PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Svenn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blair Howatt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Svenn kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is We Taking Over. Howatt has chosen Boom - POD as his entrance music. 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 Blair Howatt was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Svenn
vs
Howatt

185 cm
23
177 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Win Nutritional - proof of quality
Grappling Pro Gear

154 RECOVERY-UCF NUTRITION

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 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Svenn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Blair Howatt!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howatt throws a series of punches but Svenn moves out of range.
A jab from Howatt misses.

Howatt pushes Svenn up against the cage in a clinch.

Svenn manages to break the clinch.
Howatt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Svenn avoids the body shot from Howatt.
Howatt has a takedown stuffed.
Svenn scores with a jab to the body.
Good shot there by Svenn.
Howatt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Svenn looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Howatt!

Svenn is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Howatt has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Howatt!

Svenn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Howatt is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Svenn looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Howatt passes into side control.
Svenn gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Howatt tries to pass to full mount but Svenn defends it.
Howatt prevents Svenn from improving his position.
Svenn works his way to full guard. Good work.

Svenn has an active guard here but Howatt has managed to pass into half guard.
Svenn is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Howatt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Howatt's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howatt trying to control but not successfully.
Howatt looking very determined here, making life difficult for Svenn.
Svenn not allowing Howatt to control his hands.
Howatt controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Svenn is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Howatt has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Svenn is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Howatt is defending well though. Svenn let's go of the attempt for now.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Svenn has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Howatt has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Svenn working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Svenn is trying to control but Howatt is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howatt is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Svenn avoids the attempt from Howatt to control.

Svenn jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Howatt is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Howatt and Svenn has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Svenn laying and praying for a moment but Howatt takes advantage and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Svenn dominated that round.
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.

Nice defenses there by Svenn.
Howatt throws a series of punches but Svenn moves out of range.
Howatt throws a series of punches but Svenn avoids them all with ease.
Svenn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Howatt's waist but Howatt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Svenn off to one side.
Blair Howatt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howatt gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Svenn counters with a left and a right that stings Howatt.
Howatt misses with a takedown attempt
and Svenn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Howatt misses with a leg kick
and Svenn counters with a stiff right hand.
Svenn jabs at Howatt's body.
Svenn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Howatt is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Svenn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howatt pinned against the cage. Howatt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Svenn jabs Howatt right on the nose. Howatt blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Svenn both land. Nice combination.
Svenn lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A head kick misses from Howatt.
Svenn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howatt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Howatt with a lazy takedown attempt
and Svenn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Howatt thinking.
Tom Svenn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blair Howatt.

Svenn looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Howatt!

Svenn is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Howatt can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Svenn controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Svenn goes for an armbar but Howatt turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Howatt.
Howatt wants to stand but Svenn is controlling his posture from full guard.
Svenn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Svenn looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Svenn is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Howatt is just riding it out for now. Svenn eventually gives up the hold.
Howatt wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Howatt trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are battling for position here. Howatt manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Howatt has control of Svenn's left arm, preventing Svenn from doing any damage.
Howatt keeping full guard, as Svenn tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Svenn dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Howatt tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Svenn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Howatt swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Svenn counters with a right hand to the body.
Howatt misses with a takedown

and Svenn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Howatt's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svenn slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Svenn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Howatt, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Howatt's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Howatt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svenn is looking to take a break and control but Howatt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tom Svenn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howatt tries to buck Svenn off but Svenn is having none of it.

Svenn swings around for an armbar but Howatt sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Svenn's guard.
Howatt tries to stand but Svenn is controlling from the bottom.

Svenn is looking for a triangle but Howatt pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Svenn has his foot on Howatt's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howatt works his way back into a safe position though.
Howatt landing some decent shots from guard.

Svenn had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Howatt is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Svenn Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Howatt's back instead.

Svenn seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Howatt's chin but Howatt turns very nicely into Svenn's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Howatt.
Tom Svenn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howatt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Svenn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Svenn is trying to control the position but Howatt postures up.
Howatt throws and elbow that misses. Svenn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howatt's guard. Nice move by Svenn!
Howatt seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Svenn trying to control the position from guard on top but Howatt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blair Howatt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Svenn controls from within his opponent's guard.
Howatt is trying to control the position but Svenn postures up.
Svenn trying to control the position from guard on top but Howatt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howatt keeping full guard, as Svenn tries to pass.
Svenn is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Svenn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Svenn, 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Svenn!