PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Belin Billet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lester Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Billet comes to the cage accompanied by in your face. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Billet
vs
Howell

185 cm
28
218 lbs
17 - 6 - 2

180 cm
25
217 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 2, fighting out of New York, Belin Billet!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lester Howell!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Billet scores with a jab to the body.
Howell looks to score with a jab to the body but Billet is just out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Billet looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Howell throws a low kick, looking for Billet's leg but Billet calmly moves out of range.
Billet thows a left - swing and a miss!
A decent looking cross lands there for Billet.
Billet tries to clinch but Howell moves out of range.
Billet with a nice cross.
Billet lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Howell.
Good work by Billet as he checks the leg kick.
Billet goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Good leg kick by Howell there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Billet connects with a right hand. Howell shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Howell lands a nice looking body kick.
Howell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Howell gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Donk. Howell catches Billet right on the button with a cross.
Billet avoids a kick to the body.
Howell shoots in for a takedown but Billet shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Belin Billet is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Billet tries to clinch but Howell is having none of it.
Billet pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Billet lands with an overhand left.

Billet gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Billet looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Billet avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Billet looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howell is one step ahead there.
Howell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Billet preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howell lands a couple of elbows.
Howell thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Howell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Howell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Billet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howell keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Billet's head.
Howell controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Billet is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Billet preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Howell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Billet is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Howell wants to control from the top but Billet keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Billet is trying to control the position but Howell postures up.
Howell throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell trying to control the position from guard on top but Billet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Billet manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Billet wants to control the pace but Howell is squirming around nicely.
Howell working to try and regain half guard.

Howell defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Billet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Billet with shots to the head and body - Howell looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lester Howell will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howell avoids the head kick by Billet.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Howell. Billet shrugs it off though.
Billet thows a leg kick but Howell checks it
and Howell counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Billet jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Billet displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Howell throws out the jab.
Howell thuds his shin into the meat of Billet's side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howell scores with a spinning back kick!
Howell thows a body shot but no joy.
Howell scores with a leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Howell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Billet napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Howell is chipping away with strikes.
Lester Howell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howell in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Howell trying to control the position but Billet is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell working away.
Billet is letting Howell control him for a moment.
Howell working the head and body with strikes.
Billet takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Billet struggling a bit here.
Howell controlling the position.
Howell sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Billet is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Billet manages to get back to half guard.
Howell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Howell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Billet taking some punishment here, with Howell in his half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Howell winds up and cracks Billet with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Howell winds up and cracks Billet with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Billet looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Billet wants to get back to full guard.
Billet blocking the ground and pound attempt from Howell.
Howell working the head and body with strikes.
Howell winds up and cracks Billet with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Howell is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Howell trying to control the action but Billet is working from the bottom.
Billet avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Howell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Billet actively working from the bottom here.
Howell winds up and cracks Billet with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ground and pound from Howell.
Billet keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Billet moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Howell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Howell trying to control the position from guard on top but Billet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Billet is trying to keep Howell in close.
Howell trying to control the position from guard on top but Billet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Billet scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Billet throws a low kick but Howell moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howell throws a head kick but Billet moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Billet.
Howell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Billet.
A slapping body kick lands there for Billet.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Billet. Howell shrugs it off though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Howell takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Billet misses with a hook. Howell ducked under it nicely.
A big right from Billet misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lester Howell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Billet thows a body shot but no joy.
Howell looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Billet misses the target.
A low kick from Howell is predictable there
and Billet counters with a straight right hand.
Billet ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howell moves away.
Howell connects with a solid leg kick.
Billet slips a jab from Howell.
Billet fails to land with a series of punches.
Billet tries a head kick but it misses.
Howell throws out a leg kick but Billet moves out of range and Howell only half commits.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howell.
Howell lets loose with a powerful body kick. Billet will feel that in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell connects with a body shot.
Howell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howell throws a leg kick which misses Billet's front leg but catches the back leg as Billet tries to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Howell.
Howell connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Howell throws a right and a left that Billet avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Howell closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Howell lands in his opponent's guard.
Howell forces his way into half guard.
Billet is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Howell seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Howell lands a nice short elbow.
Howell winds up and cracks Billet with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Howell is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Billet won't allow Howell to pass to mount.
Billet is trying to maintain the position but Howell is very close to passing his half guard.

