PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jamey Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romero Blanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Howard
vs
Blanco

175 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

180 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jamey Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Romero Blanco!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Blanco.

Howard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Blanco regains guard.

Blanco is looking for a triangle but Howard pushes his legs off easily.
Howard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Blanco has his foot on Howard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howard works his way back into a safe position though.
Howard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Howard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Howard landing with the ground and pound.

Blanco has his foot on Howard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howard works his way back into a safe position though.
Howard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.

Howard stands up and waves to Blanco to follow him.

Howard pushes Blanco up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Howard.
Blanco looks winded!

Howard pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Howard is on top in guard.

Howard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Howard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Blanco working for a triangle but Howard defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard is working Blanco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Blanco has momentary wrist control but Howard slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard stands up over Blanco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Howard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blanco has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Howard has managed to get both his arms back between Blanco's legs - danger averted.
Howard tries to stand but Blanco is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Blanco blocks nicely.
Blanco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Blanco is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howard defends well.
Howard stands up over Blanco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Howard stands up over Blanco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Howard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Howard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Howard has Blanco up against the cage in a clinch.

Howard decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blanco is one step ahead there.
Howard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blanco is controlling him.

Blanco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Blanco is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Blanco preventing the sweep.
Howard is adopting a defensive guard.

Blanco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four 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.
Blanco stopping the sweep attempt from Howard.

Howard has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Blanco off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Blanco goes for a double leg but Howard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howard continues to drive forward.
Howard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Howard lands a nice looking body kick.

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

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Blanco avoids the head kick by Howard.
Howard is looking to land body kicks.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Blanco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blanco tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Howard defends well and Blanco ends up having to push Howard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Blanco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howard swivels and escapes.

Howard has taken the fight to the clinch.

Howard breaks from the clinch.
Blanco shoots and misses
and Howard counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jamey Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romero Blanco.
Blanco takes one on the button.
Blanco blocks a head kick by Howard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Howard has closed the distance and engaged Blanco in a clinch.
Blanco is breathing heavily.

Howard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Howard clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard successfully pulls guard.
Howard looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Jamey Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blanco preventing the sweep.
We've been informed that Blanco has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Howard controlling the position.

Blanco drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Howard dives on top into guard.

Howard working some strikes from top position.

Blanco is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Howard working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanco has momentary wrist control but Howard slips an elbow through the middle.
Howard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blanco on the ground.
Howard lands a couple of digs.
Howard distracts Blanco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Howard scoring with some ground and pound.
Howard tries to stand but Blanco is controlling from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Howard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Blanco looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Howard has picked Blanco up and slammed him! Blanco can't keep hold of the triangle and Howard manages to pass to side control!
Howard in side control lands a decent elbow.
Howard lands an elbow.
Blanco gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Howard working Blanco over with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Howard stands up out of the half guard.

Howard has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jamey Howard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howard scores with a shot to the body.

Howard has taken the fight to the clinch.

Howard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blanco takes one on the button.

Blanco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Howard, pushing him back against the cage.

Howard pulls guard effortlessly.

Blanco drops back looking for a leg! Howard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Howard manages to kick Blanco off! Blanco jumps back into Howard's guard.
Howard wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blanco can do to turn this around?

Blanco has gone for a leg lock! Howard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Blanco's guard.

Howard lands a couple of elbows.
Howard working some strikes from top position.
Howard stands up over Blanco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Blanco throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard wanted to stand there but Blanco had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamey Howard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Blanco tries for a takedown but Howard circles away easily
and Howard counters with a nice body shot.

Howard gets a clinch.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
Howard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Howard sets himself, and Blanco steps forward looking for the clinch! Howard avoids it this time.
Howard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blanco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howard gets a clinch.
Blanco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Howard ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Howard no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard controlling Blanco's posture.
Howard keeping full guard, as Blanco tries to pass.
Howard lands a decent punch to the body there.
Howard wants to sweep here but Blanco controlling him for the moment.
Howard controlling the position.

Blanco drops back looking for a leg! Howard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Howard manages to kick Blanco off! Blanco jumps back into Howard's guard.
Howard has Blanco pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Howard wants to sweep here but Blanco controlling him for the moment.

Blanco drops back looking for a leg! Howard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Howard manages to kick Blanco off! Blanco jumps back into Howard's guard.
Howard seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Howard continues to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard darts in and clinches Blanco up against the cage.

Howard jumps guard.

Blanco drops back, looking for a kneebar! Howard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Howard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Howard!

Blanco is trying to get back to half guard.

Howard stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Blanco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howard pulls Blanco into guard.
Howard has control of Blanco's left arm, preventing Blanco from doing any damage.

Blanco drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Howard dives on top into guard.

Howard stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Howard tries a head kick but it misses.
Blanco with the counter takedown but Howard avoids it easily.
Blanco goes for a double leg but Howard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howard continues to drive forward.
Jamey Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romero Blanco.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard connects with a good right hand that stumbles Blanco. Blanco circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howard throws a half hearted mid kick.
Blanco tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Romero Blanco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jamey Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howard lands the left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamey Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamey Howard!