PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brad Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ravi Matos (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.

Howell
vs
Matos

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 Rio de Janeiro, Brad Howell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ravi Matos!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Matos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Matos is thwarting Howell's attempts to control the position.

Matos moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Howell.

Matos decides to stand back up. Matos steps back and let's Howell get back to his feet.
Matos gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howell thows a left - swing and a miss!
Howell stuns Matos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Brad Howell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howell tries to sprawl but Matos drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Howell is looking to improve his position.

Matos decides to stand and escape the position.
Howell slaps away a takedown attempt from Matos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howell lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Howell lands a two punch combo.
Howell lands an overhand right.
Matos shoots in looking for a takedown but Howell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Matos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Brad Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ravi Matos.

Matos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Matos decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Howell.
Howell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matos misses with a looping left.
Matos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howell as he avoids it easily.
Howell lands a lovely overhand right.
Matos takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Matos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howell.
Howell moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Howell misses the jab.
Matos misses with a body shot.
Matos tries for a takedown but Howell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Donk. Howell catches Matos right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howell looks to score with a jab to the body but Matos is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell moves into range and connects with a jab.
Howell is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Howell jabs Matos right on the nose. Matos blinks but takes it well.
Matos moves away from the strike by Howell.
Matos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Howell as he jumps to the side.
Matos on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howell.
Matos ducks under a wild hook from Howell.
Howell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matos shoots in and drives through. Howell sprawls well.
Howell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Howell wants it to stay on the feet.
Matos looks gassed!
Howell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Matos ducks under a wild hook from Howell.
Howell misses with a straight right.
Howell scores with a jab to the head.
Howell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Howell misses with a hook. Matos ducked under it nicely.
Matos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howell defends it nicely.
A big right from Howell misses.
Howell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Howell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Howell misses the target.
Matos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howell.
Howell stuffs the takedown attempt from Matos. Matos gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ravi Matos will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Howell stuffs the takedown.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt - Howell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Brad Howell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Howell as he jumps to the side.
Brad Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ravi Matos.
Nice defenses there by Matos.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab, jab by Howell - just one landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matos misses with a leg kick.
Howell throws a big shot that misses.
Matos dives in and grabs Howell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Howell pushes down on Matos's head and hops out.
Matos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Howell as he jumps to the side.
Matos is breathing heavily.
Matos shoots in and drives through. Howell sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Matos slips a jab from Howell.
Matos moves out of range as Howell strikes.
Howell fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matos on the side of the head.
Howell scores with a decent looking hook.
Howell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Howell. That snapped Matos's head back.
Matos takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Howell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Matos shoots in for a takedown but Howell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Howell. No joy for Matos on that attempt.
Howell lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A big left from Howell misses.
Matos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howell defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell jabs at Matos's body.
Howell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matos's head backwards.
Howell scores with a jab to the jaw.
Howell connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Matos takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Howell lands a jab to the nose.
Howell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Matos shoots in looking for a takedown. Howell tries to sprawl out of it but Matos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Howell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Howell scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell with a nice cross.
Matos misses with a wild combination.
Howell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Howell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matos under the eye.
Matos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Howell cracks Matos with a right hand to the side of the head.
Howell throws a hook but Matos blocks it.
Nice sprawl there from Howell as Matos shoots in.
Howell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Howell wants it to stay on the feet.
Matos takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nice uppercut lands for Howell. That snapped Matos's head back.
Howell connects with a nice looking jab.
Howell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matos shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Howell looks to score with a jab to the body but Matos is just out of range.
Howell is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Matos shoots in but Howell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howell lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A swing and a miss from Howell.
Howell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matos.
Nice body punch from Howell.
Matos ducks right into an uppercut from Howell.
Howell scores with the left hand. Matos knows he should have avoided that one.
Matos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Howell as he jumps to the side.
Howell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Howell fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matos on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howell connects with a body shot that sends Matos's belly button to the back.
Matos takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A shot to the body from Howell misses
and Matos counters with a nice leg kick.
Matos walks into a straight right hand from Howell.
Matos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Howell tries to avoid it but Matos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Howell to the ground. Howell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Howell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matos.
Matos shoots for a double leg takedown but Howell sprawls well. He's pushed Matos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brad Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ravi Matos.
Howell jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Howell moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Howell misses the target.
Howell moves out of range of the strikes.
Matos looks for a takedown but Howell sprawls well.
Howell scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howell missing with a left hand there. Matos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howell listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Brad Howell is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matos.
Matos has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matos there as he acknowledges the shot.
Howell stuffs the takedown.
Howell lands a nice shot that snaps Matos's head back.
Nice shot by Howell.
Matos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Howell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matos somewhat.
Howell lands the left hand.
Howell throws a right hand that Matos ducks under and follows up with a left that Matos also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos shoots in looking for a takedown but Howell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Matos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Howell throws a good cross that connects.
Jab by Howell.
Matos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Howell tries to sprawl but Matos drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Howell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Howell tries to get out of the position.

Matos is trying to work for a kimura but Howell is defending well.
Matos blocks the strikes from Howell.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell trying to control from the bottom.
Howell wants to get back to his feet.
Howell wants to improve his position but Matos is controlling well.
Matos is looking to take a break and control but Howell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Howell tries to kick Matos off but Matos keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Matos landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

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

Matos is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Howell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Matos.
It looks like Matos is going to stand back up.
Matos prevents Howell from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Matos is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Howell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Howell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Howell has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

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