PBP Commentary

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

Howard
vs
Worner

150 cm
27
130 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
27
146 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Floyd Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Worner!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard feints and then cracks Worner's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Worner down.
Worner throws a wild body kick that Howard sees coming a mile off.
Worner dives in and grabs Howard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Howard pushes down on Worner's head and hops out.
Howard tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice sprawl there from Howard as Worner shoots in.
Good work by Worner as he checks the leg kick.
Worner throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
Worner misses the jab.
Worner tries to clinch up

and Howard moves into the clinch.
Worner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Worner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Howard walks away with a smile on his face. Worner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Floyd Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Worner.

Howard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Howard stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Worner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Howard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Howard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Worner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howard cracks Worner with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard won't allow Worner to get back to his feet.

Worner looking for a guillotine here but Howard defends easily.

Howard stands and steps away. Worner gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Worner shoots in looking for a takedown. Howard tries to sprawl out of it but Worner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Howard scores with a takedown into Worner's guard.
Howard passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner wants to improve his position but Howard is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Howard in particular looking to stall.
Worner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Howard is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Worner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

We're going to have a standup here because Floyd Howard wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Worner misses with a body kick.
Howard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Some wild striking there from Worner.

Howard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Worner was covering up waiting for the punch and Howard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Worner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Howard is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Worner tries to clinch but Howard is having none of it.
Worner shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howard sprawls well. Howard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Worner gets slowly back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Worner enables Howard to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Worner manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Worner is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Worner is looking to stand up but Howard isn't so interested in that idea.
Howard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Howard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Worner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Howard has managed to get both his arms back between Worner's legs - danger averted.
Howard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Worner wants to sweep but no luck.
Worner being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Floyd Howard.

Worner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Howard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Howard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Worner is trying to keep Howard in close.
Worner wants to sweep here but Howard controlling him for the moment.
Howard stays in close to Worner's body and controls the position.
Howard won't allow Worner to get back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Worner trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Howard blocks a head kick by Worner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard shoots in and gets a takedown into Worner's guard.
Howard advances position into side control!
Howard has control of an arm but Worner manages to advance to Howard's back!

Howard manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Howard throws a nice looking combination but Worner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Howard shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Worner napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Worner tries to buck Howard off but Howard is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Howard cracks Worner with a big elbow.

Howard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Worner, who protects the arm well.
Howard takes a little break here. Worner wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Howard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Worner has escaped the position, nice work there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Worner is trying to control Howard's posture but Howard avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Worner is defended easily by Howard.
Howard tests Worner's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Howard avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Worner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Howard seems keen to control Worner's posture.

Howard pushes Worner off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Worner misses with a takedown attempt - Howard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner 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 Worner off to one side.
Floyd Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Worner.
Howard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Howard manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Worner on his heels. He'll look to pass Worner's guard now, I'm sure.
Howard won't allow Worner to sweep him here.
Worner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Worner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howard stays in close to Worner's body and controls the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Floyd Howard wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Howard rushes Worner and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Worner shoots in but Howard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Worner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Worner throws a head kick but Howard moves out of range.

Howard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Howard decides to stand and escape the position.
Worner wants to clinch but Howard slips to the side

and Howard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Howard stays in close to Worner's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Worner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Howard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Floyd Howard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Worner throws a head kick but Howard moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner misses with a head kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Worner enables Howard to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Worner manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Worner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Howard is aware though and is defending well.
Worner is looking to stand up but Howard isn't so interested in that idea.
Howard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Howard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard prevents Worner from improving his position.
Austin Worner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Floyd Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Floyd Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Floyd Howard!