PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Donnie O Brien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Brien comes to the cage accompanied by Rocky Road to Dublin. Donnie O Brien has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

O Brien
vs
Howlett

172 cm
22
142 lbs
16 - 2 - 0

168 cm
26
142 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[MMABR] Umbrella Corporation - Q159 Recovery
[MMABR] Umbrella Corporation - Q159 Recovery

Conviction
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Donnie O Brien !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howlett misses with a straight left.

O Brien shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. O Brien showed some decent athleticism there.
Howlett is looking to control O Brien 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Howlett avoid being mounted?
Howlett tries to push off, looking to stand up, but O Brien manages to move to mount!
O Brien tries to control but Howlett wriggling away.
O Brien landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Howlett is looking to get to half guard.
Howlett is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
O Brien throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
O Brien has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
O Brien can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Howlett is looking to escape.
O Brien with shots to the head and body - Howlett looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
O Brien can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Howlett is looking to escape.
O Brien throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Brien thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Howlett is looking to improve his position but O Brien isn't that keen on the idea.
O Brien looking to control but Howlett is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett can't escape the position.
Howlett wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by O Brien .
O Brien controlling the pace for now.
Howlett blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Howlett tries to hold on but O Brien pushes him away.
Howlett regains half guard.
O Brien not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Howlett preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Howlett taking some punishment here, with O Brien in his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
O Brien perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie O Brien dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howlett fails to land with a series of punches.
A slow jab from Howlett misses its intended target.
Howlett thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donnie O Brien is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
O Brien fails with a takedown attempt.
O Brien has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Howlett finds it's way round the side to connect with O Brien 's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Howlett stuffs the takedown.
Howlett works the jab nicely.
Howlett fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien missing with a left hand there. Howlett was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howlett misses with a wild body shot.
Howlett avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James Howlett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howlett takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Donnie O Brien seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Brien tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howlett swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donnie O Brien . That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Brien showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howlett.
Howlett lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The fighters circling - Howlett throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
O Brien shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howlett defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from O Brien .
O Brien tries for a takedown but Howlett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
O Brien tests Howlett's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Howlett lands an overhand right.
O Brien closes the distance and clinches up with Howlett, looking for a takedown. O Brien pushes Howlett against the cage but Howlett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
O Brien throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Howlett's waist but Howlett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing O Brien off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Howlett misses its intended target.
Howlett dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Howlett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from O Brien .
O Brien has a takedown stuffed.
Howlett cracks O Brien with a right hand to the side of the head.
O Brien misses with a double jab
enabling Howlett to counter with a crisp jab.
Howlett jabs at O Brien 's body.
O Brien walks into a straight right hand from Howlett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Brien shoots in for a takedown but Howlett shows good takedown defense.
O Brien fails with the takedown
and Howlett counters with a one-two to the body.
O Brien uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howlett.
O Brien throws a series of punches but Howlett avoids them all with ease.
O Brien loads up on a big right hand but Howlett slips the punch.
Howlett might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
O Brien shoots and misses
and Howlett counters with a nice uppercut.
O Brien with a lazy takedown attempt
and Howlett counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps O Brien thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
O Brien has his takedown stuffed
and Howlett counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps O Brien thinking.
Good shot there by Howlett.
And that’s 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.
That's time! O Brien 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

