throws a body punch but Thompson moves out of range.
Howard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thompson swats away the attempt to clinch by Howard.
Nice takedown defense from Howard. No joy for Thompson on that attempt.
Thompson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Thompson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thompson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Howard slaps away a takedown attempt from Thompson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thompson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thompson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Howard closes the distance and pushes Thompson back into the ropes.
Thompson is looking to break free of the clinch but Howard has double underhooks.
Howard prevents Thompson from breaking the clinch.
Howard working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard misses with the head strike.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Howard has him pressed against the ropes.
Howard pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howard.
Howard lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Thompson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Howard pushes off an throws an elbow but Thompson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Howard.
Thompson dodges an elbow strike from Howard.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Howard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Howard clinches with his opponent.

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

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howard misses with a double jab.
Howard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thompson.
Howard slaps away a takedown attempt from Thompson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
John Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howard throws a lazy right hand but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thompson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Howard misses with an elbow over the top.
Thompson is trying to force a seperation but Howard has the dominant position.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Howard closes the distance and clinches.
Thompson wants to break free but Howard has control.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thompson 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Mickey Thompson!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Mickey Thompson!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Mickey Thompson!

Mickey Thompson wins by unanimous decision!