PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Howes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Linus Wallin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Howes
vs
Wallin

170 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephen Howes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Linus Wallin!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wallin to the mat! Wallin manages to get full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Howes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Wallin controls Howes momentarily but Howes frees himself.

Howes gets to his feet. Wallin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wallin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Howes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wallin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Howes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Howes stands and steps away. Wallin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Howes fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallin misses with a takedown attempt - Howes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wallin. Howes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wallin shoots in looking for a takedown but Howes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wallin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Howes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wallin is trying to defend but Howes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wallin wants to control but Howes is keeping busy.

Wallin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stephen Howes.
Wallin misses with a wild combination.
Howes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wallin avoids it really well and circles away.
Howes misses with a takedown attempt - Wallin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Howes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wallin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Howes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Howes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Wallin off and has taken his back!
Wallin wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howes gets his hands free as Wallin looks to control.
Howes biding his time, looking for the opening.
Wallin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wallin is trying to escape the mount but Howes keeps good control and instead manages to take Wallin's back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Howes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wallin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wallin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Howes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wallin closes the distance and clinches up with Howes, looking for a takedown. Wallin pushes Howes against the cage but Howes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Howes checks a leg kick nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howes as he avoids it easily.
Wallin misses with a low kick as Howes jumps back.

Howes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wallin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Howes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wallin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stephen Howes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallin should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Wallin tries to strike from the bottom.
Wallin keeping full guard, as Howes tries to pass.
Howes passes Wallin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Howes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howes tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Wallin.
Howes wants to pass to mount but Wallin is defending the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Howes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephen Howes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Wallin misses with a takedown attempt

and Howes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Stephen Howes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Linus Wallin.
Howes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wallin is proving hard to escape from.
Howes passes Wallin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Howes wants to free his trapped foot but Wallin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Howes trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howes prevents Wallin from improving his position.
Wallin wants to control but Howes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Howes is controlling the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Howes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wallin for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Howes dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wallin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Howes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wallin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Howes stands up.
Linus Wallin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice combination there by Wallin.
Wallin shoots in looking for a takedown but Howes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wallin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wallin tries to clinch there but Howes circles away.
Howes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Howes throws a push kick but Wallin slaps the foot to one side.

Howes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallin can't do much from the bottom here.
Howes moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Wallin wants to control but Howes postures up.
Wallin is letting Howes control him for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stephen Howes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Wallin ducks under a wild hook from Howes.
Howes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howes moves away.
Wallin shoots in for a takedown but Howes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stephen Howes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Linus Wallin.
Wallin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Howes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stephen Howes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Howes tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Wallin.
Howes is looking to advance position but Wallin won't allow it.

Howes decides to stand and escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallin tries for a takedown but Howes circles away easily

so Howes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wallin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wallin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Howes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Howes wants to pass the guard but Wallin is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Howes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Howes, 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 Ian Loll scores the fight for Stephen Howes!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Stephen Howes!
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight for Stephen Howes!

Stephen Howes wins by unanimous decision!