PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Miike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeshi Miike could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to James Howlett's chin.

Miike
vs
Howlett

162 cm
21
141 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

168 cm
28
142 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Crashforce Nutrition
Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Takeshi Miike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miike throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Howlett closes the distance and clinches.
Miike letting Howlett take a breather here.
Howlett presses Miike against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nice body punch from Howlett - that landed with a thud.
Howlett manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Howlett lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Miike.
Miike has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howlett is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Miike tries to pull guard but Howlett holds him up against the cage and eventually Miike drops back down to his feet.

Miike jumps guard.
Howlett's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Miike controls Howlett momentarily but Howlett frees himself.
Miike wants to sweep but no luck.
Howlett sitting in guard here, content to control.
Miike is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miike is keeping the position for now.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Howlett hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Howlett misses with a looping left.
Miike steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Howlett.
Miike throws a low kick but Howlett moves out of range easily.
Nice defenses there by Miike.
Miike tried to score with a low kick but Howlett checks it.
Howlett scores with a three punch combo!
Howlett throws a shot from downtown. Miike moves away and avoids it.
Howlett misses with the combination.

Miike drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Howlett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Miike.
Miike postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miike trying to control the position from guard on top but Howlett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howlett is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Miike is controlling him.
Miike trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Miike has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Miike accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Miike prevents Howlett from getting back to his feet.
Howlett keeping moving, preventing Miike from controlling successfully.
Howlett looking for a sweep. Not yet Howlett, not yet.
Howlett is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Miike is controlling him.
Howlett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miike looking to sit in guard and control but Howlett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miike looking for a sweep. Not yet Miike, not yet.
Miike is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Miike working for a triangle but Howlett defends it easily.

Miike is working an open guard so Howlett takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Howlett lands a slapping body shot.

Howlett moves into the clinch successfully.
Miike tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Howlett smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Miike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Miike moves away from the strike by Howlett.
Miike misses with a leg kick.
Howlett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Miike takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
James Howlett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howlett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Miike misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Miike misses with a low kick.
Howlett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Miike sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Miike moves out of range as Howlett strikes.
Howlett looks to land a combination but Miike avoids it well.
Miike attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Howlett checks a leg kick nicely.
Miike slips under a jab from Howlett.

Miike scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Howlett makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Miike blocks a jab.
Miike closes the distance and clinches up with Howlett, looking for a takedown. Miike pushes Howlett against the cage but Howlett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Howlett throws a body punch but Miike moves out of range.

Miike scores with a takedown into Howlett's guard.

Miike drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Howlett dives on top into guard.

Miike looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Miike is trying to keep Howlett in close.
Howlett controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miike is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Howlett stands and steps away. Miike gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Danga de danga de dang - Howlett scores with a four punch combination!
Howlett misses with a looping right.

Howlett has closed the distance and engaged Miike in a clinch.
Miike blocking some punches.
Miike fails to pull the fight into his guard.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Howlett.
Good body shot from Howlett.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howlett.
The referee is keeping an eye on Howlett - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Miike drops down looking for an ankle pick but Howlett pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Miike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howlett rushes Miike and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Miike blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Howlett displaying some good clinch control by pressing Miike up against the cage.
Howlett tries to throw a body punch but Miike avoids it by throwing Howlett back against the cage.
Miike tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Howlett smiles and moves away.
Howlett thows a left - swing and a miss!
Howlett throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Miike stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Howlett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Miike gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Howlett.
Howlett throws out a loose jab but Miike uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miike wants to slow Howlett down by chopping away at his legs.
Howlett wants to clinch up but Miike keeps it at a distance.
Howlett lands with a shot to the body.
Miike showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howlett.
Howlett throws a nice looking combination but Miike bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Miike avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Miike throws a leg kick but Howlett sees it coming and checks it nicely.
No joy there for Howlett, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Miike swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howlett lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Howlett lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Howlett misses with a straight left.
Howlett moves out of range of the leg kick from Miike.
Howlett throws a body punch but Miike moves out of range.

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.
Miike shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Howlett checks a low kick from Miike.
Howlett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Howlett missing with a left hand there. Miike was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howlett throws a looping overhand right but Miike ducks down to avoid it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Miike.
Miike scores with punches from side control.
Miike tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Miike looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Howlett is avoiding damage well.
Miike in side control, throwing shots but Howlett defends.
Howlett is trying to control Miike's posture but Miike avoids it.
Howlett managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Miike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Howlett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Miike slips a jab and a cross from Howlett.
Miike chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Miike scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Howlett as Miike shoots in.
Miike tried to score with a low kick but Howlett checks it.
Miike ducks under a wild hook from Howlett.
Howlett throws a series of punches but Miike moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howlett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch lands to the side of Miike 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miike shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Miike shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howlett as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Miike.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Miike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miike staying out of range there.
Miike scoring well with a low kick there.
Miike showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howlett.
Howlett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Howlett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Miike keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Howlett.
A telegraphed right hand from Howlett misses the target.
Miike tries to score a power double leg takedown but Howlett sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Miike somewhat.
Howlett throws a good cross that connects.
A jab from Howlett misses.
Miike takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miike blocks a jab.
Howlett scores with a jab to the head.
Miike throws a leg kick but Howlett sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Howlett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Howlett stalks Miike and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Miike's face. Miike staggers backwards, shaken.
Howlett ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
No joy there for Howlett, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howlett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Miike misses with a leg kick.
Howlett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Howlett keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A big right from Howlett misses.
Howlett misses with a hook. Miike ducked under it nicely.
Miike lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Howlett scores with a jab. Miike acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
James Howlett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miike slips under a jab from Howlett.
Howlett tries to clinch but Miike is having none of it.
Howlett loads up on a big right hand but Miike slips the punch.
Miike takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Howlett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Miike shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Howlett's guard.
Howlett keeping moving, preventing Miike from controlling successfully.
Miike preventing the sweep.
Miike throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Miike pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Howlett is keeping the position for now.
Miike throwing strikes but missing.
Miike scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miike wants to pass the guard but Howlett is keeping the position.
Miike missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Howlett tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howlett is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Miike working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miike is looking to work some ground and pound but Howlett has wrist control.
Miike throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Howlett looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miike passes into half guard.
Miike throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Takeshi Miike has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miike throwing shots but Howlett is blocking nicely.
Howlett avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Miike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Miike showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Howlett has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... James Howlett!