PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Matos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as James Howlett enters the cage!

Matos
vs
Howlett

184 cm
18
186 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Matos!
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, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matos tries for a takedown but Howlett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Howlett closes the distance and clinches.

Howlett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Howlett's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Howlett duly obliges.
Matos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch but Matos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Matos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howlett defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Matos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett misses with a wild combination.
Matos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howlett swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Howlett as Matos shoots in.

Howlett gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Matos misses with an elbow strike.
Matos tries to score a body lock takedown but Howlett shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Matos looking for a takedown.
Howlett has had enough of the clinch but Matos keeps him there for the moment.
Matos blocks a body shot from Howlett.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howlett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howlett throws a right hand that Matos ducks under and follows up with a left that Matos also avoids with ease.
Matos fails with a takedown attempt.
Howlett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Howlett pushes Matos up against the cage in a clinch.

Howlett breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matos.
Matos fails with a takedown attempt.
Matos is breathing heavily.
Howlett misses with a double jab.

Matos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Matos lands in his opponent's guard.

Howlett pushes Matos off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett leaves Matos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Howlett throws a nice looking combination but Matos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Howlett but Howlett pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sloppy strikes from Howlett. Those never looked like landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Howlett. Those never looked like landing.
Matos tries for a takedown but Howlett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Matos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Howlett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Howlett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt - Howlett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howlett wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howlett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A combination from Howlett does no damage.
Howlett goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Howlett slaps away a takedown attempt from Matos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howlett lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Howlett tries to clinch up.
Matos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Matos shoots in and bounces Howlett off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Matos drops back, looking for a kneebar! Howlett looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Howlett looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Howlett!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Howlett stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Howlett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Matos feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Howlett is looking to stand up but Matos isn't so interested in that idea.
Matos trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Howlett manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Matos is working an open guard so Howlett takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Howlett but Howlett pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice sprawl there from Howlett as Matos shoots in.
James Howlett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Howlett tries to bum rush Matos with a series of wild strikes but Matos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Howlett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Howlett, right into the meat.
Matos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Howlett is fending him off so far but Matos persists. Nope, Howlett circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Matos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch but Matos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howlett connects with an inside leg kick.
Howlett connects with a body shot that sends Matos's belly button to the back.
Matos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howlett swivels and escapes.
Howlett lands with a nice combination. Matos backs away looking to recover.
Howlett swinging wildly here.
Matos shoots in but Howlett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matos keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett swinging wildly here.
A combination from Howlett does no damage.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Howlett.
Howlett punishes Matos's body with a nice straight punch.
Matos shoots in but Howlett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howlett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Howlett fails with an attempt to clinch.

Matos shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matos showed some decent athleticism there.

Howlett has one foot on Matos's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Howlett. No joy for Matos on that attempt.
Howlett tries to clinch but Matos moves out of range.
Howlett looks to land a combination. Matos sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Howlett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Howlett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Matos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James Howlett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howlett stalks Matos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Matos's face. Matos staggers backwards, shaken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matos shoots for a double leg takedown but Howlett sprawls well. He's pushed Matos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Howlett closes the distance and clinches.
Matos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Howlett pulls his leg out and moves away.
Howlett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Matos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Matos shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matos is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Howlett has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Howlett!

Matos is looking for a triangle but Howlett pushes his legs off easily.

Howlett stands up and waves to Matos to follow him.
Howlett misses with a combination

and Matos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Howlett's guard.

Matos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Howlett manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Matos has Howlett in his guard.

Howlett stands up from Matos's guard - Howlett perhaps looking for a knockout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some wild striking there from Howlett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett throws a nice looking combination but Matos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Howlett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howlett stuffs the takedown attempt from Matos. Matos gets slowly back to his feet.
Matos closes the distance and clinches up with Howlett, looking for a takedown. Matos pushes Howlett against the cage but Howlett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Matos tries to score a body lock takedown but Howlett shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Howlett manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Howlett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matos looks for a takedown but Howlett sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Matos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Howlett clinches up against the cage.
Matos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Howlett pulls his leg out and moves away.
Matos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howlett.
Matos swats away the attempt to clinch by Howlett.
Howlett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Matos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Matos shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Howlett kicks Matos off and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howlett throws a one two combo.
Matos fails with a takedown attempt.

Howlett clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Howlett pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Matos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Howlett tries to avoid it but Matos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Howlett to the ground. Howlett escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Howlett feints a jab promting Matos to slip. Howlett then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Matos slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Howlett throws a right and a left that both miss.
Howlett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Howlett wants to clinch up but Matos keeps it at a distance.
Matos dives in and grabs Howlett's left leg, looking for a takedown. Howlett pushes down on Matos's head and hops out.
Howlett tries to clinch up but Matos circles away and keeps his distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Howlett scores with a four punch combination!
Matos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howlett swivels and escapes.

Howlett forces Matos back against the cage and clinches.
Matos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Howlett avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howlett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howlett throws a body kick that misses.
Matos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Howlett lands with a slapping head kick.
Howlett displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Matos.
Howlett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matos fails to land the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howlett leaves Matos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Howlett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matos shoots in for a takedown but Howlett shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howlett tries to clinch up but Matos circles away and keeps his distance.
Howlett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matos circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett wants to clinch.
Howlett wants to clinch.
Howlett tries to clinch but Matos is having none of it.
Matos shoots in but Howlett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pablo Matos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howlett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Howlett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Matos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Howlett's waist but Howlett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matos off to one side.
A nice combination there by Howlett.

Matos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matos trying to move into half guard but instead Howlett has managed to sweep!

Howlett decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Matos shoots in looking for a takedown. Howlett tries to sprawl out of it but Matos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howlett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Matos shoots for a takedown but Howlett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howlett misses with a double jab.
Matos misses with a takedown attempt - Howlett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Howlett is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Howlett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Howlett winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Howlett!