PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Carmichael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Howard (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.

Carmichael
vs
Howard

165 cm
26
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kevin Carmichael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thomas Howard!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A chopping leg kick lands by Howard.
Carmichael uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howard.
Howard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Howard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Carmichael tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Carmichael throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carmichael throws the left hand but Howard avoids the punch easily.
Carmichael on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Howard. Howard obviously looking to wear him down.
Howard lands the left hand.
Howard is looking to slow Carmichael down with leg kicks.
Carmichael cracks Howard with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Howard tests Carmichael's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Howard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Carmichael moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carmichael lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Howard circles away quickly and effectively.
Howard was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Howard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Carmichael. That did some damage!
Howard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Carmichael is able to avoid easily.
Howard throws a leg kick which misses Carmichael's front leg but catches the back leg as Carmichael tries to avoid it.
Carmichael throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Carmichael connects with a nice looking jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Howard, right into the meat.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Carmichael manages to avoid it.
Carmichael swinging wildly here.
Howard flicks out a counter leg kick but Carmichael steps away.
Howard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Carmichael throws a combination that misses
and Howard counters with a good low kick that Carmichael was not able to check.
Howard throws a leg kick which misses Carmichael's front leg but catches the back leg as Carmichael tries to avoid it.
Carmichael bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carmichael avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Some wild striking there from Carmichael.
Carmichael misses with a jab, cross combination.
Carmichael on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard moves into range and connects with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Howard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Carmichael throws a head kick that misses
and Howard counters with a nice leg kick.
Howard checks a leg kick nicely.
Howard loads up on a big right hand but Carmichael slips the punch.
Carmichael misses with an uppercut
and Howard counters with a leg kick.
Carmichael misses with a low kick.
Carmichael moves out of range of the body kick.
Howard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Carmichael's sensitive parts.
Howard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Carmichael.
Howard thuds his right hand into Carmichael's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Carmichael on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Carmichael is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Howard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Howard lands an overhand right.
Carmichael throws a lazy uppercut
and Howard counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Howard throws a quick inside leg kick.
Howard defending well as Carmichael loads up on a big left hand.
Howard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Carmichael was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Some bone on bone action there as Howard checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Howard.
Carmichael stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Howard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carmichael.
Howard ducks under a wild hook from Carmichael.
Howard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Carmichael throws a poor cross that misses
and Howard counters with a slapping leg kick.
Carmichael throws the left hand but Howard avoids the punch easily.
Howard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Carmichael went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Howard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Carmichael's sensitive parts.
Howard lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws a leg kick that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Howard checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Howard on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Carmichael.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howard.
Howard tries to land a leg kick but Carmichael saw it coming and moves away.
Carmichael misses with a left hand
and Howard counters with a thumping low kick.
Howard blocks a jab.
Carmichael misses with a head kick.
Carmichael moves out of range of the body kick.
Howard walks into a jab.
Howard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carmichael throws a combination. Howard tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Carmichael uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Howard takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Howard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Good leg kick by Carmichael there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A nice inside leg kick there by Howard. That's going to slow Carmichael down.
Carmichael stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Howard.
A nice inside leg kick there by Howard. That's going to slow Carmichael down.
Kevin Carmichael is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carmichael swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
No joy there for Carmichael, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Carmichael catches Howard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Howard walks into a left hand.
Carmichael uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Carmichael dodges the punch combination from Howard.
Howard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carmichael.
Howard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Howard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Howard throws a shot from downtown. Carmichael moves away and avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Howard steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard throws a push kick but Carmichael slaps the foot to one side.
Howard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carmichael was well out of range. Poor timing from Howard.
Carmichael throws a jab but it's blocked by Howard.
Howard misses with a kick to the body.
Howard throws a right hand that misses
and Carmichael counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Carmichael takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Howard keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Carmichael looks to land a left hand but Howard moved out of range nicely.
Kevin Carmichael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carmichael looks to land a combination but Howard avoids it well.
Carmichael throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howard dips to his left and cracks Carmichael with an uppercut!
Howard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Howard scores with a jab to the body.
Howard looks to land a body kick but Carmichael moved away.
A low kick from Carmichael is predictable there
and Carmichael takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard avoids the body shot from Carmichael.
Howard scores with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Howard tries to bum rush Carmichael with a series of wild strikes but Carmichael uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That kick from Carmichael tenderised Howard's leg. Howard is trying to keep his angry face on.
Howard has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Howard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Howard takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A jab from Carmichael misses.
Carmichael fails to land with a series of punches.
Howard tries a quick counter leg kick but Carmichael is wise to it.
