PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Freddie Weeks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xyaire Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Weeks
vs
Howard

172 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Freddie Weeks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Xyaire Howard!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Weeks misses with the combination.
Weeks with a nice cross.

Howard closes the distance and clinches.

Howard pulls Weeks into guard.
Weeks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Weeks is looking to work some ground and pound but Howard has wrist control.

Howard looking for subs off his back but Weeks has passed one foot through into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weeks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is trying to control but can't.
Weeks seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Weeks could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Weeks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Weeks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Weeks thows a huge punch but Howard dodges it nicely.
Weeks is nestled in close to Howard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Howard wants to improve his position but Weeks is controlling well.
Howard keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Howard trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weeks throwing shots but Howard is blocking nicely.
Howard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Weeks.
Weeks wants to control but Howard is keeping him busy.
Weeks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Weeks has control of the leg.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Howard trying to get back to full guard but Weeks takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Weeks has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Howard's face.
Weeks with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is desperately trying to improve his position but Weeks has a good base and remains in mount.

Weeks wants to finish this one by submission but Howard is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Weeks.
Weeks avoids the attempt from Howard to control.
Weeks trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Weeks mounts Howard! Really nice guard pass there!
Weeks tries to control but Howard wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Weeks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Weeks throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weeks throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Howard is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard keeps trying to improve his position.
Weeks working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Weeks throws a right and a left that Howard avoids nicely.
A combination from Weeks does no damage.
Howard closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Freddie Weeks has been cut.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Weeks.
Weeks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Howard to keep the fight standing.
Howard prevents the takedown attempt.
Howard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Weeks breaks from the clinch.
Freddie Weeks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weeks misses with a hook.
Howard is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Howard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Weeks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weeks is trying is best to control the position here.
Howard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Weeks defending well though.
Howard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Weeks is concentrating on defense, preventing Howard from advancing position.
Howard not doing much here.
Weeks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Weeks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Howard postures up.
Howard controlling from the top position.

Howard stands up and waves to Weeks to follow him.

Weeks rushes Howard and presses him up against the cage.

Weeks breaks the clinch.
Weeks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howard can do to turn this around?
Sloppy strikes from Weeks. Those never looked like landing.
Xyaire Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Weeks misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Weeks.
Weeks looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddie Weeks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Howard turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Howard manages to end up in side control.

Weeks explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Howard clinches up with Weeks and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard tries to circle away but Weeks has him pinned against the cage.

Howard has picked Weeks up - he's going for a ride! Howard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Weeks trying to hold on to Howard's head to control him but Howard postures up.
Howard is taking a breather. Weeks says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weeks is trying to get back to full guard.
Freddie Weeks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Weeks works his way to full guard. Good work.
Weeks is trying to control the position but Howard postures up.
Weeks can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Howard controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Freddie Weeks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Freddie Weeks's cut.
That's time! Weeks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Howard connects with a good right hand that stumbles Weeks. Weeks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Weeks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Howard.

Howard looking to score a takedown here. Weeks is defending well but Howard drives through and ends up in Weeks's guard.

Weeks has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Howard is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Howard can't break the clinch.
Weeks is trying to drag Howard to the mat but Howard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Howard gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Weeks kicks off Howard and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Weeks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Howard's efforts to push away.

Howard gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Weeks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Howard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Weeks controls Howard momentarily but Howard frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Howard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Weeks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Weeks is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Weeks gets caught napping as Howard dives in and scores a takedown. Weeks manages to retain guard.

Weeks has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Howard has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard tries to circle away but Weeks has him pinned against the cage.

Howard has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Weeks clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Weeks manages to escape to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weeks dodges the punch combination from Howard.

Howard clinches up with Weeks and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard tries to work over Weeks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Howard looking to slow down the pace here.
Howard misses with a punch to the body.
Weeks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Howard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

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.
A frustrated look appears on Howard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Weeks tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddie Weeks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howard tries to circle away but Weeks has him pinned against the cage.

Howard has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Weeks regains guard immediately.
Weeks wants to stand but Howard is controlling the position.

Howard gets to his feet. Weeks looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Weeks missing with a left hand there. Howard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Xyaire Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Freddie Weeks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howard moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Freddie Weeks.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Weeks, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddie Weeks!