PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Floyd Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Tinker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Floyd Howard has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Floyd Howard seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Howard
vs
Tinker

150 cm
36
130 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

150 cm
27
123 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 22 - 16 - 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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phil Tinker!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tinker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Howard's guard.

Howard manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Howard throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tinker tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Howard is in Tinker's guard.

Tinker throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Howard escapes and throws Tinker's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Howard taking a breather here.
Howard working the body and head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Tinker will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Howard decides to stand back up. Howard steps back and let's Tinker get back to his feet.

Howard drives through with a takedown into Tinker's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Tinker is working an open guard so Howard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Tinker fails to land with a series of punches.

Howard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tinker fails to pull guard.
Howard displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tinker up against the cage.
Tinker letting Howard take a breather here.
Howard gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Tinker told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Howard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tinker avoids it.
Tinker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Howard is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Howard gets control of Tinker's arms and successfully pulls guard. Howard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard seems keen to control Tinker's posture.
Howard wants to sweep but no luck.

Howard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tinker drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Howard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tinker has Howard in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tinker keeping full guard, as Howard tries to pass.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Tinker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Tinker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Howard looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Howard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tinker is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Howard, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard dominated that round.
That's time! Howard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Howard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Howard is looking to score with low kicks.
Howard scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tinker in his tracks.

Howard manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tinker on his heels. He'll look to pass Tinker's guard now, I'm sure.

Tinker wriggles free and stands up.
Howard misses with a few strikes there.
Tinker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howard as he avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Howard drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tinker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Howard wants to pass the guard but Tinker is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tinker pushes Howard off and scrambles back to his feet.
Tinker tries to clinch there but Howard circles away.
Tinker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tinker thows a left - swing and a miss!

Howard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tinker looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tinker is breathing heavily.
Howard slows the pace down.
Howard advances nicely into full mount.
Tinker is bucking up trying to escape but Howard cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tinker can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard lands a heavy elbow.
Howard with the ground and pound from mount.
Howard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Howard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Howard wants to take Tinker's back but he can't do it this time.
Howard controlling his opponent.

Howard is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tinker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

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

Howard drags the fight down to the ground.

Howard has his foot on Tinker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tinker works his way back into a safe position though.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tinker looking to pass the guard.
Howard pulls Tinker in to control the position.

Tinker decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tinker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howard was well out of range. Poor timing from Tinker.

Howard shoots in and gets a takedown into Tinker's guard.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tinker is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howard gets to his feet - Tinker follows without any prompting.

Tinker gets caught napping as Howard dives in and scores a takedown. Tinker manages to retain guard.
Howard controlling from the top position.
Howard lands a couple of elbows.
Howard controlling from the top position.

Tinker is looking for a triangle here but Howard uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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 scores with a takedown into Tinker's guard.
Howard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Howard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Howard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tinker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tinker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Howard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Howard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Howard showed some decent athleticism there.
Howard controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tinker looking for submissions off his back.
Tinker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tinker is trying to maintain the position but Howard is very close to passing his half guard.
Howard trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Howard is looking for a kimura but Tinker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Howard to get the leverage.
Howard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tinker is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Howard scores with a couple of nice shots.
Howard controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Howard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tinker wants to get back to full guard.
Tinker has hold of Howard's hands but Howard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Howard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Howard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Floyd Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tinker is defended easily by Howard.
It looked like Howard was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tinker.
Tinker shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense.

Howard manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tinker on his heels. He'll look to pass Tinker's guard now, I'm sure.
Phil Tinker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howard pushes down on Tinker's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Howard is trying to work for a kimura but Tinker is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Floyd Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Howard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Floyd Howard!