PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Macadam Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett's entrance music is X-Men Theme Music. A fine choice. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Howlett
vs
Baird

181 cm
25
201 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

182 cm
32
190 lbs
22 - 17 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Macadam Baird!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Baird.
Howlett looks to land a left hand but Baird moved out of range nicely.
Baird changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Howlett connects with a body shot.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baird closes the distance and clinches up with Howlett, looking for a takedown. Baird pushes Howlett against the cage but Howlett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baird takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
No joy there for Baird, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baird throws a leg kick that is checked
and Howlett counters with a right hand to the body.
Howlett tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Baird uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howlett.
Howlett has been working on his boxing with his coaches at LOD: Lightning Kicks (MaxID260K) in the buildup to the fight.
Howlett motions for Baird to come forward. Howlett throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baird feints the counter takedown.
Some bone on bone action there as Howlett checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Baird is defended easily by Howlett.
James Howlett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Macadam Baird.
Howlett misses with a leg kick
and Baird counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
James Howlett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Baird decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Howlett is looking for a sweep. Baird is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baird wants to pass the guard but Howlett is defending well.
Baird prevents Howlett from improving his position.
Baird with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Baird is trying to control the action in half guard but Howlett is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baird.
Howlett is staying active underneath Baird, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Howlett tries to roll over but Baird keeps him under control.
Baird with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Howlett misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Howlett is fending him off so far but Baird persists. Nope, Howlett circles away and we're back to standing.
Howlett listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Howlett is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baird.
Baird cracks Howlett with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Baird wants to clinch
and Howlett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Howlett throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baird counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A head kick misses from Howlett.
Howlett cracks the inside of Baird's front leg.
Howlett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A swing and a miss from Baird.
Baird tries for a takedown but Howlett circles away easily
and Baird takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett lands with a straight right. Baird didn't see that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howlett checks a leg kick.
Howlett misses with a right hand
and Howlett takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Howlett throws a big shot that misses.
Baird shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howlett pinned against the cage. Howlett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Howlett swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Howlett throws a low kick but it's checked well by Baird.
Howlett moves into range and connects with a jab.
Baird steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Howlett.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howlett scores with a jab to the jaw.
Howlett's corner calls for a 1-2. Howlett obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Baird shoots in for a takedown but Howlett shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howlett fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baird manages to avoid it.
Baird misses with an uppercut
and Howlett counters with a nice uppercut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howlett.
Howlett throws a head kick that misses.
James Howlett is winning the standup battle so far.
Howlett just misses with a punch to the body.
Baird looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird has a takedown stuffed.
Howlett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Baird throws a nice looking combination but Howlett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baird.
James Howlett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Macadam Baird.

Baird gets the takedown into side control.
Howlett wants to get back to his feet but Baird is dominant here and he's now got Howlett's back!

Baird tightening his grip on Howlett, looking for the choke.
Baird struggling to keep hold of the position.
Howlett trying to control but not successfully.

Baird is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Howlett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baird can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howlett is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Baird working for a choke but Howlett is defending well.

Baird is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
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!
Howlett tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Baird tries to keep control of the position but Howlett is staying busy.
Baird keeps control of the position easily here as Howlett tries to buck him off.
Baird tries to keep control of the position but Howlett is staying busy.
Howlett just trying to survive but Baird is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Howlett rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Howlett is defending against the submission attempts here by Baird.
Baird is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is trying to control but can't.
Howlett wants to improve his position but Baird is controlling well.
Baird is controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett has a hand on Baird's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Baird takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
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 James Howlett will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Baird scores with a nice head shot.
Baird chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Howlett bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Howlett misses the target.
Howlett throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Baird.
A swing and a miss from Howlett.
Baird scores with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baird doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Howlett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Howlett misses with a wild body shot.
Baird throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett lunges at Baird with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Baird's hand.

Howlett gets caught flat footed, as Baird shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Howlett has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Baird has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Howlett lands a left hand.
Baird blocks an uppercut.
Baird blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good body shot from Howlett.
Howlett swings wildly with an uppercut but Baird uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baird's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Baird blocks an uppercut.
Baird prevents a body shot from Howlett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett lands with a short shot to the head.
Baird blocks an uppercut.
Baird letting Howlett take a breather here.
Baird blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Howlett swings wildly with an uppercut but Baird uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howlett tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baird is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Howlett gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Howlett misses with some punches.
Howlett misses with a punch to the body.
Baird is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howlett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
James Howlett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Macadam Baird.
Howlett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Baird is defending well for now.
Howlett has a couple of punches blocked by Baird.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird blocking some punches.
Howlett misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Howlett lands with a left to the head.
Howlett is pressed up against the cage. Baird has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howlett down to the mat. Howlett avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Howlett swings for the body but Baird moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Howlett. That's going to slow Baird down.
Baird fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Howlett avoids it really well and circles away.
Baird looks for the body kick but Howlett saw that one coming.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Baird swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howlett does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird shoots in for a double leg but Howlett sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Howlett half committed to a counter leg kick.
Baird scores with a nice right hand.
Macadam Baird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baird walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Howlett checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
It looked like Howlett wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Howlett staying out of range there.
It looked like Howlett wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Howlett wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
James Howlett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howlett throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baird stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Howlett on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Baird doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howlett throws a head kick that misses

and Baird counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Howlett managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Howlett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Howlett, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.