PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Floyd Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Bryan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Howard
vs
Bryan

150 cm
32
130 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

179 cm
26
135 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite 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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Floyd Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Bryan!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bryan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Howard is adopting a defensive guard.

Howard has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bryan has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Howard has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bryan is trying to keep an underhook but Howard manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Howard content to control rather than advance.
Howard tries to pass to full mount but Bryan defends it.
Howard controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Floyd Howard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Howard dives in and scores a takedown into Bryan's guard.
Bryan being controlled here, momentarily.
Bryan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Howard wants to control from the top but Bryan keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Floyd Howard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Howard works over Bryan's head and body with a nice combination.
Bryan shoots and misses

and Howard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan tries to score a body lock takedown but Howard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bryan is trying to push Howard away but Howard has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bryan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bryan shoots in looking for a takedown. Howard tries to sprawl out of it but Bryan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Floyd Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Bryan.
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!
Howard lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bryan misses with a hook

and Howard moves into the clinch.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Howard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bryan.
Bryan jumps guard but Howard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard jumps into guard, dragging Bryan to the mat.
Howard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bryan on the ground.
Howard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bryan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Howard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bryan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bryan trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Bryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bryan stopping the sweep attempt from Howard.
Bryan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Daniel Bryan wasn't active enough on the ground.

Bryan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Howard's half guard.
Howard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Howard trying to control here.
Bryan stops Howard from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bryan is looking to take a break and control but Howard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Howard gets the takedown into side control.
Howard landing strikes.
Howard lands an elbow.
Bryan manages to get back to half guard.
Bryan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bryan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howard manages to get himself to full guard.
Howard is trying to control the position but Bryan postures up.
Howard keeping full guard, as Bryan tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard wants to sweep but no luck.
Bryan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bryan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bryan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Howard circles away quickly and effectively.
Bryan takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Bryan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bryan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck for Bryan with that takedown attempt.
Bryan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Howard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Floyd Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Bryan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bryan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bryan jumps guard but Howard stands there with Bryan around his waist. Bryan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bryan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bryan prevents a takedown attempt there.

Howard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bryan shoots in for a double leg but Howard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Howard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Howard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Howard stands up and beckons Bryan to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bryan's guard.
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Bryan is retaining full guard.
Howard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bryan wants to stand up but Howard is controlling him.
Bryan has his hands on Howard's head, controlling the position.
Bryan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Howard controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Howard clinches up with Bryan and pushes him back against the cage.
Bryan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Howard to keep the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Bryan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bryan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown. Bryan tries to sprawl out of it but Howard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bryan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bryan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Floyd Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Howard wants it to stay on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Howard has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Howard lands a jab to Bryan's midsection.

Bryan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Howard is working an open guard so Bryan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bryan has his takedown stuffed
and Bryan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Howard closes the distance and pushes Bryan back into the cage.

Howard decides to pull guard.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Bryan from controlling successfully.
Bryan tries to free his leg and advance position but Howard is retaining full guard.
Floyd Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Howard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bryan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bryan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bryan passes into half guard.
Howard is trying to maintain the position but Bryan is very close to passing his half guard.
Bryan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Howard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Howard tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan wants to stand up but Howard is controlling the position.

Bryan gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown but Bryan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Howard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bryan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howard pinned against the cage. Howard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Bryan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bryan is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Howard trying to control here.
Howard tries to roll over but Bryan keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard has hold of Bryan's hands but Bryan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Howard is trying to stand up here but Bryan is controlling him well.

Bryan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Howard sees it coming and defends easily.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Bryan has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bryan trying to control the action but Howard is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Bryan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howard 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Floyd Howard!
Daniel Bryan spoke after the fight, saying 'NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!'.