PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raimundo Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett has chosen X-Men Theme Music as his entrance music. 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.

Sobral
vs
Howlett

180 cm
29
202 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

181 cm
23
203 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Raimundo Sobral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howlett is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sobral.
Howlett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sobral was well out of range. Poor timing from Howlett.
It looked like Sobral wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Howlett scores with a decent looking hook.
Howlett is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sobral.
Sobral misses with a body punch
and Howlett counters with a nice uppercut.
Sobral shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Howlett keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sobral.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howlett throws a sloppy body shot
and Sobral cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howlett. Sobral does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sobral throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Howlett counter with a right hand.
Sobral uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howlett.
Sobral misses with a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Howlett on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sobral.
Howlett's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sobral connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Howlett scrambles back to his feet.
Howlett just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Sobral wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've been told by Sobral's head coaches at Sanitarium that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Howlett jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Howlett moves into the clinch successfully.
A nice left hand lands by Howlett.
Howlett scores with a knee to the head.
Howlett slowing the pace effectively.
A head punch on the inside from Sobral fails to land.
Howlett fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Howlett.
Howlett scores with a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Howlett scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sobral softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Howlett.

Howlett breaks from the clinch.
Howlett lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Howlett throws the left hand but Sobral avoids the punch easily.
Sobral ducks under a wild hook from Howlett.
It looked like Sobral wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sobral lands with a nice body punch.
Howlett avoids the body shot from Sobral.
Howlett moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sobral displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Howlett throws out the jab.
Sobral misses the jab.
Sobral's corner calls for a 1-2. Sobral obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Howlett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Sobral to counter with a crisp jab.
James Howlett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sobral turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Howlett looks to land a left hand but Sobral moved out of range nicely.
Howlett scores with a body shot.
Sobral throws a poor cross that misses
and Howlett cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sobral uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howlett.
Howlett misses with a right hand

and Sobral counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Howlett has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sobral off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
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!
Sobral getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral tried to score with a low kick but Howlett checks it.
Howlett motions for Sobral to come forward. Howlett throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howlett thuds his right hand into Sobral's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Sobral fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Howlett sprawls well initially but Sobral persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Howlett makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Sobral ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sobral slips under a jab from Howlett.
Howlett is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Sobral had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Howlett moves out of range of the body kick from Sobral.
Sobral's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Howlett connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sobral scrambles back to his feet.
Howlett dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sobral. That did some damage!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howlett lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sobral misses with a body kick.
Howlett lands a glancing blow to the side of Sobral's head.

Sobral is rocked!
Sobral throws an off balance right hand
and Howlett counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Oh Sobral is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Howlett ducks down into range and throws a picture perfect right hook that connects with Sobral's jaw. Sobral's eyes stare off into space as he falls to the mat, out cold! Howlett does the decent thing and steps back, rather than landing any shots to his unconscious opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). James Howlett!
Our winner, James Howlett, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.