PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Floyd Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Isaiah Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Howard
vs
Ferguson

150 cm
33
130 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

165 cm
28
145 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Floyd Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Howard.
Ferguson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Howard smiles and moves away.

Howard moves into the clinch successfully.

Howard jumps guard and drags Ferguson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Ferguson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Howard dives on top into guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Howard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Howard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ferguson on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard stands and steps away. Ferguson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Howard lands with a kick to the temple. Ferguson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch.
Floyd Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaiah Ferguson.

Howard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ferguson regains guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Howard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Howard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Howard stands up from Ferguson's guard - Howard perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch.

Howard lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Ferguson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Howard pulls his head out easily.
Howard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ferguson for as long as he can get away with.

Howard stands up and beckons Ferguson to join him on the feet.
Ferguson tries for a takedown but Howard circles away easily

and Howard counters by clinching up.
Ferguson is trying to pull guard but Howard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Howard lands a takedown into guard.
Howard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ferguson is proving hard to escape from.

Howard stands up and waves to Ferguson to follow him.
Ferguson tries for a takedown but Howard circles away easily

and Howard counters by clinching up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Howard pulls guard.

Ferguson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Howard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Howard has escaped and now he's on top!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ferguson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Howard sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Howard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ferguson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson is looking for a triangle but Howard pushes his legs off easily.
Howard throwing strikes but missing.
Howard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Ferguson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Howard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Howard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Howard landing with the ground and pound.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Howard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Ferguson working for submissions but it's allowed Howard to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ferguson defending well though.
Howard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ferguson can do to turn this around?
Howard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Howard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Ferguson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Howard moves nicely into side control.
Howard lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ferguson down.

Howard decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ferguson to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ferguson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ferguson fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Howard has managed to clinch.

Howard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Isaiah Ferguson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ferguson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Howard counters with a head kick.
Ferguson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Howard moves into the clinch.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Ferguson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Howard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Floyd Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaiah Ferguson.
Howard passes Ferguson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Howard stands up from half guard.
Ferguson with a poor takedown
and Howard counters with a head kick.

Ferguson is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ferguson misses with a takedown

and Howard counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ferguson!
Ferguson is still in real trouble! Can Howard finish him?
Ferguson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard taking a breather here.

Howard decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ferguson to his feet.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Ferguson.
Ferguson seems to have recovered his senses.

Howard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Howard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Howard passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ferguson is trying to escape the position but Howard is controlling the position.
Ferguson is looking for a sweep.
Howard controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Howard's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Still in half guard, Howard seems content to control.

Howard is working for a kimura here but Ferguson manages to reverse the position and he's now in Howard's guard.
Howard wants to stand but Ferguson is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ferguson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Howard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ferguson, into his guard.

Ferguson being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Floyd 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Floyd Howard!
In defeat, Isaiah Ferguson stepped up to the mic, saying 'good fight i lost oh well'.