PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arlen Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlen Henderson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Henderson
vs
Howard

204 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arlen Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Howard!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson shoots in looking for a takedown but Howard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Henderson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Henderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Howard avoids it really well and circles away.
Howard is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Howard looking to score a takedown here. Henderson is defending well but Howard drives through and ends up in Henderson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Henderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Howard content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson trying to control the position.
Henderson being controlled here, momentarily.
Howard trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Howard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Henderson is trying to buck Howard off.
Howard scoring with punches from side control.
Howard tries to advance to mount but can't.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom here.
Henderson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to control Howard's posture but Howard avoids it.
Henderson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Howard asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Howard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Henderson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sloppy strikes there by Howard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Howard is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Howard in side control lands a decent elbow.
Henderson tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Howard trying to control the position but Henderson is working away.

Howard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson dodges the ground and pound from Howard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Henderson dodges the punch combination from Howard.
Jon Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Howard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Howard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Howard wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Howard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henderson wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Henderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Henderson trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wants to control the position but Howard says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Howard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Henderson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Henderson manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Howard keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Henderson jumps guard but Howard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Howard drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throwing strikes but missing.
Howard controlling Henderson's posture.
Howard is trying to hold Henderson in close to prevent damage but Henderson has managed to pass into half guard.
Henderson blocks the strikes from Howard.
Henderson prevents Howard from improving his position.
Howard keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson wants to work for an arm triangle but Howard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Howard is trying to maintain the position but Henderson is very close to passing his half guard.
Howard is trying to stand.
Howard wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Howard closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Howard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Henderson fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arlen Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Howard has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Henderson is trying to keep an underhook but Howard manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Jon Howard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henderson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Henderson wants to control but Howard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Howard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Howard's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Henderson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Henderson darts in looking for a takedown but Howard gets double underhooks and turns Henderson into the cage.
Howard lands a nice looking body shot.

Howard gets a clinch.

Howard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Howard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Howard lands in his opponent's guard.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Howard is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Henderson's guard.

Henderson 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.
Howard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Howard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Henderson wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howard looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Howard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Henderson to the ground. Howard is now in Henderson's guard.
Howard wanted to stand there but Henderson had control of the position.
Howard looking to pass the guard.
Howard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Henderson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Howard controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard stops Henderson from standing up.
Howard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Howard content to stall in guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Howard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Howard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Henderson gets caught flat footed, as Howard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Howard is proving a slippery customer.

Henderson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Howard off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Howard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Howard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howard pushes Henderson away with a front kick.
Arlen Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Howard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Howard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Howard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 26:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Howard!
Jon Howard thanked the fans post fight for their support.