Howell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Billet is just riding it out for now. Howell eventually gives up the hold.
Howell looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Billet with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Billet is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Howell pulls his head out easily.
Billet is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Billet trying to control here.
Howell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Howell is looking to take a break and control but Billet is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Billet actively working from the bottom here.
Howell wants to control but Billet is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Billet is looking for a sweep. Howell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Howell there.
Howell scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Howell working over Billet with some ground and pound. Billet looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Billet wants to control but Howell is keeping busy.
Howell working over Billet with some ground and pound. Billet looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Billet wants to control but Howell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Howell scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Howell looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Billet with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Howell trying to control the pace.
Billet gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lester Howell really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Billet. Howell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Billet plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Lester Howell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Billet leaves Howell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A bone on bone clash there as Billet blocks the leg kick.
Howell cracks the inside of Billet's front leg.
Howell misses with a leg kick
and Billet counters with a head kick.
Howell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Billet sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Howell somewhat.
Billet wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Howell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Billet.
A head kick from Billet lands but Howell takes it in his stride.
Billet catches Howell with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Howell misses with a head kick.
Howell blocks a head kick by Billet.
Howell avoids the head kick by Billet.
Billet is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Billet misses the body punch
and Howell counters with a two punch combo.
Howell jabs Billet right on the nose. Billet blinks but takes it well.
Howell lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Billet blocks a head kick by Howell.
Howell misses with a takedown attempt - Billet sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Belin Billet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lester Howell.
Howell stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Billet.
Billet with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Billet throws a series of punches but Howell avoids them all with ease.
A decent looking cross lands there for Billet.
Howell defending well as Billet loads up on a big left hand.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Howell.
An inside leg kick lands from Billet.
Belin Billet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Howell throws a low kick, looking for Billet's leg but Billet calmly moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Howell.
Billet throws a head kick but Howell moves out of range.
Howell blocks a head kick by Billet.
A punch combination from Howell misses.
Billet throws a shot from downtown. Howell moves away and avoids it.
Decent striking displayed by Billet there.
Howell feints and then cracks Billet's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Billet down.
Howell fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Billet is out of range.
A head kick by Howell misses
and Billet counters with a solid body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Billet misses with a looping right.
Billet misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howell.
A big right from Billet misses.
Billet jabs at Howell's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Billet.
Billet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Billet blocks a low kick nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howell throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Billet looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Howell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Belin Billet will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Billet checks a leg kick.
Howell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Howell blocks a head kick by Billet.
Billet fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Billet pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Howell dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Billet. That did some damage!
Billet closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Howell moves out of range as Billet throws a body kick.
Howell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Howell fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Billet checks it well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Howell connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell throws a wild body kick that Billet sees coming a mile off.
Billet throws a shot to the body.
Howell fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Billet has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howell.
Howell throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A chopping leg kick lands by Billet.
Billet ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howell moves away.
Howell throws a leg kick but Billet sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Howell scores with a nice body kick.
Howell has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Billet.
Howell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Belin Billet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell digs a good hook to Billet's body.
Billet swings for the body but Howell moves out of range.
Howell misses the shot to the body.
Billet throws a right and a left that Howell avoids nicely.
A big right from Howell misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howell walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Billet checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Howell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Billet moves forwards but Howell connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Billet avoids the head kick by Howell.
Howell throws a leg kick but Billet checks it.
Lester Howell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice body kick there by Billet.

Billet darts in and clinches Howell up against the cage.
Howell working aggressively here.
Billet goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Billet lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Billet lands a right hand.
Billet lands a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Billet landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Billet will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Billet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Billet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howell shoots in but no luck this time.
Billet tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Billet misses with a hook. Howell ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billet lands a nice looking body shot.
Billet moves in looking to clinch but Howell pushes him off.
A good leg kick by Billet.
Billet pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Billet misses with an uppercut. Howell saw that one coming.
Billet lands a front kick.
Howell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Billet lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Howell throws a head kick that misses.
Billet thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Howell if he has to take too many more of those.
Billet scores with a jab to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Belin Billet showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Howell 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 47:48
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 47:48
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lester Howell! Lester Howell retains his light heavyweight title!