PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riderick Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Arona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Arona has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Howell
vs
Arona

195 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
219 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riderick Howell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Victor Arona!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howell avoids the head kick by Arona.
Howell tries to clinch up but Arona circles away and keeps his distance.

Arona moves into the clinch.
Arona managing to block the knees to the body from Howell.
Howell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arona.
Arona is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Arona blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arona on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Howell trying to land knees to the body.
Arona managing to block the knees to the body from Howell.
Howell tries to land a knee to the head but Arona blocks with his arms.
Howell throws a knee to the head but misses.
Howell tries to land a knee to the head but Arona blocks with his arms.
Howell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arona blocks it with crossed arms.
Howell using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Howell connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arona's face.
A knee to the head by Howell.
Arona is trying to break the clinch but Howell has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howell obliges.
Howell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Howell is breathing heavily.
Howell misses with a knee strike.
Arona is trying to pull guard but Howell has him pressed against the cage.
Howell tries a knee to the head but Arona blocks it.
Arona tries for a takedown but Howell manages to get underhooks.
A knee to the head by Howell.
Arona can't get the takedown.
Riderick Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Arona.
Arona blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arona on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arona is looking to control Howell's arms but Howell gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arona has his back to the cage.
Howell connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arona's face.
Arona looking to slow down the pace here.
Arona is looking for a takedown.
Howell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arona has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Howell throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arona is trying to force a seperation but Howell has the dominant position.
Howell tries to land knees in the clinch but Arona avoids the damage to the body.
Howell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arona can't get the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arona has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Howell after a bit of a struggle.
Howell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arona.
Howell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Arona is looking for a takedown.
Howell tries to land a knee to the head but Arona blocks with his arms.
Howell tries to land knees in the clinch but Arona avoids the damage to the body.
Howell tries to land knees in the clinch but Arona avoids the damage to the body.
Arona looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Arona managing to block the knees to the body from Howell.
Arona is looking to control Howell's arms but Howell gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arona has his back to the cage.
Arona seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arona has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Howell lands a knee to the head.
Arona blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arona is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Howell is defending well.
Arona tries to land a knee to the head but Howell blocks with his arms.
Arona can't break the clinch.
Howell tries to land knees in the clinch but Arona avoids the damage to the body.
Howell tries to land knees in the clinch but Arona avoids the damage to the body.
Arona throws an elbow but it misses.
Howell trying to land knees to the body.
Howell throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arona is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.
Arona on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arona is trying to stall.
Arona avoiding damage as Howell throws knees to the body.
Howell tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arona drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Arona misses with a punch to the body.
Arona wants a takedown but no success here.
Arona tries to score a body lock takedown but Howell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howell obliges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howell missing with knees to the body.
Arona is trying to drag Howell to the mat but Howell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howell unloads a knee to the mid-section. Arona lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riderick Howell dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Arona gets tackled into the cage by Howell. Howell maintains the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Arona on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Howell using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Howell looking to throw knees to the head but Arona is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Howell.
Howell tries to land a knee to the head but Arona blocks with his arms.
Arona wants to break the clinch but can't.
Howell tries a knee to the head but Arona blocks it.
Howell crunches a lovely knee into Arona's ribcage.
Arona wants a takedown.
Howell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arona has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arona is trying to maintain a safe position but Howell gets an underhook and turns Arona into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arona tries for a takedown. No joy.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.
Howell using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell has Arona pressed against the cage, preventing Arona from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Howell lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Howell landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.
Arona has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howell is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Riderick Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Arona.
Howell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arona has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arona is looking for a takedown.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howell obliges.
Howell landing knees to the head.
Howell misses with a knee to the head.
Howell looking to throw knees to the head but Arona is blocking nicely.
Arona avoiding damage as Howell throws knees to the body.
Arona tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Arona tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arona.
Howell with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Arona is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Howell landing knees to the head.
Arona has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Howell after a bit of a struggle.
Howell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Howell keeps control of Arona as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howell lands a knee to the body.
Riderick Howell has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Howell scores a nice knee to the body.
Howell with a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Arona takes a knee to the side of the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Arona creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Howell missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arona is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Howell to keep the fight standing.
Arona is trying to break the clinch but Howell is controlling him.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.
Arona is trying to force a seperation but Howell has the dominant position.
Arona has Howell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Howell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Howell unloads a knee to the mid-section. Arona lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Arona takes a knee right on the jaw!
Arona can't get the takedown.
Howell landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Arona is trying to drag Howell to the mat but Howell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knees to the body from Howell.
Howell connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arona goes for a takedown in the clinch but Howell prevents it.
Howell utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Howell misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Howell.
Arona tries to pull guard but Howell won't allow it.
Howell connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arona's face.
Howell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arona is defending well for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arona has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howell is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Howell lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arona has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Howell looking to throw knees to the head but Arona is blocking nicely.
Arona blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Howell landing some nice looking knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riderick Howell dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Arona fails with a takedown attempt.

Howell clinches.
Howell tries a knee to the head but Arona blocks it.
Howell missing with knees to the body.
Howell landing knees to the body.
Howell misses with a knee strike.
Arona doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arona is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell misses with a knee to the head.
Howell trying to land knees to the body.
Arona lands with a left to the head.
Howell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arona has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arona avoiding damage as Howell throws knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Arona on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Howell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arona has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Howell throws a knee to the head but misses.
Howell missing with knees to the body.
Arona fails to pull guard.
Howell prevents a takedown attempt there.
Riderick Howell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Arona.
Howell lands a good knee to the midsection. Arona won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell connects with a knee to the head.
Howell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arona.
Arona has had enough of the clinch but Howell keeps him there for the moment.
Arona is trying to drag Howell to the mat but Howell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Howell landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Howell.
Howell scores with a knee to the head.
Arona is trying to maintain a safe position but Howell gets an underhook and turns Arona into the cage.
Howell landing knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howell scores a nice knee to the body.
Howell looking to throw knees to the head but Arona is blocking nicely.
Arona wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howell obliges.
Arona is looking to break free of the clinch but Howell has double underhooks.
Howell lands a knee to the head.
Howell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arona drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Howell gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Howell landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Howell connects with a knee to the head.
Howell gets underhooks to prevent Arona's takedown attempt.
Howell landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Howell unloads a knee to the mid-section. Arona lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arona on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Howell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arona blocks it with crossed arms.
Howell missing with knees to the body.
Howell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arona.
Arona is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Howell to keep the fight standing.
Arona throws an elbow that misses.
Howell lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Arona taking a breather.
Howell scores a nice knee to the body.
Howell tries to land knees in the clinch but Arona avoids the damage to the body.
Howell misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A frustrated look appears on Arona's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Howell connects with a knee to the head.
Victor Arona has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arona with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Howell managing to block the knees to the body from Arona.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riderick Howell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howell 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riderick Howell!