PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benny Howards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karrel Dlute (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Howards
vs
Dlute

183 cm
20
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

182 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Benny Howards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Karrel Dlute!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howards has Dlute up against the cage in a clinch.

Howards has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dlute is trying to keep an underhook but Howards manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Howards is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Dlute desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Howards is keen to just control but Dlute is a slippery customer.
Dlute wants to control but Howards is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Howards closes the distance but Dlute moves to the side
and Dlute cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Howards misses with a combination
and Dlute counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Benny Howards has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Dlute. Those never looked like landing.
Dlute circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dlute paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howards tries to clinch but Dlute is having none of it.
Nice body punch from Howards.
Howards tries to clinch but Dlute is having none of it.
Howards tries to bum rush Dlute with a series of wild strikes but Dlute uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dlute looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Howards is fending him off so far but Dlute persists. Nope, Howards circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Dlute.
Howards misses with a double jab
and Dlute counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Howards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dlute paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howards tries to close the distance and clinch but Dlute swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dlute throws a right and a left that Howards avoids nicely.

Howards pushes Dlute up against the cage in a clinch.
Howards can't find room to land a body shot as Dlute controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howards is trying to trip Dlute. He has hold of a leg but Dlute is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Howards persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Howards being controlled here momentarily.
Dlute tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howards stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dlute swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Karrel Dlute was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Dlute avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Howards clinches up against the cage.
Howards drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dlute gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Howards fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howards looking to stall.
Howards is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dlute gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Howards tries to throw a body punch but Dlute avoids it by throwing Howards back against the cage.
Howards taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Howards misses with a body punch.
A short uppercut from Howards.
Howards goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howards content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Howards can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Howards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Howards lands a takedown into guard.
Dlute wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Howards has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dlute is proving hard to escape from.
Howards has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dlute is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dlute controls Howards momentarily but Howards frees himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Dlute manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howards manages to get himself to full guard.
Dlute missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Howards pushes Dlute off and gets back to his feet.
Howards tries to bum rush Dlute with a series of wild strikes but Dlute uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dlute with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Howards to score with a decent uppercut.
A head kick by Howards misses

and Dlute counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dlute not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dlute prevents Howards from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Karrel Dlute will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Benny Howards's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dlute misses with a combination
and Howards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Howards throws a lazy head kick

and Dlute counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dlute.

Howards is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Howards is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Howards is working for takedown but Dlute is calmly controlling the position for now.
Good body shot from Howards.
Dlute blocks an uppercut.
Howards effectively controlling the action here.
Dlute blocks a body shot from Howards.
Howards is pressed up against the cage. Dlute has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howards down to the mat. Howards avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dlute fails with the takedown.

Howards has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howards lands a body shot.
Dlute is breathing heavily.
Dlute has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Howards lands a takedown into guard.
Dlute working a defensive guard but Howards manages to pass into side control anyway.

Howards stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Howards tries to clinch up.
Howards falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dlute counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dlute.
Howards slows down the pace here.
Howards lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dlute.
Nice body punch from Howards - that landed with a thud.
Howards slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Benny Howards.
A good leg kick by Howards.
Dlute swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Howards lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Howards drives through and clinches with Dlute against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Howards.
Howards works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Howards changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dlute fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Howards lands a hook that snaps the head of Dlute backwards.
Howards lands a left hand.
Howards stalling.
Howards tries for a takedown but Dlute manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Howards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howards working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Howards digs a right hand into Dlute's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dlute's gas tank.

Howards has clasped his hands together around Dlute's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Dlute is not content to let Howards control the position.
Dlute regains half guard.
Howards looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howards wants to stand but Dlute has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Dlute is trying to control but can't.
Howards seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Dlute is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Howards's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Howards's back!
Howards is covering up but some of the strikes from Dlute are getting through and doing damage.
Dlute is landing with strikes from the back.
Howards controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Dlute looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dlute is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Howards is trying to get back to his feet but Dlute has full control of the position and if anything, Howards has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Howards dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benny Howards's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Howards misses with a combination
and Dlute counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Benny Howards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howards misses the body punch
and Dlute counters with a nice uppercut.
Howards wants to clinch up but Dlute keeps it at a distance.
Howards doesn't manage to clinch there - Dlute circles away.

Howards clinches up against the cage.
Dlute wants a takedown but no success here.
Dlute has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short body shot lands from Howards as the two fighters clinch.
Dlute is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dlute stops a takedown attempt from Howards.
Dlute is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dlute takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howards lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dlute backwards.

Howards wants the takedown. Dlute is fighting it off but Howards persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dlute's guard against the cage.
Howards working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dlute's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dlute keeping full guard, as Howards tries to pass.
Dlute is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howards trying to control the position from guard on top but Dlute is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dlute wants to stand up but Howards is controlling him.
Howards tries to free his leg and advance position but Dlute is retaining full guard.
Howards would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Dlute pulls Howards in close to his closed guard and prevents Howards from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

We're going to have a standup here because Benny Howards wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dlute swats away the attempt to clinch by Howards.
Howards closes the distance but Dlute moves to the side
and Dlute counters with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Dlute.
Howards misses with a few strikes there.
Howards wants to clinch
and Dlute counters with a one-two to the body.
Howards throws a right hand that Dlute ducks under and follows up with a left that Dlute also avoids with ease.
Howards closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Howards stalks Dlute and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dlute's face. Dlute staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howards moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Howards lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dlute at a distance.
Howards goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Howards with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A lazy left from Howards finds it's target.
Dlute walks forward, straight into a front kick from Howards.
Howards lands a head kick!

Howards moves into the clinch.
Howards scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howards works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Howards controlling the action here for a moment.
Howards lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howards lands with a right to the head.
Howards goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dlute prevents it.
Howards softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Howards.
Howards working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Howards cracks Dlute with a nice body shot.
Howards scores with a shoulder strike.
Howards displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dlute up against the cage.
Dlute is pressed up against the cage. Howards has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dlute down to the mat. Dlute avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Howards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dlute drops his hands momentarily and Howards takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Howards moves in looking to clinch but Dlute pushes him off.

Howards has Dlute up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benny Howards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howards 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benny Howards!