PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludovic Presle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard comes into the arena with Manafest - Fire In The Kitchen blaring out of the sound system. Ludovic Presle struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 207.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Howard
vs
Presle

185 cm
39
221 lbs
33 - 17 - 0

185 cm
36
225 lbs
27 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ludovic Presle!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Presle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Howard.
Presle has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Presle looks to land a right hand but Howard moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Presle. Howard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Presle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Presle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Presle loads up on a big right hand but Howard slips the punch.
Howard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Presle throws a leg kick

and Howard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Howard.
Howard wants to control from the top but Presle keeps moving.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
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 wants to control from the top but Presle keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Howard drops back, looking for a kneebar! Presle looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Presle looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Presle!

Presle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Howard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Presle has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Howard defending well as Presle loads up on a big left hand.
Howard avoids the body shot from Presle.
Presle looks to land a left hand but Howard moved out of range nicely.
Howard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Presle.
Sloppy strikes from Presle. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Presle throws a leg kick

and Howard counters with a shoot takedown. Presle fights it but they end up in guard.
Howard is pushing down on Presle's leg trying to pass to half guard. Presle is fighting to maintain full guard but Howard has managed to sneak the leg through.
Howard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Howard is looking for a kimura here.
Presle trying to control from the bottom.
Presle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Howard.

Howard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Presle looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Presle has managed to free his arm - good work.
Presle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Presle is refusing to be controlled, as Howard sits in half guard.
Howard is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Presle is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Presle wants to get back to full guard.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Howard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Presle is just riding it out for now. Howard eventually gives up the hold.
Howard is trying to control the action in half guard but Presle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Howard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Presle fails to land with a series of punches.
Presle lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Presle misses with a wild combination.
Presle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Presle misses with a two punch combination.
Howard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Presle.
Presle connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Howard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Presle throws a nice looking combination but Howard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Presle scoring well with a low kick there.
Presle throws a right hand that misses

and Howard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Howard.
Howard advances position into side control!
Presle tries to buck Howard off but Howard is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Presle pushes Howard away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Howard gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Presle is breathing heavily.
Howard working the head with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Howard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Howard passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Presle!
Howard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Howard postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Presle looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howard working for a submission but Presle is keeping him at bay.
Howard in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Howard lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Presle hang on?

Howard goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Presle turns into him and now he's in Howard's guard.
Presle throws an elbow that misses. Howard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Presle's guard. Nice move by Howard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws a strike but Presle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Presle stands up from Howard's guard - Presle perhaps looking for a knockout.
Presle thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Presle throws a combination that misses

so Howard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Presle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Presle wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Presle blocks nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Presle keeping moving, preventing Howard from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Howard dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Presle misses with a hook.
A jab from Presle finds it's way through Howard's defenses.
Howard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Presle throws out the jab.
Presle misses with a hook to the body

and Howard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Presle won't be happy with that.

Howard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Presle is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Howard tries for a kimura but Presle is defending well.
Howard trying to control the position but Presle is working away.
We've been hearing that Howard has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Howard working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Howard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Presle has escaped the position, nice work there.
Presle tries to buck Howard off but Howard is having none of it.

Howard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Presle is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Presle is not content to let Howard control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to move into full mount but can't pass Presle's legs.
John Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Presle is trying to buck Howard off.
Presle is trying to control Howard's posture but Howard avoids it.
Presle is looking to reverse the position.

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

Howard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Presle trying to stand up but can't free himself from Howard's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ludovic Presle was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Presle lands a front kick.
Ludovic Presle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Presle connects with a nice looking jab.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Presle throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Howard counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Presle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard moves into full mount! Presle won't be happy about that!
Presle takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

It looks like Ludovic Presle has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard raining down shots from the mount!
Howard controlling from the full mount.

Howard looking for a guillotine from mount but Presle is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard lands a heavy elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Howard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Howard!
John Howard seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.