PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Olexandr Borodach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Borodach
vs
Howlett

187 cm
18
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Olexandr Borodach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howlett shoots in and drives through. Borodach sprawls well.
Borodach throws a quick counter head kick but Howlett was just out of range.
Howlett changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Borodach tries to avoid it but Howlett manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Borodach to the ground. Borodach escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Borodach.
Nice takedown defense from Borodach. No joy for Howlett on that attempt.
Borodach tries to counter by clinching up but Howlett breaks away and moves out of range.
Olexandr Borodach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Howlett.

Borodach throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Howlett was covering up waiting for the punch and Borodach finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Howlett has his feet on Borodach's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A nice inside leg kick there by Howlett. That's going to slow Borodach down.
Borodach pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Borodach looks to score with a jab to the body but Howlett is just out of range.
Howlett is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Howlett misses with a double jab
and Borodach counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Borodach moves into the clinch.
Borodach pushes off an throws an elbow but Howlett leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Borodach doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Borodach is pushing Howlett up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Howlett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Borodach moves into the clinch.
Howlett has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Borodach avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Borodach.
Howlett can't get the takedown.
Borodach has Howlett pressed against the cage, preventing Howlett from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borodach is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Howlett tries for a takedown but Borodach manages to get underhooks.
Borodach is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Borodach's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Howlett.
Howlett pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Howlett clinches with his opponent.
Borodach misses with a body punch.

Howlett breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Borodach pinned against the cage. Borodach gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Howlett looks winded!
Howlett shoots in and drives through. Borodach sprawls well.
Borodach tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howlett swivels and escapes.
Borodach misses with a few strikes there.
Borodach fails to land the takedown.
Howlett is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Borodach tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Howlett defends well and Borodach ends up having to push Howlett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Borodach moves into the clinch.
Howlett is struggling to control the position.

Borodach's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howlett clinches.
Borodach misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Borodach is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Howlett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Howlett looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Borodach has a takedown stuffed.
Howlett has his takedown stuffed
and Borodach counters with a head kick. That will keep Howlett thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olexandr Borodach dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Borodach throws a looping overhand right but Howlett ducks down to avoid it.
Howlett fails with the takedown
and Borodach counters with a series of strikes. Howlett will be more careful next time no doubt.
Borodach takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Borodach tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Howlett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Howlett is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Borodach sprawls well. Borodach wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howlett gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Borodach fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Olexandr Borodach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Howlett.
Howlett fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Borodach tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howlett was well out of range. Poor timing from Borodach.
Borodach goes for a double leg but Howlett avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howlett continues to drive forward.
Borodach has a takedown stuffed.

Howlett takes the fight into the clinch.
Howlett is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Borodach to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borodach tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Howlett smiles and moves away.
Howlett shoots in but no luck this time.
Borodach shoots in looking for a takedown. Howlett tries to sprawl out of it but Borodach keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howlett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Howlett appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Howlett shoots in for a double leg but Borodach sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Howlett is breathing heavily.
Borodach fails in his attempt to clinch.
Borodach throws a left and a right that both miss
and Howlett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Howlett with a lazy takedown attempt
and Borodach counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Howlett throws a series of punches but Borodach moves out of range.
As Howlett looks to move away, Borodach throws a big counter combo but Howlett just gets out of the way.
Olexandr Borodach is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borodach misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Howlett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Borodach is pressed up against the cage. Howlett has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Borodach down to the mat. Borodach avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Howlett dives in for a single leg takedown but Borodach sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Borodach gets tackled into the cage by Howlett. Howlett maintains the clinch.
Borodach can't break the clinch.
Borodach tries to circle away but Howlett has him pinned against the cage.

Borodach breaks the clinch.
Borodach misses with a takedown attempt - Howlett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Howlett now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett tries to score a power double leg takedown but Borodach sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Howlett somewhat.
Borodach scores with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Howlett checks a leg kick.
Borodach lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Olexandr Borodach will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Borodach looks for a takedown but Howlett sprawls well.
Howlett misses with a head kick.
Howlett misses with a two punch combination.
Olexandr Borodach is winning the standup battle so far.
Howlett tries to clinch up.
Howlett shoots for a double leg takedown but Borodach sprawls well. He's pushed Howlett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Borodach.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Borodach sprawls well. Borodach wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howlett gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Borodach.
Howlett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Borodach fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Olexandr Borodach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Borodach changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Howlett tries to avoid it but Borodach manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Howlett to the ground. Howlett escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Borodach stuffs the takedown.
Howlett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Borodach is fending him off so far but Howlett persists. Nope, Borodach circles away and we're back to standing.
Howlett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Borodach.
Howlett with a lazy takedown attempt

and Borodach counters by clinching up.
Borodach looking for a takedown.

Borodach breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett misses with an uppercut. Borodach saw that one coming.
It looked like Borodach was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Howlett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Borodach fails to land the takedown.
Borodach fails with the takedown

and Howlett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Borodach has a couple of punches blocked by Howlett.

Borodach manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Borodach, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howlett shoots for a takedown but Borodach saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howlett has Borodach up against the cage in a clinch.
Howlett tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Borodach just stands there and leans against the cage.
Borodach will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Howlett up against the cage.
Howlett is looking to take this one to the mat.
Borodach looking to slow down the pace here.

Howlett manages to break the clinch.
Borodach shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howlett as he avoids it easily.
Borodach moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromHowlett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Borodach as he jumps to the side.
Olexandr Borodach is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Borodach tries a head kick but it misses.
Borodach shoots for a takedown but Howlett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Howlett wants to counter the offense by Borodach and move into the clinch position.
Borodach looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howlett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Borodach is fending him off so far but Howlett persists. Nope, Borodach circles away and we're back to standing.
Borodach fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Olexandr Borodach.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Borodach, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Olexandr Borodach!