PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Howard
vs
Dragunov

178 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aleksander Dragunov!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard ducks right into an uppercut from Dragunov.
Howard gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dragunov.
Howard slips under a jab from Dragunov.
Dragunov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dragunov misses with a two punch combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Dragunov!
Dragunov misses with a two punch combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Howard.
Dragunov fails to land with a series of punches.
Howard misses with a double jab
and Dragunov counters with a stiff right hand.
Howard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Howard connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Dragunov misses with a double jab
and Dragunov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dragunov throws a series of punches but Howard avoids them all with ease.
Howard tries to clinch there but Dragunov circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov throws a nice looking combination but Howard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Howard blocks a jab.
Dragunov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Howard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dragunov thinking.
Dragunov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Howard manages to avoid it.
Dragunov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dragunov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Howard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Howard ducks under a wild hook from Dragunov.
Dragunov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howard moves away.
Howard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dragunov throws a combination that misses
and Howard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dragunov misses with a wild combination.
Dragunov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howard moves away.
Howard wants to clinch up but Dragunov keeps it at a distance.

That's two 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.
Dragunov misses with a few strikes there.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Dragunov.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Howard lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Howard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Howard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dragunov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Dragunov tries to break free but Howard pushes him back against the ropes.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.
Dragunov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Howard misses with a punch on the inside.
Dragunov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Howard has him pressed against the ropes.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Howard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Howard throws a punch but it's blocked by Dragunov.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.
Howard misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Dragunov can't break the clinch.
Howard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Howard.
Dragunov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Howard lands with a short shot to the head.
Howard prevents Dragunov from breaking the clinch.
Dragunov has had enough of the clinch but Howard keeps him there for the moment.
Howard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Howard lands a hook that snaps the head of Dragunov backwards.
Howard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dragunov is trying to break the clinch but Howard has him pressed against the ropes.
Howard lands a shoulder strike.
Howard throws a punch but it's blocked by Dragunov.
Dragunov blocking some punches.
Howard misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Howard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Dragunov tries to break free but Howard pushes him back against the ropes.
Howard working aggressively here.
Howard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dragunov working hard to break the clinch.
Dragunov working hard to break the clinch.
Howard throws a punch but it's blocked by Dragunov.
Dragunov tries to break free but Howard pushes him back against the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howard.
Dragunov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Howard misses with a punch on the inside.
Howard misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dragunov.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Howard working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.
Howard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Howard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Howard!
Howard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Howard lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Dragunov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Howard is looking to clinch but Dragunov is avoiding it.
Dragunov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
John Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dragunov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Howard clobbers Dragunov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Aleksander Dragunov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dragunov.
Howard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dragunov.
Dragunov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Dragunov clobbers Howard with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Howard slips a jab from Dragunov.
Dragunov lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Dragunov.
Howard takes one to the side of the head.
Howard takes one on the button.
Dragunov throws a series of punches but Howard avoids them all with ease.
Dragunov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dragunov misses with a hook.
Dragunov misses with a double jab.
Dragunov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Howard throws a body punch but Dragunov moves out of range.
Dragunov misses the body punch

and Howard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Howard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Howard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Howard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Dragunov blocking some punches.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Howard working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dragunov.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Howard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Howard misses with some punches.
Howard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dragunov backwards.
Howard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dragunov backwards.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Howard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.
Howard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dragunov backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard keeps control of Dragunov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Howard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Dragunov blocks an uppercut.
Dragunov wants to break free but Howard has control.
Dragunov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Howard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howard.
Howard misses with a punch on the inside.
Dragunov has had enough of the clinch but Howard keeps him there for the moment.
Howard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dragunov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Howard working aggressively here.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Howard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Howard misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Howard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dragunov is trying to break the clinch but Howard has him pressed against the ropes.
Howard throws a punch but it's blocked by Dragunov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howard.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Dragunov wants to get back to striking at distance but Howard won't allow it.
A short right from Howard on the inside.
Howard misses with some punches.
Dragunov takes a shot to the head.
Howard misses with a punch on the inside.
Howard working aggressively here.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Howard misses with the head strike.
Howard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
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 John Howard will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Howard tries to clinch there but Dragunov circles away.
Howard takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Dragunov misses the body punch
and Howard counters with a right hand to the body.
Dragunov throws a right hand that Howard ducks under and follows up with a left that Howard also avoids with ease.
Howard ducks under a wild hook from Dragunov.
Dragunov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dragunov looks to score with a jab to the body but Howard is just out of range.

Howard closes the distance and pushes Dragunov back into the ropes.
Howard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Howard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howard misses with a punch on the inside.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Howard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Howard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Howard misses with the head strike.
Howard misses with some punches.
Howard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.

Dragunov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dragunov looks to throw the jab but Howard is out of range.
Dragunov misses with a wild combination.
Dragunov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Howard misses with a two punch combination.
Howard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

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.
Dragunov fails to land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Dragunov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dragunov swinging wildly here.
Howard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dragunov.
Dragunov lands a lovely overhand right.
Howard throws a jab when Dragunov was well out of range.
Howard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dragunov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Howard misses with a body shot
and Dragunov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A combination from Dragunov does no damage.
Dragunov misses with a body punch
and Howard counters with a one-two to the body.
A big left from Dragunov misses.
Howard throws a body punch but Dragunov moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dragunov scores with a nice right hand.
Dragunov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Howard looks to land a combination but Dragunov avoids it well.
Dragunov misses with a hook to the body
and Howard counters with a nice uppercut.
Dragunov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Howard counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Dragunov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dragunov misses with a combination

and Howard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Howard throws a head punch that misses.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Howard keeps control of Dragunov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howard misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov has had enough of the clinch but Howard keeps him there for the moment.
Howard keeps control of Dragunov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dragunov.
Howard misses with the head strike.
Howard swings wildly with an uppercut but Dragunov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howard misses with the head strike.
Dragunov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Howard misses with the head strike.
Howard lands a nice uppercut.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
A head punch on the inside from Howard fails to land.
Howard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Howard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dragunov's efforts to push away.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aleksander Dragunov.
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 Aafke Stam scores the fight for John Howard!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for John Howard!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight as a draw!

John Howard wins by majority decision!