Carmichael throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Howard flicks out a counter leg kick but Carmichael steps away.
Howard swings widly with a right hand
enabling Carmichael to counter with a crisp jab.
Howard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Carmichael.
Howard swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Carmichael throws a low kick but Howard avoids it.
Howard misses with a body kick.
Howard wants to land a leg kick but Carmichael is out of range.
A slow jab from Howard misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carmichael misses the shot to the body.
Carmichael on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Carmichael misses with an uppercut. Howard saw that one coming.
Howard flicks out a counter leg kick but Carmichael steps away.
Howard checks the leg kick.
Carmichael throws an overhand right that lands on Howard's shoulder, as Howard tries to avoid the shot.
Carmichael lands with a right hand.
Howard explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Carmichael lands a nice leg kick that just misses Howard's sensitive parts.
Carmichael stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Howard.
A solid leg kick lands there for Howard.
Carmichael misses with a low kick.
Carmichael blocks a head kick by Howard.
Carmichael misses with a hook. Howard ducked under it nicely.
Carmichael looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Howard thumps Carmichael with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Howard.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Howard throws a leg kick which misses Carmichael's front leg but catches the back leg as Carmichael tries to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Howard.
Carmichael plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Carmichael just misses with a punch to the body.
Good work by Carmichael as he checks the leg kick.
Howard gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Howard slips under a jab.
Howard was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Carmichael swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Howard looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Carmichael lands a nice leg kick that just misses Howard's sensitive parts.
Howard throws a quick inside leg kick.
Carmichael lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Howard circles away quickly and effectively.
Carmichael looks to throw the jab but Howard is out of range.
A cross from Howard lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kevin Carmichael will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Carmichael connects with a looping right hand.
Howard throws a head kick that misses.
Carmichael cracks Howard with a right hand to the side of the head.
Howard takes a swing at Carmichael's ribcage but misses.
Carmichael was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Howard throws a half hearted mid kick.
Carmichael misses with a combination
and Howard counters with a nice body kick.
Carmichael avoids the head kick by Howard.
Carmichael throws an off balance right hand
and Howard counters with a thumping low kick.
Howard checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carmichael loads up on a big right hand but Howard slips the punch.
Carmichael has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Carmichael blocks a leg kick.
Carmichael scores with a jab.
Carmichael throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Howard throws a sloppy head kick
and Carmichael counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Howard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Howard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Carmichael's sensitive parts.
Howard blocks the body kick.
Carmichael displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Howard throws out the jab.
Howard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Carmichael's hands.
Carmichael swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A good leg kick by Howard.
Howard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carmichael was well out of range. Poor timing from Howard.
Carmichael is looking for a counter combo.
Howard throws a head kick that half lands.
Howard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carmichael.
Carmichael swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carmichael rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Howard only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Howard misses with a low kick.
Howard just misses with a punch to the body.
Howard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Carmichael.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Howard checks a leg kick.
Howard takes one to the side of the head.
Carmichael throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
Carmichael on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Howard.
Howard takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Howard dodges the punch combination from Carmichael.
Carmichael misses with a wild body shot.
Howard connects with an inside leg kick.
Carmichael cracks the inside of Howard's front leg.
Carmichael misses with a body punch
and Howard counters with a head kick. That will keep Carmichael thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Carmichael lands with a hook. Howard tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Howard.
Howard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Carmichael. That did some damage!
A swing and a miss from Howard.
Howard has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Howard blocks a leg kick.
Howard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carmichael.
Howard throws a head kick but Carmichael moves out of range.
Carmichael throws a leg kick that is checked
and Howard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Carmichael thuds his right hand into Howard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Howard checks a low kick from Carmichael.
Howard checks a low kick from Carmichael.
Howard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Carmichael. That did some damage!
Carmichael throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A little jabbing left from Howard on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Carmichael throws a right hand that Howard ducks under and follows up with a left that Howard also avoids with ease.
Carmichael on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carmichael moves out of range of the strikes.
Howard slips under a jab from Carmichael.
Carmichael throws a front kick aimed at Howard's knee but Howard avoids it well.
Howard throws a head kick that Carmichael semi-blocks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard throws a low kick but Carmichael avoids it.
Howard works Carmichael's body with a nice hook.
Carmichael scores with a jab to the jaw.
Howard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Crunch! Carmichael slams his shin into Howard's torso.
Carmichael throws a hook to the side of Howard's head but Howard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carmichael checks the leg kick.
Howard swings away with a body shot that misses
and Carmichael counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Carmichael scores with a jab to the body.
Howard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thomas Howard.
Well Howard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Thomas Howard!
A very excited looking Thomas Howard made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.