PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bora Khan (ranked 80 p4p, 318 weight class) and Dean Howard (ranked 11 p4p, 43 weight class). Khan comes to the cage accompanied by Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying. Dean Howard told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Khan
vs
Howard

185 cm
27
190
19 - 3 - 1

185 cm
32
192
15 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bora Khan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dean Howard!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Howard goes for a double leg but Khan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Khan continues to drive forward.
Khan loads up on a big right hand but Howard slips the punch.
Khan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Khan stuffs the takedown attempt from Howard. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Khan sprawls well. Khan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Khan misses its target.
Bora Khan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Howard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard staying out of range there.
Khan punishes Howard's body with a nice straight punch.
Howard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Howard avoids the body shot from Khan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Khan.
Khan misses the shot to the body.
Khan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Khan is looking to wear down Howard with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A jab lands there for Khan.
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown. Khan tries to sprawl out of it but Howard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Khan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Howard with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Khan to score with a decent uppercut.
Khan throws a jab but it's blocked by Howard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Khan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Khan stuffs the takedown.
Khan misses with a straight right.
Howard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Howard slips a straight right by Khan.
Khan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howard was well out of range. Poor timing from Khan.
Howard changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Khan shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Khan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Howard.
Khan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Khan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard ducks right into an uppercut from Khan.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khan. Howard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Khan jabs at Howard's body.
Sloppy strikes from Khan. Those never looked like landing.
Khan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Howard on the side of the head.
Khan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Khan is looking to counter punch.
Khan throws a jab when Howard was well out of range.
Khan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howard.
Howard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bora Khan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan throws a body shot but no joy.

Howard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard working away.
Khan isn't going anywhere.
Khan struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard trying to control the action but Khan is working from the bottom.

Howard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khan is trying to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bora Khan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Khan lands a nice shot to the body.
Khan lunges at Howard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Howard's hand.
Bora Khan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice combination there by Khan.

It looks like Dean Howard has been cut.
Howard ducks under a wild hook from Khan.
Howard with the counter takedown but Khan avoids it easily.
Jab from Khan.
Howard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard misses with a body punch
and Khan counters with a stiff right hand.
Khan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howard can do to turn this around?
Howard slips under a jab.
Howard drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Khan defends it well.
Khan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Howard drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Khan defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Khan quickly recovers to half guard.
Khan moves into full guard.
Khan keeping full guard, as Howard tries to pass.
Khan has his hands on Howard's head, controlling the position.
Khan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howard is one step ahead there.
Khan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Khan is on top in guard.

Khan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Howard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Howard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khan manages to get himself to full guard.

Howard wants to pass the guard but Khan is keeping the position.
Khan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howard manages to get himself to full guard.

Howard trying to keep a closed guard but Khan is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard 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.
Khan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Khan continues to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bora Khan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dean Howard's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Howard dives in for a single leg takedown but Khan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Khan throws a body punch but Howard moves out of range.
Khan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Khan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howard was well out of range. Poor timing from Khan.
Khan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howard.
Howard feints the counter takedown.
Khan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Khan lands a nice shot to the body.
Khan stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan connects with a single shot there.
Khan scores with a sloppy right hand. Howard should have avoided that one.
Khan cracks Howard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan tests Howard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Howard misses with a lunging right hand
letting Khan counter with a right hand.
Howard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khan but Khan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bora Khan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Howard.
Khan throws a shot to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Khan there.
Khan swings for the body but Howard moves out of range.
Khan looks to throw the jab but Howard is out of range.
Khan looks to throw the jab but Howard is out of range.
Khan throws a right hand that misses

and Howard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Howard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan pulls Howard in close to his closed guard and prevents Howard from doing any damage or advancing position.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khan is keeping the position for now.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khan is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Khan holds on and takes a little breather.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Khan 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Howard passes Khan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Howard is looking to advance position but Khan won't allow it.
Khan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Khan is in trouble now - Howard has advanced to mount!
Howard looking to control but Khan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Khan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Howard is keen to just control but Khan is a slippery customer.
Howard wants to pass the guard but Khan is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Khan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Howard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Khan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Khan trying to pass the guard but Howard defending well.
Khan stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bora Khan clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Dean Howard's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howard takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Howard slips under a jab.
Khan throws a good cross that connects.
Khan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howard was well out of range. Poor timing from Khan.
Khan scores with a hook to the body. Howard takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan misses with a looping right.
Nice sprawl there from Khan as Howard shoots in.
Khan looks to land a left hand but Howard moved out of range nicely.
Khan throws a body shot but no joy.
Howard changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Khan throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Howard counters with a single leg into guard. Khan didn't expect that.
Khan looking for a sweep. Not yet Khan, not yet.
Khan keeping full guard, as Howard tries to pass.
Khan is controlling Howard's posture.
Howard looking to pass the guard.
Howard forces his way into half guard.
Howard works his foot free and advances to mount.
Howard avoids the attempt from Khan to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Howard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Khan manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Dean Howard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howard tries to pass to full mount but Khan defends it.
Howard is still trying to improve position.
Khan is looking to improve his position.
Khan is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Khan wants to get back to his feet.
Howard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Howard has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Howard wants to take his opponent's back but Khan doesn't allow it.
Khan is trying to escape the mount.
Khan tries to hold on but Howard pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard prevents Khan from getting the reversal.
Poor strikes thrown by Howard there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Howard with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Khan wants to control but Howard is having none of it.
Howard lands with some strikes.
Khan is working to get back to half guard.
Howard wants to control the action but instead Khan gets a body lock and reverses into Howard's guard! Nice work!
Howard wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard wants to hit a sweep here but Khan passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Howard there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khan controlling the pace for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Dean Howard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dean Howard's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Howard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khan throws out the jab.
Khan misses with a body shot.
Khan throws a hook but Howard blocks it.
Howard walks into a jab.
Howard doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Khan counters with a nice body shot.
Khan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howard moves away.
Howard changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard fails to land the takedown.
Nice body punch from Khan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Khan circles away.
It looked like Khan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bora Khan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Howard.
Howard throws the left hand but Khan avoids the punch easily.
Khan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Khan punishes Howard's body with a nice straight punch.
Khan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Khan lands with a shot to the body.
Khan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Howard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Howard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Khan tries to avoid it but Howard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Khan to the ground. Khan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dean Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan stuffs the takedown attempt from Howard. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Howard is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Howard tries for a takedown but Khan circles away easily
and Howard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Khan looks to score with a jab to the body but Howard is just out of range.
Khan scores with a sloppy right hand. Howard should have avoided that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Khan.
Khan misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Howard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Khan's half guard.
Khan tries to get to full guard but Howard has control of the leg.
Khan has his hands clasped together around Howard's back. He's all about the action.
Khan is staying active underneath Howard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Khan controlling the position for now.

Howard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Khan controlling the position for now.
Khan trying to hold on to Howard's head to control him but Howard postures up.
Khan tries to roll over but Howard keeps him under control.
Howard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bora Khan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Khan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 49:46
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 49:46
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bora Khan!
Bora Khan retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Bora Khan thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.