PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norberto Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CM Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norberto Howard has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Howard
vs
Punk

191 cm
20
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
267 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norberto Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, CM Punk!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Punk manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Howard on his heels. He'll look to pass Howard's guard now, I'm sure.

Howard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Punk defends well.
Howard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Punk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Punk might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Punk has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Howard is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Punk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Howard dives on top into guard.

Howard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Howard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Punk defends it nicely.

Punk dives in and scores a takedown into Howard's guard.

Howard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Punk preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Punk decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Howard, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard rushes Punk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Punk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Punk blocks the elbow strike.

Punk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
Punk misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Howard counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Punk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Howard tries to stall but Punk uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Punk breaks the clinch.

Punk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Punk is nestled in close to Howard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Punk lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Punk is trying to control. Howard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CM Punk dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Punk closes the distance and clinches.

Punk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Punk closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Howard's guard.

Punk is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Howard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Howard has escaped and now he's on top!
Howard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Punk blocks nicely.
Howard connects with a couple of short punches.
Punk wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Punk is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Punk manages to break the clinch.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Punk clinches.
Howard pushes off an throws an elbow but Punk leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Howard throws a punch but it's blocked by Punk.
Punk is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Punk wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Punk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howard tries to clinch up.
Howard moves in looking to clinch but Punk pushes him off.
Punk throws a right and a left that both miss.

Punk looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Howard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Punk is aware though and is defending well.
Punk trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk throws a big elbow that misses.
Punk sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Howard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Punk.
Punk tries to free his leg and advance position but Howard is retaining full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. CM Punk was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Punk has managed to clinch.
Punk goes for a takedown attempt but Howard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Howard shoots for a double leg takedown but Punk sprawls well. He's pushed Howard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Punk drives through and clinches with Howard against the cage.
Punk blocks an elbow strike from Howard.
Howard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Punk tries to pull guard but Howard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Norberto Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CM Punk.

Punk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Punk throws a right and a left that Howard avoids nicely.

Punk instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk throws a knee to the head but misses.

Punk breaks from the clinch.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Punk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Punk shoots for a takedown but Howard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Punk is breathing heavily.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Punk sprawls well. Punk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Howard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Punk is fending him off so far but Howard persists. Nope, Punk circles away and we're back to standing.

Punk gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Punk.

Punk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Punk fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Howard to the ground. Punk is now in Howard's guard.
Punk trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CM Punk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Howard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Punk dives in and scores a takedown into Howard's guard.
Punk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Punk stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Howard is looking to clinch but Punk is avoiding it.
Howard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Punk swivels and escapes.
Howard shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norberto Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Punk throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Punk throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Howard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Punk is in Howard's guard.
Punk sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Punk throws a big elbow that misses.
Punk postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Punk from controlling successfully.
Punk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. CM Punk was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Punk lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Punk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Still in half guard, Punk seems content to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Howard actively working from the bottom here.
Punk works his way into side control.
CM Punk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Punk trying to control the position but Howard is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punk has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Punk drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Punk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Punk stands up and waves to Howard to follow him.
CM Punk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk swats away the attempt to clinch by Howard.
Punk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown but Punk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Howard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Punk has managed to clinch.
Norberto Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
CM Punk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Howard struggles to land a body shot inside as Punk controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
CM Punk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Punk has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CM Punk!