PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Legionarivs Sakara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakara has chosen The Rise of Sakara as his entrance music. Legionarivs Sakara acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Howell
vs
Sakara

210 cm
28
223 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

185 cm
33
200 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 - 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 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Legionarivs Sakara!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakara takes a swing at Howell's ribcage but misses.
Howell swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sakara lands a slapping body shot.
Howell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sakara slips a jab from Howell.
Sakara throws a body shot but no joy.
Sakara misses with a right hand
and Howell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sakara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Howell checks a low kick from Sakara.
Sakara punishes Howell's body with a nice straight punch.
Sakara moves to clinch but Howell breaks away
and Howell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Howell looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sakara scores with a body shot.
Sakara lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Howell circles away quickly and effectively.
Sakara is looking to land body kicks.
Howell misses with an uppercut
letting Sakara counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howell takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sakara throws an overhand right that lands on Howell's shoulder, as Howell tries to avoid the shot.

Howell gets tackled into the cage by Sakara. Sakara maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell prevents a body shot from Sakara.
Howell tries to score a body lock takedown but Sakara shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Howell wants to get back to striking at distance but Sakara won't allow it.
Sakara tries a body shot but Howell blocks it.
Sakara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sakara tries to stall but Howell uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sakara tries to throw a body punch but Howell avoids it by throwing Sakara back against the cage.

Howell works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Howell pushes down on Sakara's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sakara is trying to control but Howell passes into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakara is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell is looking to take a break and control but Sakara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakara is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Howell wants to control but Sakara is keeping him busy.
Sakara trying to hold on to Howell's head to control him but Howell postures up.
Howell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sakara's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakara wants to improve his position but Howell is controlling well.
Howell tries to stand and escape but Sakara is controlling the position.
Howell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sakara moves into full guard.
Sakara wants to hit a switch here but Howell passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sakara there!
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.
Sakara avoids a series of strikes thrown by Howell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell misses with a head shot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sakara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sakara keeps trying to improve his position.
Sakara has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Howell's lack of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Legionarivs Sakara will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Howell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakara.
Sakara lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Howell throws a shot from downtown. Sakara moves away and avoids it.
Sakara just misses with a punch to the body.
Sakara misses with a body shot.
Legionarivs Sakara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sakara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Howell misses with a right hand
and Sakara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Howell throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sakara counters with an inside leg kick.
Howell throws a big shot that misses.
Sakara dodges the punch combination from Howell.
Howell throws a lazy right hand but Sakara sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakara wants to counter with a clinch but Howell pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sakara swings for the body but Howell moves out of range.
Howell was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sakara misses with a body kick.
Howell moves out of range of the body kick.
Sakara bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sakara looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakara.
Howell misses with a hook.
Sakara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howell was well out of range. Poor timing from Sakara.
Howell moves out of range of the leg kick from Sakara.
Sakara looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice defenses there by Howell.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakara. Howell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howell misses with a body punch
and Sakara makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sakara connects with an inside leg kick.
Howell throws the left hand but Sakara avoids the punch easily.
Sakara thows a left - swing and a miss!
Howell staying out of range there.
Sakara is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Howell rather than just go for the knockout.
Howell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakara bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A shot to the body from Sakara misses
and Howell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Howell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sakara swings wildly with an uppercut but Howell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howell is working for takedown but Sakara is calmly controlling the position for now.
A head punch on the inside from Sakara fails to land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howell blocking some punches.
Sakara leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sakara manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Sakara.
Sakara misses with a hook from the clinch.
Howell blocks an uppercut.
Howell blocking some punches.
Sakara tries to work over Howell's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Howell fails to pull guard.
A right handed body shot lands from Sakara.
Sakara keeps control of Howell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howell tries for a takedown but Sakara manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Howell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakara misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakara misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sakara scores with a shot to the side of Howell's head.
Howell prevents a body shot from Sakara.
Sakara tries a body shot but Howell blocks it.
Sakara taking a breather.
Sakara has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sakara can't find room to land a body shot as Howell controls the action.
Sakara tries a body shot but Howell blocks it.

Howell manages to break the clinch.
Sakara loads up on a big right hand but Howell slips the punch.
A big left from Howell misses.
Howell slips a jab from Sakara.
Howell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Legionarivs Sakara 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!

Sakara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakara scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sakara throws a leg kick that misses.
Sakara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sakara wants to clinch up but Howell keeps it at a distance.
Howell throwing a counter right hand but Sakara manages to avoid it.
Sakara throws a body punch but Howell moves out of range.
Howell throws out a loose jab but Sakara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Some bone on bone action there as Howell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Howell is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Howell misses with a double jab.
Sakara pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little feinted left hand from Howell on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sakara misses with a wild body shot.
Howell throwing a counter right hand but Sakara manages to avoid it.
Howell slips under a jab from Sakara.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howell throws a jab but it's blocked by Sakara.
Sakara misses with an uppercut.
Howell moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Howell throws a lazy right hand but Sakara sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sakara uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Howell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakara ducks under a wild hook from Howell.
Sakara misses with a body shot.
Howell staying out of range there.
Howell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Howell lands with a shot to the body.
Sakara misses with a body kick.
Sakara throws a body punch but Howell moves out of range.

Sakara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Howell, pushing him back against the cage.
Sakara can't find room to land a body shot as Howell controls the action.

Sakara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Howell.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howell. Sakara does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sakara feints a counter leg kick.
Sakara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakara lands a right hook to the body.
Sakara jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howell.
A punch combination from Howell misses.
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!
Sakara with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Howell takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sakara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howell moves away.
Sakara misses with a hook.
Howell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Howell keeps the fight on the outside.
Howell avoids the body shot from Sakara.
Howell swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sakara tries to bum rush Howell with a series of wild strikes but Howell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A shot to the body from Sakara misses
and Howell counters with a nice uppercut.
Sakara just misses with a punch to the body.
Sakara needs to keep his hands up - Howell had a free shot at his head there.
Howell takes a swing at Sakara's ribcage but misses.
Sakara lands with a straight right. Howell didn't see that one coming.
Howell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakara darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Howell with a jab.
Good shot there by Howell.
Sakara misses with a two punch combination.
Sakara misses with a straight left.
Sakara throws a nice looking combination but Howell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A shot to the liver by Howell. Beautiful body shot.
Howell misses with an uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sakara. Howell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howell takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sakara with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Howell throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sakara counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakara throws a jab but it's blocked by Howell.
Sakara avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sakara just misses with a punch to the body.
Sakara swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakara takes a swing at Howell's ribcage but misses.
Howell appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Howell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Howell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakara looks to score with a jab to the body but Howell is just out of range.
Howell thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sakara misses with a two punch combination.
Sakara scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Howell connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sakara stuns Howell with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Howell throws a poor cross that misses
and Sakara counters with a nice body shot.
Sakara avoids the body shot from Howell.
Sakara lands with a hook. Howell tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sakara defending well as Howell loads up on a big left hand.
Howell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Josh Howell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakara fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Howell is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Legionarivs Sakara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sakara 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Legionarivs Sakara!
Legionarivs Sakara seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated Josh Howell had this to say: 'My opposition fought like a 10-year-old girl tonight. I'm not sure if I got knocked out or lost a terrible decision. My head hurts. '.