PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yodthanong Photirat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: My Block. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Photirat
vs
Howard

171 cm
25
159 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

165 cm
32
163 lbs
11 - 19 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yodthanong Photirat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Howard!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Photirat sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Howard blocks a head kick by Photirat.
Photirat misses with a jab, cross combination.
Photirat throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Photirat rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Howard fails to land the takedown.
Photirat throws a body kick that misses.
Photirat stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Photirat wants it to stay on the feet.
Yodthanong Photirat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Howard.
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown. Photirat tries to sprawl out of it but Howard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Photirat manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Photirat stuffs the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Photirat as Howard shoots in.
Photirat misses with a body kick.
Photirat throws a head kick that misses.

Howard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Photirat's guard.
Photirat is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howard throws an elbow that misses. Photirat uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Photirat!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Howard can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Photirat wants to pass the guard but Howard is keeping the position.
Howard has a closed guard, preventing Photirat from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Photirat wants to stand and escape but instead Howard has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Howard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Photirat blocks nicely.
Photirat is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Howard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Photirat works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Photirat is retaining full guard.
Howard connects with a couple of short punches.
Howard throws a strike but Photirat rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Photirat from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Howard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Photirat!
Howard landing shots from mount.
Photirat in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Howard cracks Photirat with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Howard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Photirat can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Howard in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
A nice elbow there by Howard.
Howard trying to control but Photirat is having none of it.
BOOM! Howard connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Howard with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Howard dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Photirat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Howard closes the distance and clinches up with Photirat, looking for a takedown. Howard pushes Photirat against the cage but Photirat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt - Photirat sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Photirat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Photirat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Howard.
Yodthanong Photirat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Howard.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt - Photirat sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Photirat throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
Howard shoots in but Photirat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Photirat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Photirat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Howard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Photirat sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Howard somewhat.
Crunch! Photirat slams his shin into Howard's torso.
Photirat thumps Howard with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Photirat has managed to clinch.

Photirat breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Howard sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Photirat throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Photirat fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Howard.

Photirat takes the fight into the clinch.

Photirat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Howard has a takedown stuffed.

Photirat pushes Howard up against the cage in a clinch.

Photirat breaks the clinch.
Photirat throws a sloppy head kick and Howard moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Photirat scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Photirat lands with a straight right. Howard didn't see that one coming.
Howard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Photirat sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard blocks a head kick by Photirat.
A head kick from Photirat lands but Howard takes it in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Photirat looks to land a combination but Howard avoids it well.

Howard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Howard is nestled in close to Photirat, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Howard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Photirat regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Howard.
Photirat utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howard trying to control but Photirat is working from the bottom.
Howard is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Howard postures up in Photirat's guard and throws a big left but Photirat blocks it.
Photirat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Photirat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Photirat swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Howard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mike Howard hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.

Howard looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Photirat looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Photirat blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howard shoots in for a takedown but Photirat shows good takedown defense.
A nice combination there by Photirat.
Howard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Howard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Photirat sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yodthanong Photirat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Howard.

Howard throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Photirat tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Howard is in Photirat's guard.
Howard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.
Howard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Photirat is retaining full guard.
Howard stands up over Photirat, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Howard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Photirat working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howard.
Howard trying to control but Photirat is working from the bottom.
Howard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howard is looking to work some ground and pound but Photirat has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Photirat working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howard.
Howard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Howard is in close to Photirat's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Howard advances position into side control!
Photirat is working to avoid the ground and pound but Howard connects with a decent elbow.
Howard landing a few strikes.
Howard trying to control the position but Photirat is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard working the head with strikes.
Howard in side control lands a decent elbow.
Howard throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Howard scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Photirat to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Photirat is not content to let Howard control the position.
Howard lands a nice forearm strike.
Howard landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Howard throws a strike aimed at the side of Photirat's head but Photirat avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard is looking to take a break and control but Photirat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Howard lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howard 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

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