PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moby Manchester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manchester comes into the arena with Southside blaring out of the sound system. Josh Howell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Manchester
vs
Howell

199 cm
21
277 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
255 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Moby Manchester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manchester throws a head kick that misses.
Howell fails in his attempt to clinch.
A leg kick checked by Manchester.
Howell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Howell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manchester moves away.
A punch combination from Howell misses.
Howell doesn't manage to clinch there - Manchester circles away.
Manchester throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Howell, right into the meat.
Howell throws a body punch but Manchester moves out of range.
Manchester circles away from the clinch attempt.
A thudding body kick lands there by Manchester!
Manchester uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howell.
Howell moves in looking to clinch but Manchester pushes him off.
Manchester swats away the attempt to clinch by Howell.
Howell tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howell tries to clinch but Manchester moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchester tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howell swivels and escapes.
Howell tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Howell wants it to stay on the feet.
Howell lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Moby Manchester has been cut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Howell.
Manchester dives in and grabs Howell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Howell pushes down on Manchester's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moby Manchester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manchester moves out of range of the leg kick from Howell.
Manchester swats away the attempt to clinch by Howell.
Howell lands a right hook to the body.
Manchester is breathing heavily.
Howell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Manchester manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Howell motions for Manchester to come forward. Howell throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howell throws a lazy right hand but Manchester sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manchester lands a leg kick that knocks Howell off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manchester shoots in but Howell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Howell throws a predictable looking body shot

and Manchester counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The strikes coming from Manchester are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Howell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Howell is trying to get back to half guard.
Manchester 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.
Howell is trying to control Manchester's posture but Manchester avoids it.
Manchester working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manchester working the head with strikes.
Manchester working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Howell takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Howell can't do much from the bottom here.
Howell tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Manchester wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Howell regains half guard, as Manchester was trying to land strikes.
Manchester tries to pass to full mount but Howell defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell is looking for a sweep. Manchester is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Well, if Manchester is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Manchester looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howell tries to get to full guard but Manchester has control of the leg.
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 Moby Manchester will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Moby Manchester's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Manchester shoots in for a double leg but Howell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Howell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manchester paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manchester blocks a leg kick.
Howell tries to clinch up but Manchester circles away and keeps his distance.
Manchester shoots in but Howell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Howell.
Left hook, right uppercut from Howell.
Howell misses with a straight left.
A jab from Howell misses.
Howell misses with a straight left.
Howell throws a low kick but Manchester avoids it.
Howell is looking to clinch.
Howell wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manchester moves away.
Howell misses with a hook.
A jab from Howell finds it's way through Manchester's defenses.
Howell throws a low kick but Manchester avoids it.
Moby Manchester is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Howell swings for the body but Manchester moves out of range.
Manchester moves out of range as Howell throws a body kick.
Howell fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Manchester throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Josh Howell has been cut.
Howell wants to clinch up but Manchester keeps it at a distance.
Manchester shoots in for a takedown but Howell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moby Manchester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good standup being displayed there by Howell as he connects with a hook.
Howell swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell throws a leg kick that misses.
Howell scores with a jab to the head.
Howell lands a nice leg kick that just misses Manchester's sensitive parts.
Howell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Howell looks for the body kick but Manchester saw that one coming.
Howell tries to clinch but Manchester moves out of range.
Manchester tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Howell to counter with a crisp jab.
Howell finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Howell looks to score with a jab to the body but Manchester is just out of range.
Manchester moves away from the strike by Howell.
Manchester fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Howell moves in looking to clinch but Manchester pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell moves in looking to clinch but Manchester pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Howell misses the target.
Howell works Manchester's body with a nice hook.
Howell connects with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Howell changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Howell closes the distance and pushes Manchester back into the cage.
Howell tries to land a knee to the head but Manchester blocks with his arms.
Manchester prevents a takedown attempt there.
Manchester is pressed up against the cage. Howell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Manchester down to the mat. Manchester avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Howell tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howell feints and then cracks Manchester's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Manchester down.
Howell cracks Manchester with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Howell rushes Manchester and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Howell pulls Manchester into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell wants to sweep here but Manchester controlling him for the moment.
Manchester trying to control but Howell is working from the bottom.
Manchester postures up.
Howell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Manchester thows a big elbow that misses.
Manchester throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Howell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manchester in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Manchester throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Howell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Manchester throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Howell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Howell lands with a good body shot.
Josh Howell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Howell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manchester swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Manchester checks a leg kick.
Manchester pivots, looking for a leg kick but Howell is out of range and Manchester settles back down.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Howell. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Manchester with a poor takedown
and Howell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Howell just misses with a punch to the body.
Howell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Josh Howell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howell buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Manchester on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Howell throws a leg kick that is checked
and Manchester counters with a nice kick to the body.
Howell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Manchester closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Manchester lands in his opponent's guard.

Manchester drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Manchester jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howell looking for a guillotine here but Manchester defends easily.
Howell has momentary wrist control but Manchester slips an elbow through the middle.
Manchester chips away with some ground and pound.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manchester is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Howell has his hands clasped together but Manchester extends an breaks Howell's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Manchester.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Moby Manchester!