PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arjen Robben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robben kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Champions Anthem. Howard is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by My Block. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Robben
vs
Howard

182 cm
21
160 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

165 cm
32
163 lbs
9 - 18 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arjen Robben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Howard!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robben swings for the body but Howard moves out of range.

Howard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Howard creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Robben sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Howard working the ground and pound from side control.
Howard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Howard cracks Robben with a big right hand but Robben just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Howard lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Howard creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Howard working the body and head with strikes.
Howard lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Robben takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Howard is putting a hurting on Robben here, landing some big shots from side control.
Robben taking a bit of punishment here - Howard scoring with strikes.
Howard 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard wants to control for a moment but Robben uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Howard scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Howard throwing shots but Robben is blocking nicely.
Robben blocking the ground and pound attempt from Howard.
Nice strikes from Howard there.
Howard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Howard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Robben has hold of Howard's hands but Howard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Robben regains full guard. Nicely done.
Howard is pushing down on Robben's leg trying to pass to half guard. Robben is fighting to maintain full guard but Howard has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robben tries to roll over but Howard keeps him under control.
Howard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Robben is breathing heavily.
Howard is trying to control the action in half guard but Robben is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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 is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Howard 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.
Robben on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Howard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robben regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Howard.
Howard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Robben is trying to control the position but Howard postures up.
Robben utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Robben is retaining full guard.
Howard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Howard connects with a couple of short punches.
Howard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Howard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard passes Robben's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Robben has hold of Howard's hands but Howard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Howard drops an elbow to the side of Robben's head.
Robben trying to hold on to Howard's head to control him but Howard postures up.
Howard thows a huge punch but Robben dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Robben on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Howard dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Howard shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Robben is trying to defend but Howard finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Howard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Howard lands with a punch from half guard.
Nice strikes from Howard there.
Robben is staying active underneath Howard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Howard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Howard is stalling here. Robben is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Howard seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Robben has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Robben tries to stand but Howard controls the position and pulls Robben into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robben wants to stand but Howard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Robben won't allow Howard to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Howard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Howard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Robben passes Howard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Howard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Howard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Robben is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Robben's guard.
Robben throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Robben looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howard is one step ahead there.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Robben blocks nicely.
Robben utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howard is looking to work some ground and pound but Robben has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard landing with the ground and pound.
Howard working some strikes from top position.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Robben is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Robben working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howard.
Howard with a nice head shot there.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.
Howard throws an elbow that misses. Robben uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Robben!
Howard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Robben will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robben trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Robben is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Howard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Howard has escaped and now he's on top!
Robben can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Howard controls the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Robben is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Howard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Robben fails with a takedown attempt.
Robben displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Howard.
Robben shoots in for a double leg but Howard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Robben scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Howard gets full guard.
Howard pulls Robben in to control the position.
Robben passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Robben swings around for an armbar but Howard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Robben's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard distracts Robben with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mike Howard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
Howard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Robben's head.
Howard is looking to work some ground and pound but Robben has wrist control.
Howard postures up in Robben's guard and throws a big left but Robben blocks it.
Howard lands a couple of elbows.
Howard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mike Howard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Robben looking to control.
Howard content to stall in guard here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mike Howard wasn't active enough on the ground.
Robben is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howard is defended easily by Robben.
Robben shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howard as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arjen Robben. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Robben wants to clinch.

Howard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Robben's guard.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Robben is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Robben not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Robben keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard looking to sit in guard and control but Robben gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Robben slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Robben tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Arjen Robben has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howard is looking to regain half guard here but Robben keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Robben in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Howard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

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