PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Bessant (ranked 1711 p4p, 3258 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 262 p4p, 442 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Bessant
vs
Howlett

180 cm
30
180
12 - 7 - 0

165 cm
25
175
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Knockout power

The Stuff
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Bessant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Joseph Jones and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howlett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bessant.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bessant'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.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but Bessant blocks with his arms.
Howlett wants to stall.
Bessant lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Howlett.
Bessant lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bessant manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bessant misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bessant digs a right hand underneath Howlett's ribcage. Howlett let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bessant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bessant stalling.
Bessant'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.
Bessant seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Howlett trying to stall but Bessant improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessant lands a right hand.
Bessant misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bessant looking to stall.
Howlett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bessant is defending well for now.
Bessant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bessant holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bessant can't find room to land a body shot as Howlett controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bessant creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A body shot lands from Bessant.
Bessant just leaning against Howlett, taking a breather.
Bessant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bessant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bessant lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Bessant - that landed with a thud.
Howlett misses with an elbow strike.
Bessant lands a shot to the body.
Howlett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bessant is defending well for now.
Bessant softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but Bessant blocks with his arms.
Bessant softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bessant lands a left hand that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
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!
Bessant avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.
Howlett looks winded!
Bessant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Howlett has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Bessant seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Howlett can turn it around.
Bessant lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Howlett stalls.
Bessant makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Howlett letting Bessant take a breather here.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bessant.
Bessant stalls.
Bessant lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Howlett unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bessant lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bessant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from Bessant as the two fighters clinch.
Bessant lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessant works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A right hand to the body from Bessant.
Bessant lands an elbow inside.
Bessant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bessant.
Bessant lands a hook that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Bessant lands with a left to the head.
Bessant misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bessant.
Bessant leaning his opponent against the cage.
Bessant digs a right hand underneath Howlett's ribcage. Howlett let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nice body punch from Bessant - that landed with a thud.
A bit of stalling here from Bessant.
Bessant lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like James Howlett has been cut.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bessant avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bessant lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bessant avoids it.
A bit of stalling here from Bessant.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bessant.
Bessant misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Bessant.
Howlett prevents a body shot from Bessant.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bessant takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bessant lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bessant.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bessant.
Bessant lands a right hand.
Bessant scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bessant leaning against his opponent.
A nice left hand lands by Bessant.

Howlett is rocked!
Bessant lands a body punch.
Howlett is still on wobbly legs! Can Bessant finish him?
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett seems to have recovered his senses.
Bessant pushes Howlett back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bessant presses Howlett against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Bessant stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bessant.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bessant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Howlett's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
John Bessant has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bessant avoids it.
Howlett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bessant in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Bessant lands an elbow just above Howlett 's eye.
Bessant tries a body shot but Howlett blocks it.
Howlett is stalling here.
Bessant is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett misses with an elbow strike.
Howlett wants to stall.
Bessant lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bessant tries to work over Howlett's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bessant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howlett can do to turn this around?
Bessant blocks the elbow strike.
Howlett prevents a body shot from Bessant.
Bessant is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses.
A body shot lands from Bessant.
Howlett is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bessant works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Howlett is breathing heavily.
With the fighters up against the cage, Howlett throws an elbow but misses.
Bessant pushes Howlett back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Howlett pushes off an throws an elbow but Bessant leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nice body punch from Bessant - that landed with a thud.
Bessant stalling the fight.
Bessant content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bessant cracks Howlett with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bessant is working Howlett over against the cage.
Bessant gets through Howlett's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bessant throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Howletts head.
Bessant digs a right hand into Howlett's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Howlett's gas tank.
Bessant lands a damaging elbow.
Bessant digs a right hand underneath Howlett's ribcage. Howlett let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bessant.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bessant lands with a right to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Howlett just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bessant's brow.
Bessant is stalling here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bessant.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bessant avoids it.
Howlett missing with knees to the body.
Bessant slowing the pace effectively.
Bessant lands a hook that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
A body shot lands from Bessant.
A body shot lands from Bessant.
Bessant lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessant scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bessant lands a body shot in the clinch.
Bessant is working Howlett over against the cage.
Bessant stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bessant lands a left hand.
Bessant digs a right hand into Howlett's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Howlett's gas tank.
A short right from Bessant on the inside.
Bessant stalls.
Bessant lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Bessant is leaning against Howlett and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bessant digs a right hand into Howlett's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Howlett's gas tank.
Bessant leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nice body punch from Bessant - that landed with a thud.
Bessant softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bessant lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Howlett or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bessant stalling the fight.
Bessant is working Howlett over against the cage.
Bessant lands a left hand.
Bessant lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Howlett being controlled against the cage.
Bessant leaning against his opponent.
Bessant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses.
Howlett being controlled against the cage.
Bessant presses Howlett against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bessant.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bessant - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Bessant lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bessant dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Howlett's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bessant, as that shot connected.
Howlett doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bessant connects with a jab.

Bessant gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bessant avoids the elbow strike from Howlett, against the cage.
Howlett prevents a body shot from Bessant.
Bessant lands a body shot in the clinch.
Bessant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Bessant as the two fighters clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Bessant.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bessant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bessant lands with a left to the head.
Howlett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bessant'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.
Bessant lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Howlett or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessant lands a damaging elbow.
Bessant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Howlett tries to land knees in the clinch but Bessant avoids the damage to the body.
A body shot lands from Bessant.
Good body shot from Bessant.
Bessant stalls.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bessant.
Bessant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bessant gets through Howlett's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bessant lands with a short shot to the head.
Bessant lands a shot to the body.
Bessant lands a right hand.
A left hand lands to the body for Bessant.
Bessant stalling.
Bessant stalling the fight.
Bessant tries to throw a body punch but Howlett avoids it by throwing Bessant back against the cage.
Good body shot from Bessant.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bessant is defending well for now.
Nice body punch from Bessant.
A left hand lands to the body for Bessant.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bessant works on Howlett's body with a couple of short punches.
Bessant lands a hook that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Bessant lands a shot to the body.
Bessant lands an elbow inside.
Bessant lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bessant scores with a hook to the body.
A short body shot lands from Bessant as the two fighters clinch.
Bessant lands a body shot.
Bessant creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Howlett's defenses.
Bessant stalling.
Bessant digs a right hand underneath Howlett's ribcage. Howlett let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bessant lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A bit of stalling here from Bessant.
Bessant has Howlett pressed against the cage. He pushes Howlett back and as he springs towards him off the cage, Bessant throws a beautiful elbow that sends Howlett crashing to the floor! Bessant piles on the pressure with more strikes! Howlett is flailing away but he's not defending himself and the referee steps in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Bessant!