PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimundo Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Raimundo Oliveira was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Howard
vs
Oliveira

178 cm
35
200 lbs
22 - 18 - 0

187 cm
34
200 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raimundo Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Oliveira connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Howard scrambles back to his feet.
Oliveira ducks under a wild hook from Howard.
Howard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
John Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Oliveira counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Oliveira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Howard keeps working.
Oliveira throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Oliveira thows a huge punch but Howard dodges it nicely.
Howard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Oliveira.
Howard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Howard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Oliveira.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard wants to get back to full guard.
Oliveira wants to control but Howard is keeping him busy.
Oliveira missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Oliveira not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Howard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Oliveira.
Howard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Oliveira.
Howard wants to get back to full guard.
Oliveira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Howard defending well though.
Oliveira wants to free his trapped foot but Howard is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Oliveira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Oliveira throwing shots but Howard is blocking nicely.
Oliveira missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Howard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Howard tries to get out of the position.
Oliveira wants to take a breather but Howard is having none of it.
Howard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Oliveira is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira punching from mount but Howard doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Oliveira wants to control the pace but Howard is squirming around nicely.
Howard is working to get back to half guard.
Oliveira 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.
Oliveira misses with a head shot.
Howard tries to hold on but Oliveira postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oliveira thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Oliveira misses with a head shot.
Oliveira lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Oliveira scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Howard?

Howard is rocked!
Oliveira throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Oh Howard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Oliveira postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Howard looks a forlorn figure.
Howard tries to buck Oliveira off but he can't manage it.
Howard is squirming around, avoiding Oliveira's attempts to control the action.
Howard seems to have got his legs back now.
Oliveira throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Howard because Oliveira loaded up on that one.
Oliveira wants to control the pace but Howard is squirming around nicely.
Howard tries to hold on but Oliveira pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Oliveira postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Howard looks a forlorn figure.

Howard is rocked!
Oliveira connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Oh Howard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Poor strikes thrown by Oliveira there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Howard seems to have got his legs back now.
Oliveira throwing strikes here but Howard is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Oliveira cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Oliveira throwing strikes here but Howard is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Oliveira thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Oliveira thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Howard blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Oliveira circles away from the clinch attempt.
Howard throws a hook to the side of Oliveira's head but Oliveira sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Howard rushes Oliveira and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Howard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Howard holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Oliveira looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Oliveira tries to stall but Howard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Howard - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Howard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Howard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Oliveira moves away.
A jab lands there for Oliveira.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howard. Oliveira does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard misses with a lunging right hand
and Oliveira counters with a straight right hand.
Howard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Howard digs a good body shot into Oliveira's ribs.
Howard wants to clinch.
Jab from Howard.
Oliveira connects with a jab.
Howard misses with a series of wild punches.
Howard thuds a left hand into Oliveira's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Howard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Howard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Oliveira was well out of range. Poor timing from Howard.
Oliveira avoids the body shot from Howard.
Howard misses with a wild combination.
Howard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Oliveira was well out of range. Poor timing from Howard.
Howard looks to clinch
and Oliveira counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oliveira scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Howard throws a body punch but Oliveira moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard looks to land a right hand but Oliveira moved out of range.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Oliveira throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Oliveira has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Oliveira manages to avoid it.
Howard misses with a body shot.
Howard is looking to wear down Oliveira with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Howard takes a swing at Oliveira's ribcage but misses.
Howard scores with a three punch combo!
Nice sprawl there from Howard as Oliveira shoots in.
Howard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Oliveira.
Howard tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Oliveira.
Oliveira swings for the body but Howard moves out of range.
Howard misses with a right hand
and Howard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Howard misses with an uppercut. Oliveira saw that one coming.
Oliveira connects with a single shot there.
Oliveira swats away the attempt to clinch by Howard.
Oliveira connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Howard's hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard throws a jab but it's blocked by Oliveira.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard misses with a body punch
and Oliveira counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Howard dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Howard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Oliveira.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Howard, as that shot connected.
Donk. Oliveira catches Howard right on the button with a cross.
Howard misses with a jab to the body
and Oliveira counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Oliveira throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Howard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Oliveira.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Howard blocks a jab.
The fighters circling - Howard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Oliveira scores with a hook.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard takes a swing at Oliveira's ribcage but misses.
Howard misses with a hook. Oliveira ducked under it nicely.
Howard swings for the body but Oliveira moves out of range.
Howard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Oliveira sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Howard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Oliveira shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howard as he avoids it easily.
Howard throws a body punch but Oliveira moves out of range.
Howard moves out of range of the strikes.

Howard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Howard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Oliveira.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws an off balance right hand
and Oliveira makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Howard takes a swing at Oliveira's ribcage but misses.
Oliveira connects with a jab.
Howard is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Oliveira's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Oliveira shoots in looking for a takedown. Howard tries to sprawl out of it but Oliveira keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Howard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
John Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raimundo Oliveira.

Howard gets a clinch.
Howard tries to work over Oliveira's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Oliveira tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Howard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands with a right to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Oliveira as Howard tries to tie him up.
Howard's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Howard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.
Howard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Oliveira has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Howard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Oliveira has a couple of punches blocked by Howard.
A frustrated look appears on Oliveira's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Howard lands with a left to the head.
Oliveira fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Howard breaks the clinch.
Howard misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard looks to score with a jab to the body but Oliveira is just out of range.
Howard thows a body shot but no joy.
John Howard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oliveira is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howard wants to clinch up but Oliveira keeps it at a distance.
Oliveira fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Oliveira keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Oliveira throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oliveira uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howard.
Oliveira loads up on a big right hand but Howard slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Howard 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!