PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sebastien Bartings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Bartings
vs
Howell

182 cm
25
183 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

210 cm
23
201 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sebastien Bartings !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bartings 's head backwards.
Good work by Bartings as he checks the leg kick.
Bartings closes the distance and clinches up with Howell, looking for a takedown. Bartings pushes Howell against the cage but Howell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bartings shoots and misses

and Howell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Howell controlling the action here.
Howell wants to advance to full mount but Bartings doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Howell slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Howell stays in close to Bartings 's body and controls the position.
Bartings is pulling down on Howell's head. It's preventing any offense from Howell, at least for the moment.
Howell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sebastien Bartings has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Howell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Howell throws a lazy body kick

and Bartings decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Howell's guard.
Howell pulls Bartings in close to prevent any damage.
Bartings trying to control but Howell is working from the bottom.
Bartings might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bartings misses with a takedown

and Howell counters with a takedown into side control.
Bartings is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Thunder Dome, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastien Bartings . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howell throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bartings wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Howell tries to advance to mount but can't.
Howell creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bartings sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell just content to control the position.
Howell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Howell in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Howell fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bartings is looking for a sweep.
Howell working the ground and pound but Bartings is defending the strikes.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howell tries to advance to mount but can't.
Bartings is trying to escape the position but Howell is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Howell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Howell misses with a wild combination.
Howell goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Sebastien Bartings has been cut.
Howell tries to bum rush Bartings with a series of wild strikes but Bartings uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sebastien Bartings is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howell has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Bartings is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Howell tries to clinch there but Bartings circles away.
A combination from Howell does no damage.
Bartings takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Howell tries a head kick but it misses.
Bartings checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell is really turning it up, unleashing another crisp combination which drops Bartings like a ton of bricks! The referee dives in to stop the fight, saving Bartings from another fist facial!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Josh Howell!