PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Sloane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Howard
vs
Sloane

197 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Frank Sloane!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Santiago Holmes and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Sloane sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Sloane scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sloane postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
You can see the frustration on Howard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Howard gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloane seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sloane seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Howard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sloane thows a huge punch but Howard dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Howard wants to improve his position but Sloane is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Howard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sloane got a little sloppy there for a moment and Howard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sloane has managed to get both his arms back between Howard's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sloane.
Sloane with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sloane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sloane looking to pass the guard.
Sloane stopping the sweep attempt from Howard.
Sloane passes into half guard.
Howard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Howard is refusing to be controlled, as Sloane sits in half guard.
Sloane stops Howard from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.
Sloane missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sloane is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Howard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sloane thows a huge punch but Howard dodges it nicely.
Sloane with the ground and pound but Howard uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sloane slips nicely into half guard.

Sloane is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Howard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sloane missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sloane blocks the strikes from Howard.
Howard wants to get back to full guard.
Sloane trying to control from half guard but Howard is working away.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Howard wants to get back to full guard but Sloane has passed into side control.

Sloane tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
An elbow from Sloane crashes against the mat.

That's four 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.

Sloane is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Howard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Howard is looking to reverse the position.
Howard prevents Sloane from moving into mount.
Sloane working the ground and pound but Howard is defending the strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sloane goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Howard rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sloane's guard! Nice work there by Howard!
Howard looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Sloane escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Sloane dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sloane doesn't manage to clinch there - Howard circles away.
Sloane has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Sloane fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Howard leaves Sloane with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Howard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sloane.
James Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Sloane.

Howard moves into the clinch.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloane circles away from the clinch attempt.
Despite the aggression on Sloane's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sloane dives in and grabs Howard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Howard pushes down on Sloane's head and hops out.
Howard fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sloane moves into range and clinches up with Howard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sloane.

Howard breaks the clinch.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Despite the aggression on Sloane's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sloane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Howard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sloane.

Sloane moves into the clinch.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Howard lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sloane takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howard closes the distance and clinches.
Howard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sloane pulls his leg out and moves away.
James Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard has a takedown stuffed.

Howard tries to keep at a distance but Sloane has taken the fight into the clinch.
Howard is trying to force a seperation but Sloane has the dominant position.
Sloane throws a punch but it's blocked by Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sloane with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sloane takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Howard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Howard just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloane tries to clinch up but Howard circles away and keeps his distance.

Sloane moves into the clinch.
Howard is trying to force a seperation but Sloane has the dominant position.
Howard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Howard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sloane walks away with a smile on his face. Howard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sloane gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sloane avoiding damage.
Sloane tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Howard is looking for a takedown.
Howard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sloane is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sloane keeps control of Howard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sloane stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Howard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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 Howard will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Sloane moves into the clinch.
Sloane misses with a body punch.
Howard tries to land a knee to the head but Sloane blocks with his arms.
Sloane tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Howard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Howard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Howard wants a takedown.
Howard is looking for a takedown.
Howard blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Howard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sloane closes the distance and pushes Howard back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloane tries to pull guard but Howard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sloane jumps guard but Howard stands there with Sloane around his waist. Sloane gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Howard looking to slow down the pace here.
Sloane tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Howard smiles and moves away.
Sloane shoots for a takedown but Howard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Sloane moves into the clinch successfully.
Howard is trying to push Sloane away but Sloane has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Howard manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sloane stops a takedown attempt from Howard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloane has a couple of punches blocked by Howard.

Sloane breaks from the clinch.
Howard throws a jab when Sloane was well out of range.

Sloane clinches up with Howard and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sloane just stands there and leans against the cage.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Sloane tries a head kick but it misses.
Howard misses with a takedown
and Sloane counters with a left and a right that stings Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sloane is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sloane clinches.
Howard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sloane has him pressed against the cage.
Howard is trying to break free.
Howard letting Sloane take a breather here.
Sloane tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Howard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Howard swings away with an uppercut that misses.

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.

Sloane manages to break the clinch.
James Howard is winning the standup battle so far.
Howard throws a head kick but Sloane moves out of range.
Sloane tries to clinch but Howard is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Sloane. No joy for Howard on that attempt.
Despite the aggression on Sloane's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Sloane clinches.
Howard tries for a takedown but Sloane manages to get underhooks.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sloane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sloane will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
It looked like Howard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Sloane moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Sloane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sloane has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Sloane!