PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rikkard Hanson (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. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hanson
vs
Howlett

185 cm
23
198 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

181 cm
26
186 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rikkard Hanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hanson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Howlett!
Howlett pushes Hanson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hanson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hanson controls the position from side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Hanson's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Hanson is looking to take a break and control but Howlett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Howlett managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hanson.
Howlett is pushing Hanson's head away, looking to escape. Hanson manages to hold on to the position though.
Howlett gets back to half guard.
Howlett is looking to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howlett kicks off Hanson and gets to his feet.
Hanson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Howlett tries to move into range but Hanson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howlett lands a leg kick that knocks Hanson off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howlett misses with an uppercut. Hanson saw that one coming.
Hanson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hanson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Howlett defends well and Hanson ends up having to push Howlett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hanson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A combination from Hanson does no damage.
Hanson shoots and misses
enabling Howlett to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rikkard Hanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sloppy strikes from Hanson. Those never looked like landing.
Howlett turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hanson shoots for a takedown but Howlett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hanson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hanson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Howlett connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hanson's hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hanson moves in looking to clinch but Howlett pushes him off.
Howlett swats away the attempt to clinch by Hanson.
A countering left hand to the body from Howlett misses.
Hanson wants to land a leg kick but Howlett is out of range.
Hanson backing away here, and Howlett unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Howlett looks to land a right hand but Hanson moved out of range.
Howlett throws a nice outside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Howlett. Beautiful body shot.
Hanson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanson moves out of range as Howlett strikes.
Hanson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Howlett.
Hanson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Howlett slaps away a takedown attempt from Hanson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Howlett swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hanson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howlett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hanson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Howlett misses with a body shot.
Howlett delivers a nice body kick.
A head kick misses from Hanson.
Howlett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Howlett knocks Hanson to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Hanson is rocked!

It looks like Rikkard Hanson has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howlett fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Howlett throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Howlett working away.
Howlett controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Howlett crashes against the mat.
Hanson is looking for a sweep.
Hanson is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howlett in side control lands a decent elbow.
Howlett looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hanson is avoiding damage well.
Hanson regains half guard.
Nice strikes from Howlett there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hanson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Howlett.
Howlett missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hanson tries to kick Howlett off but Howlett keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Howlett is nestled in close to Hanson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rikkard Hanson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hanson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Howlett.
Hanson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice jab there from Howlett.
Howlett ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Hanson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hanson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Howlett counters with a straight right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Howlett as Hanson shoots in.
Howlett has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howlett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hanson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howlett.
Hanson fails to land with a series of punches.
Howlett throws a hook but Hanson blocks it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Howlett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howlett as he avoids it easily.
Howlett lands a lovely overhand right.
A thudding body kick lands there by Howlett!
A chopping leg kick lands by Howlett.
Hanson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rikkard Hanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howlett misses with a body shot.
Howlett lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hanson is looking to chop away at Howlett's legs.
James Howlett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Howlett fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hanson manages to avoid it.
Hanson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Howlett is looking to slow Hanson down with leg kicks.
Hanson tries to work over Howlett's front leg with a kick but Howlett checks it.
Howlett fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hanson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Howlett checks a low kick from Hanson.
Hanson backing away here, and Howlett unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Howlett feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hanson's calf.
Rikkard Hanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howlett stuns Hanson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Howlett blocks a jab.
A shot to the liver by Howlett. Beautiful body shot.
Howlett connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
No luck for Hanson with that takedown attempt.
Howlett is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hanson with a body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rikkard Hanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett walks into a left hand.
Howlett scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Howlett fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hanson checks it well.
Hanson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howlett pinned against the cage. Howlett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Howlett lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Howlett finds it's target.
Nice shot by Howlett.
A big left from Hanson misses.
Hanson throws a series of strikes that have Howlett backpedaling.
Howlett throws a body punch but Hanson moves out of range.
Hanson goes for a double leg but Howlett avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howlett continues to drive forward.
Hanson shoots and misses
and Howlett counters with a stiff right hand.
Hanson misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hanson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Howlett buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Howlett connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Hanson to the floor! Howlett dives in looking for the finish!
Oh Hanson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howlett lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Hanson quite badly. Hanson pulls Howlett in close trying to recover. Howlett postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Hanson on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Hanson doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Howlett!
A very excited looking James Howlett made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.