O Brien throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Howlett sees it coming and avoids it easily.
O Brien jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Howlett looks to land a left hand but O Brien moved out of range nicely.
O Brien misses with a takedown
and Howlett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
O Brien takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
O Brien misses with a hook. Howlett ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Brien tries to clinch there but Howlett circles away.
O Brien needs to keep his hands up - Howlett had a free shot at his head there.
Howlett lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
O Brien with a poor takedown
and Howlett counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
O Brien misses the jab.
Howlett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Howlett looks to throw the jab but O Brien is out of range.
O Brien misses with a takedown
and Howlett counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donnie O Brien . That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Brien misses with a combination
and Howlett makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Howlett tries to clinch there but O Brien circles away.
Howlett thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed O Brien momentarily.
O Brien misses with a combination
and Howlett counters with a one-two to the body.
Howlett lands with a straight right. O Brien didn't see that one coming.
Howlett's corner calls for a 1-2. Howlett obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Howlett throws a series of punches but O Brien moves out of range.
Howlett works O Brien 's body with a nice hook.
Howlett displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as O Brien throws out the jab.
O Brien will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Howlett lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett throws a right hand that O Brien ducks under and follows up with a left that O Brien also avoids with ease.
O Brien ducks under a wild hook from Howlett.
O Brien uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howlett.
Howlett throws a right hand that O Brien ducks under and follows up with a left that O Brien also avoids with ease.
O Brien throws a combination that misses
and Howlett counters with a right hand to the body.
O Brien throws a hook but Howlett blocks it.
O Brien with a poor takedown
and Howlett cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
O Brien has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
O Brien shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Howlett makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

O Brien scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
O Brien is thwarting Howlett's attempts to control the position.
Howlett wants to get back to full guard.

Howlett kicks off O Brien and gets to his feet.
O Brien misses with a combination
letting Howlett counter with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howlett bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of O Brien 's head.
O Brien gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Howlett.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Howlett takes a swing at O Brien 's ribcage but misses.
Howlett lands a jab to O Brien 's midsection.
Howlett throws a big shot that misses.
Howlett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from O Brien .
O Brien tries for a takedown but Howlett circles away easily
and Howlett counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Howlett lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Brien with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Howlett to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donnie O Brien . That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Brien takes one on the chin but seems OK.
O Brien gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howlett counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Howlett, as that shot connected.
A big right from Howlett misses.
Nice jab there from Howlett.
O Brien wants to clinch but Howlett slips to the side
and Howlett counters with a one-two to the body.
Howlett is looking to clinch.
O Brien ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
O Brien is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Howlett.
James Howlett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
O Brien with a poor takedown
and Howlett counters with a nice body shot.
O Brien tries to bum rush Howlett with a series of wild strikes but Howlett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Brien lands a body shot.
O Brien with a poor takedown
and Howlett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch combination from Howlett misses.
Howlett takes a swing at O Brien 's ribcage but misses.
O Brien misses with a body shot
and Howlett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
O Brien connects with a crisp jab.
Howlett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
O Brien looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Howlett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
O Brien keeps the fight on the outside.
O Brien uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howlett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and O Brien counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Howlett's guard now.
O Brien stays in close to Howlett's body and controls the position.
Howlett looking to control.
Howlett keeping moving, preventing O Brien from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Brien with a flurry of punches that miss.
O Brien with a flurry of punches that miss.
O Brien loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
O Brien shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Howlett counters with a three punch combo that has O Brien backing up. O Brien nods at Howlett to acknowledge the strikes.
Howlett slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
O Brien misses with a body punch
and Howlett cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Howlett circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that fourth round.
That's time! O Brien 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Howlett tries to clinch but O Brien moves out of range.
Howlett thows a left - swing and a miss!
O Brien bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Howlett's head.
Howlett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Howlett looks to land a right hand but O Brien moved out of range.
Howlett looks to score with a jab to the body but O Brien is just out of range.
O Brien misses with a double jab
enabling Howlett to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Brien uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Howlett.
O Brien throws a series of punches but Howlett moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien misses with a takedown attempt - Howlett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Howlett misses with a looping left.
O Brien misses the jab.
O Brien fails with a takedown attempt.
Howlett misses with a few strikes there.

O Brien shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
O Brien missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James Howlett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from O Brien .
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.
O Brien trying to control but Howlett is working from the bottom.
Howlett is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett being controlled here, momentarily.
O Brien trying to control the position from guard on top but Howlett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howlett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
O Brien throws a big shot that misses.
Howlett darts in trying to clinch
and O Brien makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
O Brien looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Donnie O Brien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donnie O Brien . That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Brien moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howlett misses with a body shot.
O Brien misses with a shot to the body
and Howlett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnie O Brien showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Howlett 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 47:48
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 47:48
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Howlett!
James Howlett is the new bantamweight champion!