PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Glover Teixeira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard comes to the cage accompanied by Immortality by Pearl Jam. 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.

Howard
vs
Teixeira

189 cm
29
215 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

181 cm
26
216 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dwayne Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Glover Teixeira!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Teixeira throws the kick towards the body but Howard avoids it.
Howard doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Teixeira sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Howard looking to score a takedown here. Teixeira is defending well but Howard drives through and ends up in Teixeira's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Teixeira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howard.
Howard won't allow Teixeira to get back to his feet.
Howard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Howard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Howard throws an elbow that misses. Teixeira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Teixeira!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Teixeira trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teixeira preventing the sweep.
Teixeira is fighting to break Howard's control of his arms but Howard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Howard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howard is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Teixeira throws a series of punches but Howard avoids them all with ease.
Howard swats away the attempt to clinch by Teixeira.
Teixeira throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Howard checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Teixeira throws a left and a right that both miss

and Howard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Teixeira won't be happy with that.
Howard controls the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Howard in side control, throwing shots but Teixeira defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard happy to just control the position for now.
Howard trying to control the position but Teixeira is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Teixeira prevents Howard from moving into mount.
Teixeira avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Howard.
Howard throws an elbow but Teixeira slips to the side and avoids it well.
Howard tries to advance to mount but can't.
Howard throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Teixeira pushes Howard away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Howard gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Howard looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Teixeira is avoiding damage well.
Howard trying to control the position but Teixeira is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard is really struggling to control Teixeira but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Howard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Howard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Teixeira.
Teixeira fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Howard manages to avoid it.
Howard dodges the punch combination from Teixeira.
Teixeira throws an overhand right that lands on Howard's shoulder, as Howard tries to avoid the shot.
Teixeira misses with an uppercut

and Howard counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Teixeira!
Howard throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Howard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Howard punching from mount but Teixeira doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard throws some wild stikes that Teixeira manages to avoid easily.
Howard throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Howard throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Howard throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Howard throwing strikes here but Teixeira is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Howard controlling from the full mount.
Howard looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard controlling the position easily from mount.
Howard lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Howard lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard looking to ground and pound but Teixeira is blocking nicely.
Howard fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Howard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dwayne Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Howard controlling from mount.
Teixeira is squirming around, avoiding Howard's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands a big shot there that rocks Teixeira but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
You get the feeling that Teixeira really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Howard trying to control but Teixeira is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Teixeira squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Howard dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Howard.
Teixeira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Teixeira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Howard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Teixeira throws a left and a right that both miss
and Howard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Teixeira throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Teixeira looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Teixeira with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Howard moves away from the strike by Teixeira.

Howard closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Howard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Teixeira keeps working.
Well, if Howard 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 one minute gone in the round.
Howard looks to land a strike but Teixeira avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Teixeira keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Dwayne Howard wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Teixeira fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Teixeira is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Dwayne Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Teixeira shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Teixeira shoots in for a double leg but Howard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Teixeira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Teixeira as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
Howard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Glover Teixeira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howard dives in and grabs Teixeira's left leg, looking for a takedown. Teixeira pushes down on Howard's head and hops out.
Howard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Teixeira tries to avoid it but Howard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Teixeira to the ground. Teixeira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Howard. No joy for Teixeira on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Teixeira throws a low kick but Howard avoids it.
Howard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Teixeira throws a low kick but it's checked well by Howard.
Howard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Teixeira avoids it really well and circles away.
Teixeira moves in looking to clinch but Howard pushes him off.
Teixeira is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Horrible takedown by Teixeira or perhaps it was just good defense by Howard which made him look bad.
Teixeira swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Teixeira throws a hook to the side of Howard's head but Howard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Howard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Howard wants to control but Teixeira is keeping him busy.
Howard is looking to pass Teixeira's guard but actually Teixeira recovers to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Teixeira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Glover Teixeira.
I think Howard 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Howard!
A relieved looking Dwayne Howard thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.