PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard has chosen Juicy as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Rogers
vs
Howard

192 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
163 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Vengeance Fight Gear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Howard!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rogers's half guard.
Howard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Howard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Howard's back!
Howard turns into Rogers and is now in his guard.
Howard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Howard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rogers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Howard works over Rogers with some ground and pound from guard.
Howard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Howard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Howard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rogers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rogers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Howard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rogers to the mat! Rogers manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rogers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rogers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Howard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rogers working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
Rogers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rogers with a lazy takedown attempt

and Howard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rogers's guard.
Rogers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howard landing with the ground and pound.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Howard lands a couple of elbows.
Howard looks gassed!
Howard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rogers looking for a sweep. Not yet Rogers, not yet.
Rogers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Howard closes the distance and clinches up with Rogers, looking for a takedown. Howard pushes Rogers against the cage but Rogers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rogers shoots in but Howard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
Rogers looks to score with a jab to the body but Howard is just out of range.
Rogers throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Howard's head.
Rogers has his takedown stuffed

so Howard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard works over Rogers with some ground and pound from guard.
Howard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rogers wants to stand but Howard is controlling the position.
Howard working some strikes from top position.
Howard scoring with some ground and pound.
Rogers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Howard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rogers is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rogers gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard stands up over Rogers, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Howard lands a couple of elbows.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Rogers blocks nicely.
Howard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rogers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howard stops Rogers from standing up.
Howard preventing the sweep.
Howard works over Rogers with some ground and pound from guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Howard shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rogers is trying to defend but Howard finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Howard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rogers gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Howard stands up over Rogers, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rogers throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Howard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
Mike Howard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
Howard landing some decent shots from guard.
Rogers trying to keep a closed guard but Howard is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rogers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Howard has his takedown stuffed
and Rogers counters with an inside leg kick.
James Rogers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rogers feints and as Howard raises his hands in defense, Rogers changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rogers trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard controls Rogers momentarily but Rogers frees himself.
Rogers trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Howard manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying to control the position but Howard postures up.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.

Rogers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Howard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rogers's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Howard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Howard lands in his opponent's guard.
Howard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard postures up and lands a big shot to Rogers's brow.
Howard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Howard throws and elbow that misses. Rogers uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Rogers!
Rogers preventing the sweep.
Howard controls Rogers momentarily but Rogers frees himself.
Rogers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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 working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogers.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Howard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rogers is trying to control the position but Howard postures up.
Rogers has momentary wrist control but Howard slips an elbow through the middle.
Howard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rogers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Howard lands a couple of digs.
Howard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Howard throws and elbow that misses. Rogers uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Rogers!
Howard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Howard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Howard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rogers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rogers tries to lock up and control but Howard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Howard putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Howard landing punches.
Rogers is looking to improve his position but Howard isn't that keen on the idea.
Rogers tries to lock up and control but Howard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee warns Rogers that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rogers working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Howard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Howard lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Howard with a couple of short strikes.
Howard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rogers can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rogers tries to hold on but Howard pushes him away.
Howard with a couple of short strikes.
Howard postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rogers looks a forlorn figure.
Rogers is looking to improve his position but Howard isn't that keen on the idea.
Howard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mike Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Rogers is in all sorts of trouble here.
Howard controlling from mount.
Howard lands with some strikes.
Howard lands a big elbow.
Howard landing strikes from the mount and Rogers is in trouble!
Rogers can't escape the position.
Howard controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard landing strikes from the mount and Rogers is in trouble!
Rogers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Howard controlling from the full mount.
Howard breaks from Rogers's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four 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.
Howard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Howard's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Howard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Howard dominating with strikes here.
Howard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rogers can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rogers is trying to stand up.
Howard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
James Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howard putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Howard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

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