PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angus Grundi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Howell has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Howell
vs
Grundi

210 cm
27
223 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

193 cm
35
217 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Angus Grundi!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Darius Henderson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grundi shoots in for a takedown but Howell shows good takedown defense.
A punch lands to the side of Grundi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A slow jab from Howell misses its intended target.
Grundi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howell defends it nicely.
Howell scores with a decent looking hook.
Grundi shoots in for a takedown but Howell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Josh Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Angus Grundi.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Grundi.
Howell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Grundi doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Howell to counter with a crisp jab.
Grundi shoots in for a takedown but Howell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howell throws a hook to the side of Grundi's head but Grundi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Grundi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Howell counters with a stiff right hand.
Howell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Howell with a hook.
Howell lands a right hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grundi tries for a takedown but Howell circles away easily
and Howell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grundi.
It looks like Howell has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Grundi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howell counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Grundi looks winded!
A cross from Howell lands.
Howell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grundi.
Josh Howell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Grundi shoots and misses
and Howell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grundi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Howell lands an overhand right.
Grundi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Howell lands with a straight right. Grundi didn't see that one coming.
Grundi shoots in and drives through. Howell sprawls well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grundi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Howell throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grundi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice cross by Howell.
Grundi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Howell swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Grundi.
Grundi dives in for a single leg takedown but Howell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Howell misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grundi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Howell counters with a stiff right hand.
Howell works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Howell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Howell is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Jab by Howell.

Grundi is rocked!
Grundi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grundi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Grundi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Howell.
Grundi dives in for a single leg takedown but Howell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It looked like Howell was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Grundi.
Howell shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Grundi eats them both and turns towards Howell to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Howell is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Howell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grundi.
Grundi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
No luck for Grundi with that takedown attempt.
Grundi is looking to take this one to the mat.

Howell has clasped his hands together around Grundi's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Howell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grundi keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell misses with the ground and pound.
Grundi tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Howell decides to stand back up. Howell steps back and let's Grundi get back to his feet.
Grundi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howell counters with a stiff right hand.
Grundi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Grundi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howell swivels and escapes.
Howell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grundi.
Jab by Howell.
Howell is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Howell scores with a jab to the head.
Grundi darts in looking for a takedown but Howell gets double underhooks and turns Grundi into the cage.
Howell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Howell wants it to stay on the feet.
Grundi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Grundi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Howell.
Angus Grundi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howell scores with a decent looking hook.
Howell lands the left hand.
A jab from Howell finds it's way through Grundi's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Howell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice takedown defense from Howell. No joy for Grundi on that attempt.
Howell lands a jab to the nose.
Howell thuds his right hand into Grundi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Grundi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Grundi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grundi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Howell lands a slapping body shot.
Howell misses with an uppercut.
Howell lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Grundi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grundi shoots in but Howell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grundi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Howell pulls his leg out and moves away.
Howell throws a shot from downtown. Grundi moves away and avoids it.
Grundi fails with a takedown attempt.
Howell lands a nice shot that snaps Grundi's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Howell dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Howell throws a body punch but Grundi moves out of range.
Grundi with a poor takedown
enabling Howell to counter with a crisp jab.
Howell lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice shot by Howell.
Grundi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Grundi ducks right into an uppercut from Howell.
Howell with a jab.
Grundi closes the distance and clinches up with Howell, looking for a takedown. Grundi pushes Howell against the cage but Howell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Josh Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Angus Grundi.
Grundi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Grundi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Howell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Grundi has his takedown stuffed
letting Howell counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howell misses with a hook.
Jab from Howell.
Grundi is breathing heavily.
Grundi darts in looking for a takedown but Howell gets double underhooks and turns Grundi into the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Howell gets underhooks to prevent Grundi's takedown attempt.
Howell is pressed up against the cage. Grundi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howell down to the mat. Howell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grundi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Josh Howell is winning the standup battle so far.
Howell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grundi.
Grundi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grundi is trying desperately to land a takedown but Howell is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Grundi.
Howell scores with a shot to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Howell as he connects with a hook.
Grundi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Howell's waist but Howell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grundi off to one side.
Grundi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Grundi is still on wobbly legs! Can Howell finish him?
Howell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Grundi shoots in but Howell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howell throwing a counter right hand but Grundi manages to avoid it.
Howell connects with a combination that backs up Grundi into the cage. Howell lands a flurry of punches that gets past Grundi's guard. Grundi is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Howell bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Josh Howell!
An out of breath Josh Howell thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.