PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Howe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dallas Taliaferro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Howe
vs
Taliaferro

203 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

179 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leo Howe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dallas Taliaferro!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taliaferro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Howe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taliaferro doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Howe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taliaferro won't be happy with that.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Howe works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Howe looks up at the clock and then as Taliaferro takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Howe smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Taliaferro is trying to control Howe's posture but Howe avoids it.
Taliaferro gets back to half guard.
Howe lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Howe lands a nice short elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howe is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Howe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taliaferro taking some punishment here, with Howe in his half guard.

Taliaferro looking for submissions off his back.
Howe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taliaferro wants to control but Howe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taliaferro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Howe scores with a couple of nice shots.
Howe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Taliaferro wants to control but Howe is keeping busy.

Taliaferro is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Howe pulls his head out easily.

Howe seems to be working for a kimura but Taliaferro defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howe is thwarting Taliaferro's attempts to control the position.
Howe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Howe there.
Taliaferro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Howe looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taliaferro with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Taliaferro is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Howe pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Howe lands a nice short elbow.
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!
Taliaferro regains full guard. Nicely done.
Howe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Howe stands up over Taliaferro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Taliaferro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Howe landing with the ground and pound.

Howe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taliaferro looks winded!
Howe chips away with some ground and pound.

Taliaferro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Howe has passed into half guard!
Howe is nestled in close to Taliaferro, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
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!
Taliaferro moves into full guard.
Taliaferro wants to stand up but Howe is controlling him.
Howe landing with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Taliaferro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howe defends well.
Howe distracts Taliaferro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Howe dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Howe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Howe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Taliaferro tries to get to full guard but Howe has control of the leg.
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. Howe connects with a nice short shot to Taliaferro's temple.
Taliaferro trying to control here.
Taliaferro is looking to improve his position.
Howe is nestled in close to Taliaferro, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Howe seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taliaferro trying to hold on to Howe's head to control him but Howe postures up.
Taliaferro slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taliaferro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Howe is aware though and is defending well.
Taliaferro is breathing heavily.

Taliaferro is looking for a triangle but Howe pushes his legs off easily.

Taliaferro looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Howe passes into side control.
Leo Howe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taliaferro is looking for a sweep.
Howe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taliaferro on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taliaferro takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Howe tries for a kimura but Taliaferro is defending well.
Taliaferro manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taliaferro prevents Howe from standing back up.
Howe is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taliaferro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taliaferro's back!
Taliaferro tries to escape the position.
Taliaferro covers up after that shot from Howe.

Taliaferro defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Howe's arms.
Taliaferro trying to control the hands but Howe won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe keeps control of the position as Taliaferro tries to break free.

Howe looking for the choke but no joy.
Howe keeps control of the position as Taliaferro tries to break free.
Taliaferro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taliaferro fending off the submission attempt from Howe.
Howe punishes Taliaferro with strikes from the back mount.
Howe lands an elbow to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howe lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Taliaferro is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Howe dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Howe motions for Taliaferro to come forward. Howe throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taliaferro with a poor takedown
and Howe counters with a head kick.
Taliaferro shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Howe lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taliaferro gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Howe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Leo Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dallas Taliaferro.
Taliaferro is trying to keep Howe in close.
Howe connects with a couple of short punches.
Howe is working Taliaferro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taliaferro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Taliaferro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howe defends it easily.
Howe landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howe with a nice head shot there.
Taliaferro controls Howe momentarily but Howe frees himself.

Taliaferro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Howe is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Howe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taliaferro has momentary wrist control but Howe slips an elbow through the middle.
Howe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Taliaferro has his foot on Howe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howe works his way back into a safe position though.

Taliaferro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howe defends well.
Howe landing some decent shots from guard.

Taliaferro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howe defends it easily.
Taliaferro has momentary wrist control but Howe slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe cracks Taliaferro with a solid left hand.

Howe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Howe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Howe is in close to Taliaferro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Howe connects with a couple of short punches.
Howe with a nice head shot there.
Howe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howe with a nice head shot there.
Howe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Howe scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taliaferro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Howe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Howe scoring with some ground and pound.
Howe postures up and lands a big shot to Taliaferro's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howe with a nice head shot there.
Howe working some strikes from top position.
Howe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howe chips away with some ground and pound.

Taliaferro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howe defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Howe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howe 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Howe!