PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Riseman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jeff Howard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Howard
vs
Riseman

168 cm
23
182 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

181 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jeff Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonathan Riseman!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard misses with a looping left.
Howard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Howard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Howard gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Riseman to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Howard working a defensive guard here.
Riseman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Howard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riseman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riseman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Howard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riseman.
Riseman throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riseman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Riseman landing with the ground and pound.
Howard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howard pulls Riseman in to control the position.
Howard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riseman tries to free his leg and advance position but Howard is retaining full guard.
Howard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Riseman is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Howard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Howard has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riseman wants to get back to his feet but Howard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riseman keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.
Howard looking to sit in guard and control but Riseman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Riseman trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Riseman trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riseman tries to stand but Howard is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riseman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riseman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Howard throws out the jab.
Riseman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Howard.
Howard punishes Riseman's body with a nice straight punch.
Riseman avoids a punch combination nicely.

Howard gets caught flat footed, as Riseman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.
Howard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riseman.
Howard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riseman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is trying to control the position but Riseman postures up.
Riseman throws and elbow that misses. Howard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Riseman's guard. Nice move by Howard!
Riseman wants to stand up but Howard is controlling him.
Howard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Riseman can do anything to dispel that myth.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Riseman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Howard was covering up waiting for the punch and Riseman finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Riseman trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard is trying to hold Riseman in close to prevent damage but Riseman has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Riseman dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Howard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Howard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Riseman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Riseman trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Riseman!
Riseman tries to hold on but Howard pushes him away.
Riseman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looking to finish with strikes here!
Riseman can't escape the position.
Riseman tries to hold on but Howard pushes him away.
Riseman is squirming around, avoiding Howard's attempts to control the action.
Howard wants to control but Riseman has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Howard has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Howard looking to control but Riseman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Riseman is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riseman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Riseman tries to lock up and control but Howard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Riseman's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Riseman tries to hold on but Howard postures up.
Howard tries to control but Riseman wriggling away.

That's four 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.
Riseman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Howard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
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 Jeff Howard will probably get the nod.
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 lands a nice hook to Riseman's body. Riseman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A jab from Howard misses.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riseman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Howard missing with a left hand there. Riseman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Howard.
Riseman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riseman manages to avoid it.
Jeff Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard lands a nice hook to Riseman's body. Riseman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Howard misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard connects with a looping right hand.
Howard lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Riseman at a distance.
Riseman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard thows a body shot but no joy.
A left and a right from Howard both land. Nice combination.
Howard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Horrible takedown by Riseman or perhaps it was just good defense by Howard which made him look bad.
Riseman shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense.
Jeff Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Riseman.
Nice cross by Howard.
Howard lands with an overhand left.
Howard lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Riseman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Riseman shoots in but Howard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howard tries to bum rush Riseman with a series of wild strikes but Riseman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Riseman slips a jab and a cross from Howard.
A swing and a miss from Howard.
Howard looks to land a combination but Riseman avoids it well.
Jeff Howard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howard throws out a loose jab but Riseman uses good head movement to avoid it.
A shot to de liver by Howard. Beautiful body shot.
Howard throws a series of punches but Riseman moves out of range.
Howard misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Riseman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Riseman lands in his opponent's guard.
Riseman trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riseman lands a couple of elbows.
Howard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Riseman controls the pace.
Howard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.

Howard wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard slaps away a takedown attempt from Riseman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howard misses with a few strikes there.
Jeff Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howard displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Riseman avoids a punch combination nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riseman.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Riseman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Riseman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Howard's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jeff Howard!