PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manu Speziale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Speziale
vs
Howard

200 cm
20
181 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Evil Spirit Clothing Co. (KOF partner)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Manu Speziale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Howard!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Howard misses with a few strikes there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Speziale lands a good knee to the midsection. Howard won't want to take too many of those.
Speziale connects with a knee to the head.
Speziale with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Howard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Speziale walks away with a smile on his face. Howard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Speziale is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Speziale is looking to clinch.

Howard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Howard lands in his opponent's guard.
Howard trying to control but Speziale is working from the bottom.
Speziale looking for a sweep. Not yet Speziale, not yet.
Speziale has Howard pulled in close to control his posture.
Howard trying to control but Speziale is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard pushing down on Speziale's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard is trying to control. Speziale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Speziale has one foot on Howard's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Howard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Speziale moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Howard digs a good hook to Speziale's body.
Manu Speziale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard looks to land a combination. Speziale sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Howard tries to bum rush Speziale with a series of wild strikes but Speziale uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Howard looks to score with a jab to the body but Speziale is just out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Howard is trying to drag Speziale to the mat but Speziale just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Howard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Speziale smiles and moves away.
Manu Speziale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Howard.
Howard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Speziale sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard fails to land with a series of punches.

Howard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Howard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howard stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Speziale to get to his feet.

Speziale drives through and clinches with Howard against the cage.
Speziale is trying to maintain a safe position but Howard gets an underhook and turns Speziale into the cage.
Howard tries for a takedown but Speziale manages to get underhooks.
Howard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Speziale walks away with a smile on his face. Howard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Speziale stuffs the takedown attempt from Howard. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.
Speziale wants to clinch.
Speziale really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Howard throws a series of punches but Speziale avoids them all with ease.

Speziale moves into the clinch successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Speziale with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Howard pulls guard successfully.

Howard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Speziale works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Howard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Speziale pulls his head out easily.
Howard looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speziale is controlling the pace.

Howard looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Speziale pushes past his half guard into mount!
Speziale tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Howard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Howard tries to lock up and control but Speziale gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Speziale working Howard over with strikes here.
Speziale mounts Howard! Really nice guard pass there!
Howard is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to hold on but Speziale postures up.
Speziale controlling his opponent.
Howard is wriggling around trying to escape.
A nice elbow there by Speziale.
Howard is trying desperately to improve position.
Speziale manages to capitalize on a mistake by Howard to take his back!
Speziale will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Speziale is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Howard is defending well though. Speziale let's go of the attempt for now.
Speziale doesn't have the hooks in and Howard manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Speziale dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Speziale tries to clinch there but Howard circles away.
Speziale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Speziale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Speziale looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Howard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Speziale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Speziale tries to clinch up.
Speziale wants to clinch up but Howard keeps it at a distance.
Speziale takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Speziale shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Howard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A lull in the action here.
Howard wants to control but Speziale is keeping him busy.

Howard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Speziale has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speziale gets back to half guard.
Speziale is trying to get back to full guard.
Howard prevents Speziale from standing back up.
Howard trying to control from half guard but Speziale is working away.
Speziale is doing well to control the position and prevent Howard from advancing to side control.
Speziale won't allow Howard to pass to mount.
Howard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Speziale keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Speziale as Howard shoots in.

Howard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Speziale!
Howard is breathing heavily.

Howard jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Speziale is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Speziale and Howard has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Speziale gets back to half guard.
Howard wants to take a breather but Speziale is having none of it.
Howard is thwarting Speziale's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is just content to waste time from the top position. Speziale takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Speziale looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Speziale is keeping the position for now.
Howard is looking to work some ground and pound but Speziale has wrist control.
Howard slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Howard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Howard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Speziale wants to control but Howard postures up.

That's four 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.
Speziale gets back to half guard.
Howard lands with a punch from half guard.
Speziale is refusing to be controlled, as Howard sits in half guard.

Howard seems to be working for a kimura but Speziale defends the submission attempt.

Howard is looking for submissions but instead, Speziale has regained full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Speziale 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Speziale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Speziale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Speziale wants to clinch up but Howard keeps it at a distance.
Speziale doesn't manage to clinch there - Howard circles away.
Howard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Howard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Speziale is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Howard is trying to get an arm triangle but Speziale is defending well.
Howard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Speziale is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speziale controls the position for a moment.
Speziale manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Howard wants to get back to full guard.
Speziale is looking to take a break and control but Howard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Speziale is controlling the pace.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.

Speziale is working for a kimura but Howard is defending it quite comfortably.

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.

Howard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Speziale pulls his head out easily.
Speziale is thwarting Howard's attempts to control the position.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Howard.
Manu Speziale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Speziale sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard lands an overhand right.
Speziale leaves Howard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Manu Speziale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Howard.

Howard gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is looking to stall here but Speziale recovers full guard.
Speziale will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Howard trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Speziale manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Speziale trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speziale is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Speziale slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Howard tries to buck Speziale off but Speziale is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Howard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Speziale thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Howard gets back to half guard.
Howard is trying to maintain the position but Speziale is very close to passing his half guard.
Howard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Howard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Howard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Speziale defends it easily.

Howard looking for subs off his back but Speziale has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryan Howard.
I think Howard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Howard!