PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Floyd Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen's entrance music is Jarrid Mendelson - The Ultimate Fighter. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sonnen
vs
Howard

171 cm
18
140 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

150 cm
36
130 lbs
24 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Floyd Howard!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard rushes Sonnen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sonnen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Howard is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sonnen to the mat. Sonnen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Howard is stalling in the full guard.
Sonnen is trying to keep Howard in close.
Howard wants to pass the guard but Sonnen is keeping the position.
Howard preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sonnen is working an open guard so Howard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Howard shapes to counter with a head kick.

Howard moves into the clinch successfully.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Sonnen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howard.
Sonnen shoots for a double leg takedown but Howard sprawls well. He's pushed Sonnen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sonnen has his takedown stuffed

and Howard moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Howard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Howard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Still in half guard, Howard seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sonnen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Howard stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Howard scores with a couple of nice shots.
Howard is nestled in close to Sonnen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Well, if Howard is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Howard trying to mount his opponent but Sonnen defends it.
Howard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Howard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sonnen is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen taking a bit of punishment here - Howard scoring with strikes.
Howard controls the position.

Howard stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Howard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Howard clinches.

Howard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd 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.

Howard throws a right hand that Sonnen ducks under and follows up with a left that Sonnen also avoids with ease.

Howard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sonnen, pushing him back against the cage.

Howard gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Sonnen looking for submissions off his back.
Howard content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sonnen is looking for a sweep. Howard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Howard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Howard is nestled in close to Sonnen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Howard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sonnen sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Howard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nice strikes from Howard there.
Sonnen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sonnen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Howard is working away from the top position though.
Howard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Howard instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard has hold of one of Sonnen's legs. Sonnen is fighting the takedown attempt but Howard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sonnen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Sonnen looking to control but Howard passes into half guard.
Sonnen is trying to get back to full guard.

Sonnen is defending against the submission attempts here by Howard.
Howard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sonnen wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard winds up and cracks Sonnen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Howard is taking a breather. Sonnen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sonnen pushes Howard off looking to stand but Howard dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Howard tries a head kick but it misses.

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sonnen's half guard.
Sonnen tries to kick Howard off in order to stand up. Howard Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howard content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sonnen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sonnen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Howard.
Howard works on Sonnen's body with a couple of short punches.
Howard stops a takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Howard is pressed up against the cage. Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howard down to the mat. Howard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Howard clinches.

Howard drags the fight down to the ground.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.

Sonnen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Howard dives on top into guard.
Howard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howard gets to his feet. Sonnen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Howard is working for a kimura but Sonnen is defending it quite comfortably.
Howard is pressing down on Sonnen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sonnen is holding on for now.
Howard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sonnen tries to roll over but Howard keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard slips a nice elbow through Sonnen's hands, connecting with Sonnen's forehead.

Howard decides to return to a standing position.

Howard drives through with a takedown into Sonnen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Floyd Howard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen wants to stand but Howard is controlling the position.

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

Sonnen gets tackled into the cage by Howard. Howard maintains the clinch.
Howard leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sonnen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Howard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Howard breaks the clinch.
Howard throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Howard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Howard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Howard lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Howard scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Howard looking for a guillotine from mount but Sonnen is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Howard cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard lands a heavy elbow.
Howard content just to control the position here.
John Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Floyd Howard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Floyd Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Josh West scores the fight 24:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 24:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 24:30

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