PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Octavio Howe (ranked 23823 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Thunder (ranked 4689 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Howe
vs
Thunder

201 cm
21
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
23
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Octavio 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, Joe Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howe is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thunder's half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Howe is stalling here. Thunder is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Howe seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Thunder has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Howe tries to buck Thunder off but Thunder is having none of it.

Thunder decides to stand back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thunder prevents the takedown attempt.

Thunder manages to break the clinch.

Thunder shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Howe is defending against the submission attempts here by Thunder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder is looking to take a break and control but Howe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Howe trying to control here.
Howe is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Howe wants to control but Thunder passes into side.
Howe is looking to reverse the position.
Thunder tries to advance to mount but Howe denies him.
Howe wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

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.
Thunder is looking to take a break and control but Howe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Howe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Howe defending against the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here.

Thunder tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Thunder has control of an arm but Howe manages to advance to Thunder's back!
Thunder just trying to survive but Howe is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder tries to break free.
Howe gets his hands free as Thunder looks to control.

Howe tightening his grip on Thunder, looking for the choke.
Thunder tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thunder trying to control but not successfully.
Howe is trying to stick to Thunder's back but Thunder is turning into Howe. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Howe's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Thunder.

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

Howe gets tackled into the cage by Thunder. Thunder maintains the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thunder avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Howe tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Octavio Howe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howe is trying to maintain a safe position but Thunder gets an underhook and turns Howe into the cage.
Howe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Thunder dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thunder looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thunder passes to full mount!
Joe Thunder has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howe tries to hold on but Thunder pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunder throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Howe tries to lock up and control but Thunder gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thunder thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
You get the feeling that Howe really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Howe tries to hold on but Thunder postures up.
Thunder controlling from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Thunder content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howe tries to reverse the position but Thunder maintains control.
Howe holds on, trying desperately to control.
Thunder misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Thunder. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Howe wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Thunder.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunder trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thunder misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Thunder has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thunder blocks Howe's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Howe wants to hold on but Thunder pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Thunder controlling from the full mount.

Thunder working for a submission but Howe is keeping him at bay.
Thunder controlling his opponent.
Thunder throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Howe is wriggling around trying to escape.

Thunder working for a guillotine from mount but Howe is in no mood to give up.
Howe tries to hold on but Thunder pushes him away.
Howe is working to get back to half guard.
Thunder controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe tries to hold on but Thunder postures up.
Howe has given up his back here.
Howe trying to control but not successfully.
Thunder has good solid back control here.

Thunder has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Howe has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Thunder controlling the position well here. Howe rolled but Thunder kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Howe wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder has good solid back control here.
Howe is trying to get back to his feet but Thunder has full control of the position and if anything, Howe has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Thunder tightening his grip on Howe, looking for the choke.
Howe controlling Thunder 's hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howe is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Thunder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thunder shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Thunder wants to stand up but Howe has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Thunder trying to control the pace.
Howe wants to control but Thunder is keeping busy.
Howe is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Thunder is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Howe defending well though.

Thunder decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Joe Thunder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thunder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Howe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thunder misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Thunder.
Howe can't do much from the bottom here.

Thunder decides to stand back up. Thunder steps back and let's Howe get back to his feet.
Howe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thunder counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thunder drives through and clinches with Howe against the cage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Howe's guard.

Howe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thunder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Howe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Thunder avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thunder is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Howe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thunder decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Thunder gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunder successfully pulls guard.

Thunder manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Howe slips a jab and a cross from Thunder.
Howe takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Octavio Howe has been cut.

Thunder drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Howe throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howe shoots and misses
and Thunder counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Thunder gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Howe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howe is trying to get back to his feet.
Thunder taking a breather here.
Howe tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Octavio Howe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Thunder is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thunder takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Thunder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thunder 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Thunder!