PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tien Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Howlett might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Time of Dying by Three Days Grace. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Howlett
vs
Jaa

185 cm
20
198 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
190 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tien Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howlett throws a right and a left that Jaa avoids nicely.
Jaa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jaa throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like James Howlett has been cut.
Tien Jaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howlett. Jaa does a little dance to reset his feet.

Jaa darts in and clinches Howlett up against the cage.
Jaa keeps control of Howlett as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howlett misses with a body punch.
Jaa scores with a knee to the head.
Howlett has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Jaa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Jaa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Howlett.
Jaa lands a nice elbow.
Howlett fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Howlett letting Jaa take a breather here.
Jaa lands a knee to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Jaa has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
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!
Jaa has Howlett pressed against the cage, preventing Howlett from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Howlett misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Howlett drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jaa pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Howlett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Howlett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Howlett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Howlett ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jaa moves away.
Jaa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Jaa moves into the clinch.
Howlett takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jaa blocks a body shot from Howlett.
A bit of stalling here from Jaa.
Howlett tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jaa has Howlett pressed against the cage.
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!
Jaa crunches a lovely knee into Howlett's ribcage.
Howlett is breathing heavily.
Jaa controlling the action here for a moment.
Jaa lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is trying to break free.
Howlett tries to break free but Jaa pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jaa.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Howlett takes a knee right on the jaw!
Howlett is trying to force a seperation but Jaa has the dominant position.
Howlett is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Jaa lands a knee to the head.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jaa working Howlett over with knees to the body.
Jaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Howlett is pressed against the cage. Jaa pushes back and unleashes a big elbow that really hurts Howlett! Two more big strikes from Jaa and Howlett crumples to the mat and taps out furiously due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Tien Jaa!
Tien Jaa made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I commend my opponent for giving up a good fight. I thank all those who supported me. Now I am the champion and those who want to challenge, I have three words for you. "Get it on"!'.