PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grigoriy Petrov (ranked 726 p4p, 763 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 79 p4p, 81 weight class). Howlett has chosen Indestructible as his entrance music. The key to victory for Grigoriy Petrov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Petrov
vs
Howlett

165 cm
38
160
30 - 18 - 4

167 cm
27
160
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 18 - 4, fighting out of New York, Grigoriy Petrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrov throws an overhand right that lands on Howlett's shoulder, as Howlett tries to avoid the shot.
Howlett on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Howlett shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Howlett shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrov tries to sprawl out of it but Howlett keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Howlett moves into the clinch successfully.
Petrov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like James Howlett has been cut.
Petrov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Petrov pressing his opponent against the cage.

Howlett gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Petrov regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howlett controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Howlett's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Howlett trying to control but Petrov is working from the bottom.
Howlett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Petrov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Howlett on the ground.
Howlett content to stall in guard here.
Howlett stopping the sweep attempt from Petrov.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Petrov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howlett dives in for a single leg takedown but Petrov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Howlett is looking to clinch.
Petrov throws a shot to the body.
Good work by Howlett as he checks the leg kick.
Good leg kick by Petrov.
A lazy left from Petrov finds it's target.
Petrov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Howlett tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Petrov defends well and Howlett ends up having to push Petrov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Grigoriy Petrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Howlett.
Petrov lands a nice shot that snaps Howlett's head back.
Petrov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howlett moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Howlett fails with a takedown attempt.
Petrov swings for the body but Howlett moves out of range.
Petrov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Howlett shoots for a double leg takedown but Petrov sprawls well. He's pushed Howlett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Petrov scoring well with a low kick there.
Petrov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Howlett manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Petrov.
Petrov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Howlett is out of range and Petrov settles back down.
Petrov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Petrov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howlett moves away.
Howlett closes the distance and clinches up with Petrov, looking for a takedown. Howlett pushes Petrov against the cage but Petrov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Howlett shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrov tries to sprawl out of it but Howlett keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Howlett shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Petrov with a jab.
Howlett looks for a takedown but Petrov sprawls well.
Petrov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Howlett with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Petrov to score with a decent uppercut.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Howlett chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Petrov can pounce on him.
Jab, jab by Petrov - just one landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howlett fails with a takedown attempt.
Petrov throws a big shot that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Petrov.
Howlett shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Petrov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Petrov scores with a nice right hand.
Howlett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Howlett on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice body punch from Petrov.
Grigoriy Petrov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howlett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Grigoriy Petrov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Howlett's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Petrov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Howlett tries to move into range but Petrov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Petrov scores with a nice right hand.
A low kick from Petrov is predictable there

and Howlett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Petrov's guard.
Howlett advances position into side control!
Howlett tries to advance to mount but Petrov denies him.
Petrov is trying to control Howlett's posture but Howlett avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov being controlled for a moment.

Howlett is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Petrov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Petrov is not content to let Howlett control the position.

Howlett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Petrov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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.

Howlett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Petrov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Howlett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Petrov keeps working.
Petrov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Ice Cream Parlour, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Howlett goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Petrov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Howlett's guard! Nice work there by Petrov!
Petrov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov wants to control from the top but Howlett keeps moving.

Howlett is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Petrov defends well.
Howlett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Petrov's guard.

Howlett wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.
Howlett looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Petrov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett trying to move into half guard but instead Petrov has managed to sweep!

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Howlett is looking for a triangle but Petrov pushes his legs off easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Petrov preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Howlett's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Howlett tries for a takedown but Petrov circles away easily
and Petrov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Howlett looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Howlett closes the distance and clinches up with Petrov, looking for a takedown. Howlett pushes Petrov against the cage but Petrov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Grigoriy Petrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Howlett.
Howlett takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howlett is defended easily by Petrov.
Petrov scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Petrov pinned against the cage. Petrov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Petrov stalks Howlett and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Howlett's face. Howlett staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett drops his hands momentarily and Petrov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Petrov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howlett can do to turn this around?
Howlett takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Petrov leaves Howlett with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Petrov is looking to slow Howlett down with leg kicks.
Petrov scores with a jab to the head.
Good leg kick by Petrov.
Petrov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Howlett gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howlett wants to control but Petrov is keeping him busy.

Howlett wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Petrov, who protects the arm well.
An elbow from Howlett crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is trying to control Howlett's posture but Howlett avoids it.
Petrov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Howlett wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Howlett has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Howlett swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Petrov is now in Howlett's guard. A big mistake from Howlett there, giving up the dominant position!
Petrov trying to control but Howlett is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Howlett tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Petrov wants to control from the top but Howlett keeps moving.
Petrov preventing the sweep.

Howlett looking for a guillotine here but Petrov defends easily.

That's four 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.
Petrov wants to control from the top but Howlett keeps moving.

Howlett working for submissions but it's allowed Petrov to get to half guard.
Howlett is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett wants to control but Petrov is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grigoriy Petrov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Petrov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grigoriy Petrov!
Our winner, Grigoriy Petrov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.