PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Octavio Howe (ranked 23762 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Garcia (ranked 4683 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Octavio Howe has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Octavio Howe seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Howe
vs
Garcia

201 cm
21
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

200 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 2 - 4 - 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, Michael Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia pivots, looking for a leg kick but Howe is out of range and Garcia settles back down.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howe is defended easily by Garcia.

Garcia shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia tries to stand but can't do so whilst Howe controls his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia controlling the action here.
Garcia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howe is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcia is trying to work for a kimura but Howe is defending well.

Garcia is looking for a kimura but Howe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Garcia to get the leverage.
Garcia prevents Howe from improving his position.

Howe pushes Garcia off and gets back to his feet.

Garcia shoots in and gets a takedown into Howe's guard.
Howe is trying to keep Garcia in close.
Garcia content to stall in guard here.
Garcia looking to pass the guard.
Garcia postures up.
Garcia stopping the sweep attempt from Howe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howe trying to keep a closed guard but Garcia is proving a slippery customer.
Howe has his hands on Garcia's head, controlling the position.
Howe is trying to control the position but Garcia postures up.
Garcia wanted to stand there but Howe had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Garcia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Howe throwing a counter right hand but Garcia manages to avoid it.
Howe shoots in but Garcia avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Howe tries to sprawl but Garcia drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is thwarting Howe's attempts to control the position.
Garcia passes to full mount!
Howe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Garcia controlling from the full mount.
Howe wants to hold on but Garcia pushes him away.
Garcia is landing with some decent strikes but Howe is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Howe tries to hold on but Garcia pushes him away.

Garcia looking for a guillotine from mount but Howe is having none of it.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garcia has control of Howe's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Howe regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Garcia trying to control but Howe is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howe wants to hold on but Garcia pushes him away.
The referee warns Howe that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Howe wants to control but Garcia is having none of it.
Garcia working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Garcia landing shots from mount.
Garcia controlling from mount.

Garcia with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Howe tries to hold on but Garcia postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Garcia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Garcia misses with a wild combination.
Howe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Garcia is fending him off so far but Howe persists. Nope, Garcia circles away and we're back to standing.
And Garcia tries to counter it with a takedown but Howe pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Howe gets caught napping as Garcia dives in and scores a takedown. Howe manages to retain guard.

Howe has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Garcia off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Howe gets caught napping as Garcia dives in and scores a takedown. Howe manages to retain guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howe is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Garcia lands a couple of digs.
Garcia tries to stand but Howe is controlling from the bottom.
Garcia controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Howe has momentary wrist control but Garcia slips an elbow through the middle.
Garcia wants to pass the guard but Howe is keeping the position.
Garcia controlling from the top position.
Howe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howe is really struggling to control Garcia but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Howe is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Howe working a defensive guard here.
Howe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garcia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Howe fails with a takedown attempt.
Garcia looks to throw a body kick
and Howe counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Garcia thinking.
Garcia throws a leg kick that misses.
As Garcia looks to move away, Howe throws a big counter combo but Garcia just gets out of the way.
Nice body punch from Howe.
Howe gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Garcia is breathing heavily.

Garcia closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Howe to the mat! Howe manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe is trying to keep Garcia in close.
Garcia advances to half guard.
Howe is trying to maintain the position but Garcia is very close to passing his half guard.
Garcia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Garcia controlling the action here.

Garcia is looking for a kimura but Howe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Garcia to get the leverage.
Howe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Howe has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Garcia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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.
Howe looking to control.
Garcia postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Howe wants to sweep here but Garcia controlling him for the moment.
Howe is trying to keep Garcia in close.
Howe pulls Garcia in close to prevent any damage.

Howe is looking for a triangle but Garcia pushes his legs off easily.
Garcia postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Howe's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Michael Garcia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Garcia dives in and scores a takedown into Howe's guard.

Howe manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Garcia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A leg kick checked by Howe.
Howe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Howe scores with a body shot.

Garcia fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Howe sprawls well initially but Garcia persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Garcia working the head and body with strikes.
Howe trying to control here.
Garcia wants to stand up but Howe has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Garcia seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia is thwarting Howe's attempts to control the position.
Garcia is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael Garcia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garcia has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Garcia is thwarting Howe's attempts to control the position.
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 holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

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.
Ground and pound from Garcia.
Garcia trying to pass the guard but Howe defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Garcia connects with a nice short shot to Howe's temple.
Howe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Garcia is working away from the top position though.
Garcia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Garcia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howe won't allow Garcia to pass to mount.
Garcia wants to take a breather but Howe is having none of it.
Garcia is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Howe keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Howe taking some punishment here, with Garcia in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia prevents Howe from improving his position.
Howe wants to control but Garcia is keeping busy.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet.
Howe is looking to improve his position.
Garcia wants to stand up but Howe has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Howe closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Howe jumps guard but Garcia turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Howe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Garcia smiles and moves away.

Garcia darts in and clinches Howe up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howe changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Garcia fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Octavio Howe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Garcia closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Garcia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Garcia winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Garcia!