PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Howard
vs
Sakuraba

178 cm
33
192 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

185 cm
27
185 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakuraba.
Howard lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Howard thuds his right hand into Sakuraba's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sakuraba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Howard.
Sakuraba connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howard. Sakuraba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakuraba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Howard tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Howard throws a body punch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Howard takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sakuraba throws the left hand but Howard avoids the punch easily.
Sakuraba fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Howard looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Howard tries to clinch but Sakuraba moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with an uppercut.
Howard throws a hook to the side of Sakuraba's head but Sakuraba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba throws a series of punches but Howard avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
Howard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Howard takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Howard thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakuraba lands a nice hook to Howard's body. Howard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sakuraba fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Howard just misses with a punch to the body.
Sakuraba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakuraba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sakuraba scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Howard avoids it well.
Sakuraba scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Howard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sakuraba.
Howard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws an overhand right that lands on Howard's shoulder, as Howard tries to avoid the shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Howard tries to clinch but Sakuraba is having none of it.
Howard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Howard lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howard doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuraba circles away.

Howard clinches.
Sakuraba has Howard pushed against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to stall but Sakuraba uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Howard has double underhooks.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Howard has the dominant position.
Sakuraba looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short left from Howard.
Sakuraba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Howard lands a nice uppercut.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Howard takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Howard.
Howard misses with a looping right.
Sakuraba throws a jab when Howard was well out of range.
Sakuraba scores with a punch to the head.
Howard thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Howard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sakuraba is keeping busy.
Sakuraba is trying to force a seperation but Howard has the dominant position.
Sakuraba blocks an uppercut.
Sakuraba working hard to break the clinch.
A body shot lands from Howard.
Sakuraba tries to throw a body punch but Howard avoids it by throwing Sakuraba back against the ropes.
Sakuraba trying to control the position but instead, Howard has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sakuraba into the ropes.
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 lands with a short punch from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Howard misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Howard dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Howard misses with a body shot.
Sakuraba throws a jab when Howard was well out of range.
Howard loads up on a big right hand but Sakuraba slips the punch.
Howard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sakuraba throws a jab when Howard was well out of range.
Sakuraba misses with a wild body shot.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Howard misses with a looping right.
Sakuraba lands a body shot.
Sakuraba misses with a series of wild punches.
John Howard is winning the standup battle so far.
Howard throws a hook but Sakuraba blocks it.
Sakuraba lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sakuraba counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard dodges the punch combination from Sakuraba.
Howard ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a lunging right hand
letting Howard counter with a right hand.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Sakuraba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Howard throws out the jab.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sakuraba cracks Howard with an open hand slap.
Howard throws a lazy right hand but Sakuraba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Howard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sakuraba connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Howard scrambles back to his feet.
Howard works Sakuraba's body with a nice hook.
Howard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sakuraba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba with a hook.
Sakuraba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Howard.
Sakuraba looks to throw the jab but Howard is out of range.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Howard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sakuraba will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Howard up against the ropes.
Howard lands a nice uppercut.
Sakuraba is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Sakuraba seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Howard lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Howard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Howard lands a shot to the body.

Howard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Howard defending well as Sakuraba loads up on a big left hand.
Howard missing with a left hand there. Sakuraba was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakuraba swats away the attempt to clinch by Howard.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
Howard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sakuraba misses with a straight right.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuraba just misses with a punch to the body.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakuraba was well out of range. Poor timing from Howard.
Howard throws a hook but Sakuraba blocks it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sakuraba throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sakuraba scores with a nice right hand.
Howard misses the shot to the body.
Howard takes a swing at Sakuraba's ribcage but misses.
Howard tries to clinch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Howard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
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's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sakuraba connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Howard scrambles back to his feet.
Howard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.
Sakuraba needs to keep his hands up - Howard had a free shot at his head there.
Howard doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuraba circles away.
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 John Howard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sakuraba keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sakuraba misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakuraba might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Howard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Howard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Howard avoids it easily.
Sakuraba fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba swings for the body but Howard moves out of range.
Howard takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sakuraba jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sakuraba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howard.
Sakuraba cracks a nice hook into Howard's ribs.
A swing and a miss from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Howard sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Sakuraba. That snapped Howard's head back.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Howard's ribcage but misses.
Howard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Howard misses with a left hand
and Sakuraba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A combination from Sakuraba does no damage.
Sakuraba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Howard.
Howard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howard tries to clinch there but Sakuraba circles away.

Howard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Howard looking to stall.
Howard lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sakuraba as Howard tries to tie him up.
Howard blocks a body shot from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba slows down the pace here.
Howard digs a right hand into Sakuraba's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sakuraba's gas tank.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Howard tries to throw a body punch but Sakuraba avoids it by throwing Howard back against the ropes.
Howard prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba missing with a left hand there. Howard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Sakuraba finds it's way through Howard's defenses.
Howard is looking to clinch but Sakuraba is avoiding it.
Howard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sakuraba was well out of range. Poor timing from Howard.
Sakuraba takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot.
Sakuraba throws a body punch but Howard moves out of range.
Howard moves away from the strike by Sakuraba.
Howard just misses with a punch to the body.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Howard clinches with his opponent.
Howard has Sakuraba pushed against the ropes.
John Howard has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Howard breaks from the clinch.
Howard takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Howard misses.
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakuraba manages to avoid it.
Howard is looking to wear down Sakuraba with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sakuraba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Howard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba throws out a loose jab but Howard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakuraba takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sakuraba looks to land a combination but Howard avoids it well.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howard is looking to clinch.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howard.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Howard ducked under it nicely.
Sakuraba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Howard manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakuraba misses with a right hand
and Howard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kazushi Sakuraba.
Well Howard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Howard!