PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dwight Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabiano Martins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard comes to the cage accompanied by Superman. Fabiano Martins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Howard
vs
Martins

201 cm
26
185 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

180 cm
28
185 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 7 - 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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabiano Martins!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Martins.
Howard throws a body punch but Martins moves out of range.
Howard shoots for a takedown but Martins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Martins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howard pinned against the cage. Howard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Howard staying out of range there.
Martins shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Martins.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.
Howard struggling a bit here.
Howard is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard can't do much from the bottom here.
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.
Martins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Howard keeps working.
Martins throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Howard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard struggling a bit here.
Martins scoring with punches and elbows.

Martins stands up.
Martins punishes Howard's body with a nice straight punch.
Howard scores with a head kick.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Martins moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Dwight Howard has been cut.
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!
Martins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dwight Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabiano Martins.

Howard moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martins is trying to break the clinch but Howard is controlling him.
Howard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Howard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Martins prevents Howard from breaking the clinch.
Martins wants to stall.

Howard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Martins drives through with a takedown into guard.

Martins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Howard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Martins has managed to get both his arms back between Howard's legs - danger averted.

Martins gets to his feet - Howard follows without any prompting.
Howard throws a combination that misses
and Martins counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Howard thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martins shoots in looking for a takedown but Howard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Martins's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Martins looks to land a combination but Howard avoids it well.
Fabiano Martins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Martins darts in and clinches Howard up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Howard jumps guard.
Martins is looking to pass into half guard but Howard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Howard is in guard.
Howard won't allow Martins to get back to his feet.

Martins working for a triangle but Howard defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Martins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howard defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabiano Martins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dwight Howard's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Martins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Martins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Howard sprawls well initially but Martins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Martins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Howard preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Martins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howard is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Martins missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Martins is working away from the top position though.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Martins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Martins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Martins tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Howard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard moves into full guard.
Howard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Martins trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard lands with a heel strike from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Martins is stalling in the full guard.
Martins stopping the sweep attempt from Howard.

Howard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is trying to control the position but Martins postures up.
Howard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Martins!
Howard landing shots from mount.
Howard avoids the attempt from Martins to control.
Howard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Howard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Martins is trying to stand.
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 Dwight Howard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dwight Howard's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Martins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Howard tries to clinch there but Martins circles away.

Martins gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Howard to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Martins is looking for a triangle but Howard pushes his legs off easily.

Martins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Howard looking to pass the guard.
Howard preventing the sweep.
Howard wants to control from the top but Martins keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Howard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Martins trying to control the position.
Martins striking off his back but it's not causing Howard any problems.
Howard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Martins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Howard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Martins has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Howard has managed to get both his arms back between Martins's legs - danger averted.

Martins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Martins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard stays in close to Martins's body and controls the position.
Howard advances to half guard.
Howard tries to pass to full mount but Martins defends it.
Howard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Martins wants to control but Howard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Howard trying to control the action but Martins is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Martins is trying to get back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howard is thwarting Martins's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Howard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martins lands a body shot.
Howard throws a head kick that half lands.

Martins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Martins is looking to take a break and control but Howard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Howard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Martins's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard trying to hold on to Martins's head to control him but Martins postures up.

Martins is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Howard defends it well.
Howard is looking for a sweep. Martins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard regains full guard. Nicely done.
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 keeping full guard, as Martins tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dwight Howard.
I think Howard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight for Fabiano Martins!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Fabiano Martins!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Fabiano Martins!

Fabiano Martins wins by unanimous decision!