PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tor Troeng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Troeng
vs
Howard

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tor Troeng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tony Howard!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Troeng misses with a few strikes there.
Howard moves forwards but Troeng connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Troeng lands a two punch combo.
Howard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Troeng swivels and escapes.
Howard tries to clinch up.
Howard stalks Troeng and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Troeng's face. Troeng staggers backwards, shaken.

Howard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Troeng, pushing him back against the cage.
Troeng wants a takedown.
Troeng wants to break free but Howard has control.
Howard avoiding damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Troeng's elbow.
Howard missing with knees to the body.
Troeng tries to break free but Howard pushes him back against the cage.
Troeng wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Howard has him pressed against the cage.
Howard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Troeng wants to get back to striking at distance but Howard won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Howard.
Howard has Troeng pressed against the cage, preventing Troeng from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Howard has Troeng pressed against the cage, preventing Troeng from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Howard prevents the takedown attempt.

Howard successfully pulls guard.
Howard wants to stand and escape but Troeng is having none of it.
Troeng wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.
Troeng looking to sit in guard and control but Howard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Howard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troeng rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Troeng looks to throw the jab but Howard is out of range.
Tor Troeng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Troeng bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Crunch! Howard slams his shin into Troeng's torso.
Troeng throws a right hand that Howard ducks under and follows up with a left that Howard also avoids with ease.
Troeng throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Howard counters with an outside leg kick.
Troeng leaves Howard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Troeng jabs Howard to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Troeng throws a nice looking combination but Howard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Howard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Troeng manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Troeng displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Troeng. No joy for Howard on that attempt.
Tor Troeng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troeng throws a nice looking combination but Howard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Troeng sprawls well. Troeng wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Troeng.
Howard finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Howard dodges the punch combination from Troeng.
Troeng catches Howard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Howard throws a front kick aimed at Troeng's knee but Troeng avoids it well.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for Troeng, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howard looks to clinch
and Troeng counters with a three punch combo that has Howard backing up. Howard nods at Troeng to acknowledge the strikes.
Troeng throws a right and a left that Howard avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troeng misses with a series of wild punches.
Howard is looking to clinch.
Howard walks into a jab.
Howard doesn't manage to clinch there - Troeng circles away.
Howard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Howard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Troeng manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Howard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Troeng, pushing him back against the cage.
Troeng wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Howard has him pressed against the cage.

Howard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Troeng uses from the top position.
Troeng has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Troeng working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Howard manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Howard prevents Troeng from breaking the clinch.
Troeng blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Howard will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Troeng avoids the head kick by Howard.
Troeng lands with a nice body punch.
Troeng scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Troeng misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Howard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Howard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tor Troeng is winning the standup battle so far.
Troeng scores with a jab to the jaw.
Howard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Howard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tor Troeng is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Troeng.
A big left from Troeng misses.
A nice combination there by Troeng.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Troeng moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Troeng jabs at Howard's body.
Troeng lands with a hook. Howard tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Troeng.
Troeng throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troeng wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Troeng thows a body shot but no joy.
Troeng works over Howard's head and body with a nice combination.
Howard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Howard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Troeng scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Howard falls off balance throwing a combination
and Troeng counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Howard thinking.
Troeng lands with a nice combination. Howard backs away looking to recover.
Troeng lands with a nice combination. Howard backs away looking to recover.
Troeng throws a series of strikes that have Howard backpedaling.
Troeng keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
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!
Left hook, right uppercut from Troeng.
Troeng throws out a loose jab but Howard uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troeng throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
Troeng avoids the head kick by Howard.
Howard fails with the takedown.
Troeng lands with a right hand.
Troeng scores with a three punch combo!
Troeng lands with a straight right. Howard didn't see that one coming.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Troeng, as that shot connected.
Troeng throws a nice looking combination but Howard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Howard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Troeng scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Troeng throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
Troeng works Howard's body with a nice hook.
Troeng tries to bum rush Howard with a series of wild strikes but Howard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Troeng.
Howard has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Howard throws a head kick that half lands.
Troeng lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Howard circles away quickly and effectively.
Troeng shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Howard eats them both and turns towards Troeng to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Troeng swinging wildly here.
Troeng throws a right and a left that both miss.

Howard clinches with his opponent.
Troeng is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Howard drags the fight down to the ground.

Howard manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Troeng connects with a right hand. Howard shakes it off.
Howard tries to bum rush Troeng with a series of wild strikes but Troeng uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troeng sizes up Howard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Troeng lands with a nice combination. Howard backs away looking to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Troeng cracks Howard with an open hand slap.
Howard tries to clinch up
and Troeng counters with a straight right hand.
Troeng connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Howard takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Howard clinches up with Troeng and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Troeng's efforts to push away.
Troeng tries to circle away but Howard has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Troeng can't break the clinch.
Troeng tries to break free but Howard pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tor Troeng dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Troeng throws a series of punches but Howard avoids them all with ease.
Troeng wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Troeng uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Howard has time to react.
Troeng with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Howard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Troeng.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Troeng shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howard throws a series of punches but Troeng avoids them all with ease.
Howard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Howard wants to clinch.
Troeng throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Troeng manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Howard clinches up with Troeng and pushes him back against the cage.
Troeng has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Troeng wants to break the clinch but can't.
Howard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Howard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Troeng is keeping busy.
Troeng wants to break free but Howard has control.
Troeng working hard to break the clinch.
Troeng is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Troeng breaks from the clinch.
Troeng scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard slips a jab and a cross from Troeng.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Troeng avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Troeng lands with an overhand left.
Troeng smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Troeng looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Howard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Troeng.
Howard tries to land a front kick but Troeng steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some wild striking there from Troeng.
Tor Troeng is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Troeng smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Howard tries to clinch up but Troeng circles away and keeps his distance.
Troeng fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Troeng sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tor Troeng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Howard.
Good standup being displayed there by Troeng as he connects with a hook.
Howard darts in looking for a takedown but Troeng gets double underhooks and turns Howard into the cage.
Howard misses with an elbow over the top.
Howard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Troeng's efforts to push away.
Troeng wants to break the clinch but can't.
Troeng looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Troeng has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Howard after a bit of a struggle.

Howard pulls guard.
Troeng controls from within his opponent's guard.
Howard wants to stand and escape but Troeng is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troeng would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Troeng in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Troeng trying to stand up but can't free himself from Howard's guard.
Troeng wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Tor Troeng wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Danga de danga de dang - Troeng scores with a four punch combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tony Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Troeng swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tor Troeng showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Troeng 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight for Tor Troeng!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Tor Troeng!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Tor Troeng!

Tor Troeng wins by unanimous decision!