PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francis Featherstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Francis Featherstone has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Featherstone
vs
Howard

195 cm
24
200 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

187 cm
24
195 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Francis Featherstone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bobby Howard!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard ducks under a wild hook from Featherstone.
Featherstone misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Howard thows a leg kick but Featherstone checks it
and Featherstone counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Featherstone connects with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Featherstone lands a two punch combo.
Featherstone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Featherstone lands a jab.
Featherstone misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick by Howard misses
and Featherstone counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Featherstone thuds his right hand into Howard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Featherstone throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Howard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Featherstone fails to land with a series of punches.
Featherstone throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard misses with a low kick.
Howard has a takedown stuffed.
Featherstone throws a right hand that Howard ducks under and follows up with a left that Howard also avoids with ease.
Featherstone scores with a one two! Howard had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Howard is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Featherstone bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Howard's head.
Howard dodges the punch combination from Featherstone.
Howard tries for a takedown but Featherstone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Francis Featherstone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Howard.
Featherstone looks to land a left hand but Howard moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Featherstone dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A punch combination from Featherstone misses.
Featherstone misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Featherstone.
Featherstone is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A clash of legs there as Featherstone blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Featherstone with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Featherstone fails to land with a series of punches.
Featherstone rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Featherstone sizes up Howard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Featherstone scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Howard doesn't seem bothered though.
Howard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Featherstone throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Howard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Featherstone to the ground. Howard is now in Featherstone's guard.

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

Howard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Featherstone doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Featherstone manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard has his foot on Featherstone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Featherstone works his way back into a safe position though.

Howard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Featherstone defends it easily.

Howard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Featherstone is aware though and is defending well.
Featherstone seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howard looking for subs off his back but Featherstone has passed one foot through into half guard.
Howard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Howard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Howard has an active guard here but Featherstone has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Francis Featherstone will probably get the nod.
That's time! Featherstone's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Featherstone with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Featherstone lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Featherstone misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Featherstone fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Featherstone connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Howard's hands.
Featherstone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Francis Featherstone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Featherstone darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Decent striking displayed by Featherstone there.
Howard tries for a takedown but Featherstone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Francis Featherstone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Featherstone lands a body shot.
Featherstone throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
Featherstone jabs Howard right on the nose. Howard blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Featherstone throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
A big left from Featherstone misses.
Featherstone lands a jab to the nose.
Nice uppercut lands for Featherstone. That snapped Howard's head back.
Featherstone stuns Howard with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Featherstone.
A jab from Featherstone finds it's way through Howard's defenses.
No luck for Howard with that takedown attempt.
Francis Featherstone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Howard.
Howard takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis Featherstone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Featherstone, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Featherstone!