PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Howard (ranked 4467 p4p, 127 weight class) and Andre Powell (ranked 5230 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Howard
vs
Powell

191 cm
21
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Howard!
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, Andre Powell!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powell jabs Howard right on the nose. Howard blinks but takes it well.
Howard takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Howard.

Howard looking to score a takedown here. Powell is defending well but Howard drives through and ends up in Powell's guard.
Howard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Howard stops Powell from standing up.
Howard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Howard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powell wants to stand but Howard is controlling the position.
Howard lands a couple of digs.
Howard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Howard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looking to pass the guard.
Howard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powell being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Powell 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.
Nice body punch from Powell.
Howard takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A decent looking cross lands there for Powell.
A jab from Powell does it's job there.
Powell connects with a looping right hand.
Powell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell lands a glancing blow to the side of Howard's head.
Powell connects with a looping right hand.
Howard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Powell swivels and escapes.
Powell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Powell connects with a body shot.
Powell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Powell swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Howard.
Powell lunges at Howard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Howard's hand.
Howard has a takedown stuffed.
Andre Powell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Powell.
Powell lands with a right hand.
Howard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Howard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Powell lands a nice shot to the body.
Powell looks winded!
Powell connects with a body shot that sends Howard's belly button to the back.
Powell paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Powell stuffs the takedown attempt from Howard. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Powell is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Howard had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Powell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Howard.
Powell cracks a nice hook into Howard's ribs.
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown but Powell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Howard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell lands a nice shot to the body.
Powell lands with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Powell lands a jab to the nose.
Howard misses with a looping left.
Howard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Powell connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Howard scrambles back to his feet.
Powell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nice shot by Powell.
Jab by Powell.
A cross from Powell lands.
Powell sizes up Howard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Powell lands a slapping body shot.
Howard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Powell is fending him off so far but Howard persists. Nope, Powell circles away and we're back to standing.
Powell takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Powell leaves Howard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Howard manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Powell on his heels. He'll look to pass Powell's guard now, I'm sure.
Howard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powell is looking to stand up but Howard isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Howard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Powell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Powell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Howard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Howard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Michael Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Powell with a nice cross.
A decent looking cross lands there for Powell.
Powell lands a body shot.
Howard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Powell is fending him off so far but Howard persists. Nope, Powell circles away and we're back to standing.
Howard needs to keep his hands up - Powell had a free shot at his head there.
A solid body kick from Howard.
Powell lands an overhand right.
Howard takes one to the side of the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Powell darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Powell scores with a sloppy right hand. Howard should have avoided that one.
Powell throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Howard on the side of the head.
Powell tests Howard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Powell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Andre Powell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Powell slips a jab and a cross from Howard.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Powell sprawls well. Powell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Howard is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Powell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Andre Powell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice straight punches there by Powell. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Powell.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Powell as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Powell moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Jab by Powell.
Powell connects with a looping right hand.
Howard tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Powell defends well and Howard ends up having to push Powell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Powell with a hook.
Powell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Howard takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Howard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Powell throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Howard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Powell to the ground. Howard is now in Powell's guard.
Howard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howard walks into a left hand.

Howard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Howard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Howard controlling the action here.
Michael Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howard postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Powell to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Powell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Howard fails with the takedown.
Decent striking displayed by Powell there.
Howard takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Howard has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Powell finds it's way round the side to connect with Howard's head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Powell.

Howard looking to score a takedown here. Powell is defending well but Howard drives through and ends up in Powell's guard.
Howard stays in close to Powell's body and controls the position.
Howard is working Powell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard dives in for a single leg takedown but Powell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Howard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Howard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Powell finds it's way through Howard's defenses.
Powell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Howard doesn't seem bothered though.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Powell lands with an uppercut that bounces Howard off the cage and back into range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell thuds his right hand into Howard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Howard shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Powell is trying to defend but Howard finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Howard seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Powell is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Michael Howard!
In his post fight interview, Michael Howard started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.