PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rak Boonliang (ranked 436 p4p, 863 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 65 p4p, 113 weight class). Howlett has chosen Indestructible as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!The key to victory for Rak Boonliang has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Boonliang
vs
Howlett

181 cm
21
155
6 - 0 - 0

167 cm
19
160
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
New Standard

Shadow Realm Apparel
Nutritional Shaved Ice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rak Boonliang!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howlett closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Howlett trying to pass the guard but Boonliang defending well.

Howlett is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boonliang is just riding it out for now. Howlett eventually gives up the hold.
Boonliang won't allow Howlett to pass to mount.
Boonliang pushes Howlett off looking to stand but Howlett dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boonliang is looking to improve his position.
Howlett is pressing down on Boonliang's thigh, looking to free his foot. Boonliang is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boonliang wants to control but Howlett is keeping busy.
Howlett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Boonliang keeps working.
Boonliang wants to get back to full guard.
Boonliang is looking to control Howlett's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boonliang avoid being mounted?
Boonliang is concentrating on defense, preventing Howlett from advancing position.
Howlett tries to pass to full mount but Boonliang defends it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boonliang keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boonliang swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

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.
Boonliang throws a lazy right hand but Howlett sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Howlett is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Howlett shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Boonliang defends it nicely.
Howlett tries to clinch but Boonliang is having none of it.
Boonliang misses with a hook. Howlett ducked under it nicely.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Boonliang sprawls well. Boonliang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howlett gets slowly back to his feet.
Rak Boonliang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Howlett.
Howlett slips under a jab from Boonliang.
Howlett shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Boonliang to counter with a crisp jab.

Howlett gets a double leg takedown into Boonliang's guard.
Howlett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boonliang wants to stand up but Howlett is controlling him.
Howlett slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Howlett is looking to pass into half guard but Boonliang pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Boonliang is in guard.

Howlett looking to control.
Howlett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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

Howlett looking for a guillotine here but Boonliang defends easily.

Howlett had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Boonliang defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett looking for a sweep. Not yet Howlett, not yet.
Howlett is pulling down on Boonliang's head. It's preventing any offense from Boonliang, at least for the moment.
Boonliang looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howlett is looking to sweep but instead, Boonliang has passed into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rak Boonliang will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Boonliang tries a head kick but it misses.
Howlett drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Boonliang defends it well.
James Howlett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Boonliang sprawls well. Boonliang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howlett gets slowly back to his feet.
Howlett moves in looking to clinch but Boonliang pushes him off.
Good standup being displayed there by Boonliang as he connects with a hook.
Howlett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Howlett fails with the takedown.
Rak Boonliang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Howlett.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Boonliang sprawls well. Boonliang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howlett gets slowly back to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Boonliang on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown but Boonliang shows good takedown defense.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boonliang throws out a powerful jab.
Howlett gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Boonliang.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howlett is defended easily by Boonliang.
Horrible takedown attempt by Howlett or perhaps it was just good defense by Boonliang, which made it look bad.
A counter left hand to the body from Boonliang misses its target.
Howlett goes for a double leg but Boonliang avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Boonliang continues to drive forward.
We've been told by Boonliang's head coaches at Andy's Sweaty Men that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Boonliang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Boonliang appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Howlett moves to clinch but Boonliang breaks away
and Boonliang cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Howlett misses with a takedown
and Boonliang counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Boonliang with a jab.
Boonliang is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Boonliang throws a looping overhand right but Howlett ducks down to avoid it.
Howlett avoids the body shot from Boonliang.
Rak Boonliang is winning the standup battle so far.
Howlett fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett with a lazy takedown attempt
and Boonliang cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Howlett is rocked!
Howlett misses with a takedown attempt
and Boonliang counters with a left to the body.
Howlett fails with the takedown
and Boonliang counters with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boonliang's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Boonliang duly obliges.
Howlett is still on wobbly legs! Can Boonliang finish him?
Howlett changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Boonliang tries to avoid it but Howlett manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Boonliang to the ground. Boonliang escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Boonliang went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Howlett misses with a takedown
and Boonliang counters with a big right hand! Oh Howlett is in trouble here! Boonliang follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rak Boonliang!
Rak Boonliang retains his lightweight title!
A relieved looking Rak Boonliang thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.