PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elliott Howe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ishaan Mukherjee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishaan Mukherjee will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Howe
vs
Mukherjee

154 cm
22
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Elliott Howe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ishaan Mukherjee!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mukherjee looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Howe!
Howe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mukherjee is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Howe will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Howe tries to improve position but can't.
Howe defending against the ground and pound.
Howe wants to control but Mukherjee postures up.
Howe is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mukherjee scoring with punches from side control.
Mukherjee trying to control the action but Howe is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Mukherjee stalls from top position.
Howe can't do much from the bottom here.

Mukherjee swings around for an armbar but Howe sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mukherjee's guard.
Mukherjee has a closed guard, preventing Howe from standing up.
Howe throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukherjee trying to keep a closed guard but Howe is proving a slippery customer.

Howe decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mukherjee, up you get!
A combination from Mukherjee does no damage.
Mukherjee fails to land the takedown.
Howe is looking to counter with head kicks.
Mukherjee has his takedown stuffed

and Howe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Howe.
Howe drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mukherjee pulls his leg out and moves away.
Howe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Howe sets himself, and Mukherjee steps forward looking for the clinch! Howe avoids it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howe drives through with a takedown into Mukherjee's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Howe has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mukherjee is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mukherjee controls Howe momentarily but Howe frees himself.
Howe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Howe wants to stand and escape but instead Mukherjee has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Howe trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mukherjee pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Howe is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mukherjee trying to stand up but can't free himself from Howe's guard.
Mukherjee looking to sit in guard and control but Howe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howe wanted to stand there but Mukherjee had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Elliott Howe will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Howe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mukherjee darts in looking for a takedown but Howe gets double underhooks and turns Mukherjee into the cage.

Mukherjee has managed to clinch.
Howe has a couple of punches blocked by Mukherjee.
Mukherjee lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mukherjee is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Howe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mukherjee tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Howe jumps guard but Mukherjee turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Howe has Mukherjee pressed against the cage, preventing Mukherjee from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howe slowing the pace effectively.

Mukherjee has picked Howe up - he's going for a ride! Mukherjee dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ishaan Mukherjee has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mukherjee stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howe pushes Mukherjee off looking to stand but Mukherjee dives back in and keeps control.
Mukherjee throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mukherjee thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Howe's head.
Mukherjee wants to stand but Howe has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mukherjee stops Howe from getting back to his feet.
Mukherjee is looking to stall here but Howe recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mukherjee tries to stand but Howe is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Mukherjee closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Howe's guard.
Howe has control of Mukherjee's left arm, preventing Mukherjee from doing any damage.
Mukherjee postures up.
Howe keeping moving, preventing Mukherjee from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe keeping full guard, as Mukherjee tries to pass.
Howe wants to get back to his feet but Mukherjee is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mukherjee is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Howe instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Howe stalls.
Mukherjee jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Howe walks away with a smile on his face. Mukherjee gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Elliott Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ishaan Mukherjee.

Mukherjee gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mukherjee is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mukherjee jumps guard but Howe stands there with Mukherjee around his waist. Mukherjee gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mukherjee letting Howe take a breather here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mukherjee drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mukherjee. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Mukherjee is breathing heavily.
Mukherjee wants to break free but Howe has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishaan Mukherjee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Howe closes the distance and clinches.

Mukherjee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howe tries to clinch but Mukherjee moves out of range.

Mukherjee closes the distance and pushes Howe back into the cage.
Howe really is a fat lump.
Howe jumps guard but Mukherjee turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Mukherjee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Howe tries a head kick but it misses.
Howe slaps away a takedown attempt from Mukherjee, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mukherjee tries to score a power double leg takedown but Howe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mukherjee somewhat.
Howe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mukherjee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mukherjee tries for a takedown but Howe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Elliott Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ishaan Mukherjee.
Mukherjee fails with the takedown

and Howe moves into the clinch.
Mukherjee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howe trying to land knees to the body.

Mukherjee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Howe wants to clinch.
Mukherjee with the counter takedown but Howe avoids it easily.
Ishaan Mukherjee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mukherjee shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Howe but Howe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Howe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howe tries to clinch there but Mukherjee circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Howe stands and steps away. Mukherjee gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Howe fails with a takedown attempt.
Mukherjee lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Howe moves into the clinch.
Howe prevents a takedown attempt there.
Howe struggles to land a body shot inside as Mukherjee controls his hands.
Mukherjee fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howe has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mukherjee regains guard immediately.
Howe wants to get up but he can't break Mukherjee's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mukherjee looking to control but Howe passes into half guard.
Howe prevents Mukherjee from standing back up.

Howe seems to be looking for submissions.

Howe wants to work for an arm triangle but Mukherjee is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Howe wants to stand up but Mukherjee is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mukherjee tries to roll over but Howe keeps him under control.
Mukherjee wants to get back to his feet.

Howe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mukherjee is just riding it out for now. Howe eventually gives up the hold.
Howe thows a huge punch but Mukherjee dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elliott Howe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Howe 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elliott Howe!