PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dean Howard (ranked 987 p4p, 964 weight class) and Orla Wanker (ranked 120 p4p, 117 weight class). Orla Wanker 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!

Howard
vs
Wanker

185 cm
36
192
21 - 16 - 0

190 cm
41
191
40 - 34 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dean Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 34 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Orla Wanker!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wanker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howard sprawls well. Howard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Wanker gets slowly back to his feet.
Howard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Wanker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wanker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Howard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wanker pulls Howard in close to prevent any damage.
Howard won't allow Wanker to sweep him here.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wanker is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard being controlled here momentarily.
Howard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Howard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looking to pass the guard.
Wanker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wanker controlling the position.
Wanker keeping full guard, as Howard tries to pass.
Wanker wants to sweep here but Howard controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wanker is on top in guard.

Wanker slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard tries to roll over but Wanker keeps him under control.
Wanker controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wanker's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Wanker has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Wanker trying to control from half guard but Howard is working away.
Wanker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.
Wanker controlling the pace.
Howard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wanker's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wanker's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is not going to allow Wanker to sit and survive in this position.
Wanker is in bad spot here.
Howard scores with punches to the body.

It looks like Orla Wanker has been cut.

Howard looking for the RNC.
Wanker is trying to break free.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Howard's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Wanker is really stuck here.
Wanker wants to control his opponent's hands but Howard gets his hands free.
Wanker is in bad spot here.
Howard is not going to allow Wanker to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is looking to control Wanker but Wanker is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Howard is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Wanker breaks Howard's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Wanker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Howard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wanker is one step ahead there.
Howard is trying to keep Wanker in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wanker pushing down on Howard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wanker tries to pass to full mount but Howard defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Howard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Orla Wanker's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Howard as Wanker shoots in.
Howard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wanker can do to turn this around?
Howard throws a hook but Wanker blocks it.
Howard looks for a takedown but Wanker sprawls well.
And Wanker tries to counter it with a takedown but Howard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Wanker misses with a straight left.
Wanker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Howard manages to avoid it.
Howard blocks a head kick by Wanker.
Wanker gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Howard counters with a takedown into side control.
Wanker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wanker is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Wanker defending against the ground and pound.
Wanker tries to buck Howard off but Howard is having none of it.
Wanker dodges the ground and pound from Howard.
Howard working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wanker tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Howard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Howard tries for a kimura but Wanker is defending well.
Wanker tries to buck Howard off but Howard is having none of it.
Wanker is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Dean Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wanker is desperately trying to improve his position but Howard has a good base and remains in mount.
Wanker sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Howard wants to pass to mount but Wanker is defending the position.
Wanker manages to get to full guard.
Howard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Wanker is retaining full guard.
Wanker looking to control.
Wanker has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Howard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Wanker blocks nicely.
Howard wants to pass the guard but Wanker is keeping the position.
Wanker pulls Howard in close to his closed guard and prevents Howard from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Howard is fighting to break Wanker's control of his arms but Wanker is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Wanker is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Wanker working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Wanker seems to be working for a kimura but Howard defends the submission attempt.
Howard wants to control but Wanker is keeping busy.
Howard is looking for a sweep. Wanker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wanker is taking a breather. Howard says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Wanker has control of the leg.

Howard actively working from the bottom here.
Wanker trying to control the pace.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wanker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Howard is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dean Howard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Orla Wanker's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Howard.
Wanker drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Howard defends it well.
Wanker throws a head kick that misses

and Howard counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Wanker's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wanker tries to improve position but can't.
Howard connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Wanker some visible discomfort.
Wanker tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Howard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Howard passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Wanker!
Howard working Wanker over with strikes here.

That has opened up Orla Wanker's cut even more.
Wanker wants to hold on but Howard pushes him away.
Howard is looking to work his way around to Wanker's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Wanker wants to hold on but Howard pushes him away.
Wanker taking shots to the head.

The cut above Orla Wanker's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Orla Wanker's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Dean Howard!
An out of breath Dean Howard thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.