PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dwight Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Minoru Suzuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard comes to the cage accompanied by Superman. Suzuki is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kaze ni Nare. Dwight Howard has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Howard
vs
Suzuki

201 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Global Empire MMA Gear

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dwight Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Minoru Suzuki!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard looks for the body kick but Suzuki saw that one coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Suzuki is defended easily by Howard.
Suzuki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Howard avoids it really well and circles away.
Suzuki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howard defends it nicely.
Dwight Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Minoru Suzuki.

Suzuki gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Suzuki seems to be looking for submissions.
Howard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Suzuki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Suzuki's back!
Suzuki manages to reverse the position and now he's in Howard's guard. Nice work there by Suzuki.

Suzuki drops back looking for a leg! Howard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Howard manages to kick Suzuki off! Suzuki jumps back into Howard's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Suzuki from controlling successfully.
Howard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Suzuki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Howard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Suzuki has Howard in his guard.
Howard landing some decent shots from guard.
Suzuki keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard prevents Suzuki from getting back to his feet.
Suzuki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Suzuki wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

We're going to have a standup here because Dwight Howard wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Suzuki throws a leg kick that misses.
Howard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Suzuki but Suzuki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Howard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Suzuki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Howard tries to avoid it but Suzuki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Howard to the ground. Howard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Suzuki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Howard avoids it really well and circles away.
Howard slaps away a takedown attempt from Suzuki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howard stuffs the takedown.
Suzuki fails to land the takedown.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Suzuki goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Howard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Suzuki's sensitive parts.

Suzuki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Howard!
Suzuki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Howard is looking to escape.
Howard tries to lock up and control but Suzuki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Suzuki working for a guillotine from mount but Howard is in no mood to give up.

Suzuki jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Howard manages to avoid the submission attempt.
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!
Howard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Howard is pressing down on Suzuki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Suzuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Suzuki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Howard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Suzuki, into his guard.
Howard postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Minoru Suzuki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Suzuki shoots and misses
and Howard counters with a solid body kick.
Howard fails with the takedown.
Howard moves in looking to clinch but Suzuki pushes him off.
Howard throws a sloppy head kick and Suzuki moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by Suzuki or perhaps it was just good defense by Howard which made him look bad.
Suzuki closes the distance and clinches up with Howard, looking for a takedown. Suzuki pushes Howard against the cage but Howard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dwight Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Minoru Suzuki.
Howard is looking to clinch but Suzuki is avoiding it.
Howard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Suzuki pinned against the cage. Suzuki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Suzuki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Howard avoids it really well and circles away.
Howard misses with a few strikes there.
Howard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Suzuki is fending him off so far but Howard persists. Nope, Suzuki circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard doesn't manage to clinch there - Suzuki circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howard is defended easily by Suzuki.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Suzuki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Howard tries to avoid it but Suzuki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Howard to the ground. Howard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Suzuki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Suzuki trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Suzuki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Howard kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Suzuki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Howard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Suzuki is controlling him.

Suzuki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Howard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Howard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Howard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki is looking for a sweep.
Howard working away.
Suzuki is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Howard off and has taken his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Howard staying busy and making it hard for Suzuki to control.

Howard preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Suzuki.

Suzuki is working for a rear naked choke. Howard is not defending it well and Suzuki has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Howard refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Howard's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Minoru Suzuki!
Minoru Suzuki took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.