PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nazeem Hamed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwight Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Howard's choice of entrance music: Superman. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hamed
vs
Howard

184 cm
24
194 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

201 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nazeem Hamed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dwight Howard!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard moves into the clinch.

Howard pulls Hamed into guard.
Howard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hamed won't allow Howard to sweep him here.
Hamed stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Howard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hamed trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Hamed might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Howard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Howard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hamed stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Howard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamed pushes down on Howard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Howard is looking to get back to full guard here but Hamed has managed to pass to side control instead.
Howard tries to buck Hamed off but Hamed is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hamed creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Howard sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hamed trying to control the action but Howard is working from the bottom.

Hamed decides to stand back up. Hamed steps back and let's Howard get back to his feet.
Howard stuffs the takedown attempt from Hamed. Hamed gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hamed clinches up with Howard and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hamed prevents it.

Hamed has clasped his hands together around Howard's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hamed misses with the ground and pound.
Howard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hamed. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard is trying to improve his position.

Hamed thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Howard is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hamed working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Howard wants to control but Hamed postures up.
Howard is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Hamed is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Hamed raining down hammerfists from mount.

Hamed goes for an armbar but Howard turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Howard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard wants to control from the top but Hamed keeps moving.

Hamed escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hamed not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard wants to stand but Hamed is controlling his posture from full guard.
Howard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nazeem Hamed dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hamed throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hamed stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hamed wants it to stay on the feet.

Howard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hamed keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.
Hamed is trying to keep Howard in close.
Hamed is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hamed is looking for a kimura but Howard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hamed to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard tries to kick Hamed off but Hamed keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Howard is looking for a sweep. Hamed is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hamed thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Howard trying to control but Hamed postures up.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Howard is refusing to be controlled, as Hamed sits in half guard.
Hamed missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hamed is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hamed prevents Howard from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamed 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.
Hamed missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hamed is trying to work for a kimura but Howard is defending well.

Howard manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Hamed shoots in looking for a takedown but Howard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hamed's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard fails with the takedown.
Hamed stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hamed wants it to stay on the feet.
Nazeem Hamed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwight Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamed will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hamed fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hamed is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Howard's half guard.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.

Hamed is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Howard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hamed.

Hamed seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Howard is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Nazeem Hamed!
Nazeem Hamed decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.