PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dwight Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauro Andres Marques (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Superman. Mauro Andres Marques has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Howard
vs
Andres Marques

201 cm
26
185 lbs
6 - 13 - 0

189 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 6 - 13 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mauro Andres Marques!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard drives through with a takedown into Andres Marques's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Howard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Andres Marques is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Andres Marques is wriggling around but Howard manages to pass to half guard.
Andres Marques looks winded!
Howard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Howard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Howard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Still in half guard, Howard seems content to control.
Howard trying to pass the guard but Andres Marques defending well.
Andres Marques is in trouble now - Howard has advanced to mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Andres Marques in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Andres Marques really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Howard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Howard avoids the attempt from Andres Marques to control.
Howard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Howard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Andres Marques is looking to escape.

Howard stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Howard instigates a clinch.
Howard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Andres Marques is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andres Marques managing to block the knees to the body from Howard.
Andres Marques has had enough of the clinch but Howard keeps him there for the moment.
Howard prevents Andres Marques from breaking the clinch.
Howard looking for a takedown.
A short left from Howard.
Andres Marques is trying to pull guard but Howard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Howard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Andres Marques avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwight Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Andres Marques's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Andres Marques throws a leg kick
and Howard counters with a nice low kick that buckles Andres Marques's knee momentarily.
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!
Andres Marques takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Howard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Andres Marques looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Howard darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Howard moves into the clinch.
Andres Marques is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is trying to drag Andres Marques to the mat but Andres Marques just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Howard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Howard has Andres Marques pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Howard pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Andres Marques tumbling to the mat - Howard dives into Andres Marques's guard.
Howard slips nicely into half guard.
Howard keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Howard seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Andres Marques for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andres Marques wants to get back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Howard connects with a nice short shot to Andres Marques's temple.
Andres Marques won't allow Howard to pass to mount.
Howard winds up and cracks Andres Marques with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Andres Marques tries to get to full guard but Howard has control of the leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard slows the pace down in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard slips a nice elbow through Andres Marques's hands, connecting with Andres Marques's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Andres Marques is fending him off so far but Howard persists. Nope, Andres Marques circles away and we're back to standing.
Andres Marques looks to land a left hand but Howard moved out of range nicely.

Howard drives through with a takedown into guard.
Howard trying to control but Andres Marques is working from the bottom.
Howard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Howard stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Andres Marques gets caught flat footed, as Howard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Howard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Andres Marques is trying to maintain the position but Howard is very close to passing his half 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!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Howard in particular looking to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Andres Marques is trying to stand back up but Howard is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard wants to work for an arm triangle but Andres Marques is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Howard seems to be looking for submissions.
Howard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Andres Marques is not content to let Howard control the position.
Howard not doing much here.
Dwight Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andres Marques is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Howard wants to control but Andres Marques is keeping him busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Dwight Howard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Howard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Howard working the ground and pound.
Howard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Andres Marques keeps working.

Howard is trying to get an arm triangle but Andres Marques is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andres Marques is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Howard is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Howard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Howard looking to finish Andres Marques with some ground and pound. This is bad for Andres Marques!
Howard trying to control but Andres Marques is having none of it.
Howard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Howard avoids the attempt from Andres Marques to control.
Andres Marques has given up his back here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to get the hooks in deep but Andres Marques pushed the leg off.
Andres Marques is taking damage to the body and head.
Howard has good solid back control here.
Andres Marques wants to get back to his feet.

Howard looking for the choke but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Andres Marques looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Howard dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Andres Marques tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Howard rushes Andres Marques and presses him up against the cage.
Howard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Howard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Andres Marques regains guard.

Andres Marques is working an open guard so Howard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Andres Marques lands with a right hand.
Dwight Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Howard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Howard is controlling the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard is keen to just control but Andres Marques is a slippery customer.
Howard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Andres Marques can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard winds up and cracks Andres Marques with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Howard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Howard prevents Andres Marques from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andres Marques trying to control here.
Howard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Andres Marques pushes Howard off and gets back to his feet.

Andres Marques gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Howard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mauro Andres Marques has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andres Marques can't keep his opponent in guard - Howard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Howard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Andres Marques kicks Howard off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Andres Marques is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Andres Marques shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andres Marques tries to clinch but Howard moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howard is defended easily by Andres Marques.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwight Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andres Marques looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Howard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Andres Marques is pushing Howard's head away, looking to escape. Howard manages to hold on to the position though.
Andres Marques is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Andres Marques throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andres Marques trying to control but Howard flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Howard scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Howard keeps control of the position easily here as Andres Marques tries to buck him off.

Howard is persistently looking for the submission but Andres Marques is defending it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Andres Marques staying busy and making it hard for Howard to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Andres Marques is in bad spot here.
Howard scores with strikes from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwight Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Dwight Howard!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Dwight Howard!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Dwight Howard!

Dwight Howard wins by unanimous decision!
Dwight Howard seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.