PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kova Tangis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tangis
vs
Howell

182 cm
27
218 lbs
12 - 10 - 2

210 cm
25
223 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kova Tangis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tangis darts in looking for a takedown but Howell gets double underhooks and turns Tangis into the cage.

Tangis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Howell regains guard immediately.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tangis won't allow Howell to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tangis wants to control from the top but Howell keeps moving.
Howell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Howell throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tangis is trying to stand.
Howell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Howell throwing strikes here but Tangis is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Howell throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tangis is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tangis avoids a series of strikes thrown by Howell.
Tangis is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this 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 looking to ground and pound but Tangis is blocking nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howell won't let Tangis get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Howell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tangis is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tangis is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Howell raining down shots from the mount!
Tangis's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell controlling from the full mount.
Howell throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tangis because Howell loaded up on that one.
Tangis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Howell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Howell has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Howell wants to control the pace but Tangis is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tangis is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
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!
Howell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tangis is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A big right from Howell misses.
Tangis shoots for a takedown but Howell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tangis slips under a jab from Howell.
Howell lands with a hook. Tangis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tangis defending well as Howell loads up on a big left hand.
Kova Tangis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tangis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Howell.

Tangis has managed to clinch.

Tangis has hold of one of Howell's legs. Howell is fighting the takedown attempt but Tangis gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Howell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tangis is looking to advance position but Howell has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Howell looking to finish with strikes here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tangis squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Howell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tangis squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Howell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tangis is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Howell lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Howell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tangis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Howell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tangis is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tangis is trying to stand up.
Howell sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Josh Howell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tangis is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Tangis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Howell thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Howell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tangis squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howell throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tangis because Howell loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell misses with a head shot.
Howell sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tangis squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Howell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tangis wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Howell sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Howell content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell looking to finish with strikes here!
Howell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Howell wants to control the pace but Tangis is squirming around nicely.
Howell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tangis is squirming around, avoiding Howell's attempts to control the action.
Tangis is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Howell 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!

Tangis shoots for a takedown but Howell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tangis closes the distance and clinches up with Howell, looking for a takedown. Tangis pushes Howell against the cage but Howell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Howell throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tangis on the side of the head.
Howell lands with a hook. Tangis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tangis walks into a straight right hand from Howell.
Tangis misses with a takedown
enabling Howell to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kova Tangis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howell misses the jab.
Tangis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Howell counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tangis moves forwards but Howell connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howell thows a body shot but no joy.
Howell throws the left hand but Tangis avoids the punch easily.
Howell scores with a hook to the body. Tangis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Howell throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell looks to score with a jab to the body but Tangis is just out of range.
Tangis slips under a jab.
Tangis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tangis tries to move into range but Howell moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tangis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tangis walks into a stiff left hand from Howell.
Nice cross by Howell.
Howell throws a shot to the body.
Howell is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tangis moves to clinch but Howell breaks away
and Howell counters with a straight right hand.
Howell connects with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howell dips to his left and cracks Tangis with an uppercut!
Howell connects with a right hand. Tangis shakes it off.
Howell catches Tangis with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tangis tries to clinch but Howell moves out of range.

Tangis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Howell gets back to full guard.
Tangis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Howell is keeping the position for now.
Howell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tangis throwing strikes but missing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Howell can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell keeping moving, preventing Tangis from controlling successfully.
Howell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tangis manages to get himself to full guard.
Howell landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howell engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kova Tangis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tangis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tangis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Howell controls the pace.
Tangis wants to stand up but Howell is controlling him.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Josh Howell wasn't active enough on the ground.
Howell feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tangiss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big right from Howell misses.
Tangis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tangis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Josh Howell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
Tangis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Howell tests Tangis's chin there with a solid looking shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Howell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Howell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Howell!