PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dean Howard (ranked 1373 p4p, 948 weight class) and Seppo Maki (ranked 172 p4p, 119 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Howard
vs
Maki

185 cm
35
192
19 - 12 - 0

182 cm
26
186
11 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dean Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Maki!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Maki.
Maki works Howard's body with a nice hook.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Howard.
Howard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maki throws a shot from downtown. Howard moves away and avoids it.
Maki lands with a good body shot.
Maki cracks Howard with a good jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki throws a hook but Howard blocks it.
Howard checks a leg kick.
Howard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maki sprawls and moves away.
Maki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki tries a low kick but Howard avoids it.
Maki lands a nice looking kick to the body. Howard takes a step back to recover.
Howard has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maki lands a right hook to the body.
A jab from Maki finds it's way through Howard's defenses.

It looks like Dean Howard has been cut.
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Maki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki misses with a hook.
Howard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maki sprawls and moves away.
Maki misses the jab.
Howard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maki sprawls and moves away.
Howard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Howard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Howard needs to keep his hands up - Maki had a free shot at his head there.
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!
Maki cracks Howard with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A solid body kick from Maki.
Seppo Maki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howard.
Howard defending well as Maki loads up on a big left hand.
Howard throws an overhand right that lands on Maki's shoulder, as Maki tries to avoid the shot.
Maki steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Howard staying out of range there.
Howard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maki sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Maki misses

and Howard counters with a shoot takedown. Maki fights it but they end up in guard.
Maki is looking to stand back up but Howard counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Maki.
Maki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Howard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Maki tries to get to full guard but Howard has control of the leg.

Howard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maki is just riding it out for now. Howard eventually gives up the hold.
Howard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maki felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Howard passes to side control.

Howard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maki, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki tries to bench press Howard off him but Howard keeps the position.
Maki is not content to let Howard control the position.
Howard advances nicely into full mount.
Howard raining down hammerfists from mount.
Howard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Poor strikes thrown by Howard there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Howard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Howard trying to control but Maki is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Maki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dean Howard's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Howard ducks under a wild hook from Maki.
Howard feinted with a counter takedown.
Seppo Maki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maki missing with a left hand there. Howard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maki.
Howard doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Maki counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Howard darts in looking for a takedown but Maki gets double underhooks and turns Howard into the cage.
Howard is trying to pull guard but Maki turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Maki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard can't break the clinch.

Howard has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Maki is trying to keep an underhook but Howard manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Maki manages to escape and get back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Maki. Howard shrugs it off though.
Howard takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maki lands with a right hand.
Maki throws a shot from downtown. Howard moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from Maki misses its intended target.
Howard moves out of range as Maki strikes.
Howard moves out of range as Maki strikes.
Maki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maki wants it to stay on the feet.
Maki scoring well with a low kick there.
Seppo Maki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maki throws a nice looking combination but Howard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maki throws a jab but it's blocked by Howard.
Howard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maki sprawls and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Howard lands with a good body shot.
Maki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Howard.
A cross from Maki lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maki lands a jab to Howard's midsection.
Maki throws a leg kick but Howard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Maki lands with an uppercut that bounces Howard off the cage and back into range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Maki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Howard tries to move into range but Maki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Maki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Howard takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maki with a hook.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maki as he avoids it easily.
Maki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Maki tries to land a body kick

and Howard counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Howard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Howard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard takes a little break here. Maki wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Maki tries to escape but Howard is in control.
Howard has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Maki!

Howard swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Maki is now in Howard's guard. A big mistake from Howard there, giving up the dominant position!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Howard is on top in guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Maki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dean Howard's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howard on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Howard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Maki lands a really nice looking cross but Howard seems unphased.
Maki throws a body shot but no joy.
Howard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Decent striking displayed by Maki there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maki.
Maki works Howard's body with a nice hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Maki misses the target.
Maki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki feints and then cracks Howard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Howard down.
Maki throws a body punch but Howard moves out of range.
Maki defending well as Howard loads up on a big left hand.
Howard moves away from the strike by Maki.
Howard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maki sprawls and moves away.
Howard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maki counters with a nice uppercut.
Howard moves out of range as Maki strikes.
Howard takes one to the chin there.
Howard moves away from the strike by Maki.
Howard takes a jab right on the kisser.
Dean Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Maki misses the target.
Howard is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Howard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Maki jabs at Howard's body.
Maki takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Howard takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good exchange - Maki coming out on top.
Maki feints and then cracks Howard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Howard down.
Maki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Howard shoots in but no luck this time.
It seemed like Maki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws a hook but Maki blocks it.
A shot to the body from Howard misses
enabling Maki to counter with a crisp jab.
Maki jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Maki moves into range and connects with a jab.
Howard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maki looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maki with a nice calf kick.
Maki lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Howard misses with a body punch
letting Maki counter with a right hand.
Maki connects with a single shot there.
Howard misses with a shot to the body
and Maki counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
No luck for Howard with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Howard. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Howard.
A nice leg kick from Maki, right into the meat of the thigh.
Howard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Maki lands the left hand.
Maki lands a jab.

Howard is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Maki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maki 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 26:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 26:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Maki!
Seppo Maki seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.