PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doran Connell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett comes to the cage accompanied by X-MEN. Connell has chosen Rob Kelly - Rockstar as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Howlett
vs
Connell

190 cm
27
177 lbs
11 - 8 - 2

184 cm
27
185 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 11 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Doran Connell!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Connell has managed to clinch.
Connell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Howlett using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Howlett unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Connell blocks an elbow strike.
Howlett missing with knees to the body.
Howlett lands a nice elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Connell just misses with a elbow thrown towards Howlett's brow.
Connell takes an elbow to the temple.
Connell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Howlett takes an elbow to the forehead.
Howlett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Connell in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Connell looks gassed!
Connell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Connell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Howlett blocks it with crossed arms.
Connell managing to block the knees to the body from Howlett.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
Howlett lands an elbow just above Connell 's eye.
Connell managing to block the knees to the body from Howlett.
Howlett lands an elbow just above Connell 's eye.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howlett lands a knee to the body.
Howlett using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Howlett.
Howlett unloads a knee to the mid-section. Connell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Howlett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Howlett has picked Connell up - he's going for a ride! Howlett dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Howlett is trying to control the action in half guard but Connell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Howlett is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Connell is just riding it out for now. Howlett eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Connell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Howlett is looking for a kimura here.
Howlett is trying to control the action in half guard but Connell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.

Connell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Howlett seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Connell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Howlett slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Connell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Howlett's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Howlett's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Howlett right now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connell trying to control.
Howlett just trying to survive but Connell is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Connell controlling well, preventing Howlett from escaping the position.

Connell is persistently looking for the submission but Howlett is defending it well.
Connell tries to get the hooks in deep but Howlett pushed the leg off.
Connell scores with strikes from the back.
Connell gets his hands free as Howlett looks to control.
Howlett is really stuck here.

Connell tightening his grip on Howlett, looking for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Howlett is desperately trying to improve his position but Connell has a good base and remains in mount.
Connell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Howlett is wriggling around trying to escape.
Howlett'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.
Connell wants to control the pace but Howlett is squirming around nicely.

Connell looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Howlett is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Connell has managed to clinch.

Howlett works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Howlett wanted to stand there but Connell had control of the position.
Connell trying to keep a closed guard but Howlett is proving a slippery customer.
Howlett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Howlett is looking to advance position but Connell has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Connell lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Howlett really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett wants to try and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Howlett working to try and regain half guard.
Connell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Howlett is looking to escape.
Connell postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Howlett looks a forlorn figure.
Howlett flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Howlett tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Connell avoids the attempt from Howlett to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett taking shots to the head.
Howlett can't escape the position.

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

Connell looking for a guillotine from mount but Howlett is having none of it.
Connell is breathing heavily.
Connell avoids the attempt from Howlett to control.
Connell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Howlett wants to control but Connell is having none of it.

Connell working for a submission but Howlett is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is squirming around, avoiding Connell's attempts to control the action.

Connell is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Howlett has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Howlett!
Connell keeping moving, preventing Howlett from controlling successfully.
Howlett preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Howlett throwing strikes from guard but Connell blocks nicely.
Howlett tries to stand but Connell is controlling from the bottom.
Howlett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Howlett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Howlett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Connell controls Howlett momentarily but Howlett frees himself.
Howlett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doran Connell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Connell rushes Howlett and presses him up against the cage.
Connell pushes off an throws an elbow but Howlett leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Connell looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Howlett lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Connell takes a knee to the side of the body.
Howlett gets underhooks to prevent Connell's takedown attempt.
Howlett dodges an elbow strike from Connell.
Howlett tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Connell misses with a knee strike.
Connell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Howlett has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Connell clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Howlett is looking to control Connell but Connell is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Howlett is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Connell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Howlett missing with strikes from the back.
Connell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connell trying to control the position but Howlett manages to sink in the hooks.

Howlett tightening his grip on Connell, looking for the choke.
Howlett lands an elbow to the side of the head.

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.
Howlett lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Howlett trying to control momentarily.

Howlett working for a choke but Connell is defending well.
Howlett is looking to control Connell but Connell is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett throwing damaging strikes from the back! Connell could be in trouble here!
Howlett scores with punches and elbows.
Howlett really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Connell.
Connell tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howlett is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Connell is surviving well by controlling Howlett's body position as best he can.
Howlett controlling the pace for now.
Connell tries to reverse the position but Howlett maintains control.

Howlett jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Connell is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Connell and Howlett has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Howlett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howlett has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

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