PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Douglas Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Kusuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Kusuma is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Howell
vs
Kusuma

157 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
250 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Douglas Howell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anthony Kusuma!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Howell.
Kusuma really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Howell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Howell lands a decent elbow from side control.
Howell remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Howell trying to control the action but Kusuma is working from the bottom.
Howell throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Howell throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Howell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kusuma keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howell in side control, throwing shots but Kusuma defends.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howell lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kusuma down.
Kusuma takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Howell really is a fat lump.
Howell looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kusuma is avoiding damage well.
Howell works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Howell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kusuma has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Howell controls the position.
Howell working away.
Kusuma looks winded!
Kusuma on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Howell scoring with punches from side control.
Kusuma taking punishment in the form of punches.
Howell lands a few punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kusuma is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Howell off and has taken his back!
Howell is trying to stand back up.
Howell rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Howell striking from the bottom.

Howell kicks off Kusuma and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kusuma closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Howell wants to get back to his feet.

Howell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Howell is not content to let Kusuma control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Kusuma manages to mount him!
Howell is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Kusuma working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Howell is looking to improve his position but Kusuma isn't that keen on the idea.
Howell is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Howell tries to control Kusuma's body but Kusuma pushes him off. Howell squirms to his side and now Kusuma has his back!
You can see the frustration on Howell's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howell preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Kusuma.
Howell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Can Howell hold on?! Kusuma is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Kusuma is controlling the position but Howell somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

Howell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kusuma is trying to control the action in half guard but Howell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Howell missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Douglas Howell dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kusuma throws a sloppy head kick and Howell moves out of range easily.

Howell shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kusuma is trying to defend but Howell finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Howell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Howell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Howell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kusuma is trying to stand.
Kusuma is breathing heavily.
Kusuma is looking for a sweep. Howell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Howell scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Howell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Still in half guard, Howell seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Howell lands a nice short elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Howell connects with a nice short shot to Kusuma's temple.
Howell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kusuma can do to turn this around?

Howell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kusuma defends it well.
Howell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kusuma trying to control from the bottom.
Howell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Howell scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Howell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kusuma doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Howell.

Howell is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kusuma sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell lands strikes from half guard.
Kusuma felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kusuma is trying to stand back up but Howell is controlling him
Howell trying to pass the guard but Kusuma defending well.
Well, if Howell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Howell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kusuma does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Howell prevents Kusuma from improving his position.

Howell wants to work for an arm triangle but Kusuma is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusuma preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Howell slips a nice elbow through Kusuma's hands, connecting with Kusuma's forehead.
Kusuma is looking to improve his position.

Kusuma is defending against the submission attempts here by Howell.
Howell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kusuma keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.
Kusuma pushes Howell off looking to stand but Howell dives back in and keeps control.

Kusuma is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Howell pulls his head out easily.
Howell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Howell is trying to control. Kusuma wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Howell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kusuma is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kusuma throws a sloppy body shot
and Howell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Howell gets a double leg takedown into Kusuma's guard.
Howell trying to control but Kusuma is working from the bottom.
Kusuma working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Douglas Howell dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kusuma shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Howell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Howell looking for a guillotine here but Kusuma defends easily.
Kusuma wants to control from the top but Howell keeps moving.
Howell trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howell uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters circling a little - Howell finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howell throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kusuma tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Howell is in Kusuma's guard.
Kusuma has Howell pulled in close to control his posture.
Howell with a nice head shot there.
Howell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Douglas Howell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howell is working Kusuma over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Howell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kusuma working a defensive guard here.
Howell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Howell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Howell postures up in Kusuma's guard and throws a big left but Kusuma blocks it.
Howell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Kusuma is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Howell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Howell throws a big elbow that misses.
Howell distracts Kusuma with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Howell makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kusuma wants to stand but Howell is controlling the position.
Howell postures up and lands a big shot to Kusuma's brow.
Howell postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell is looking to work some ground and pound but Kusuma has wrist control.
Howell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Howell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kusuma keeps the fight on the outside.

Howell looking to score a takedown here. Kusuma is defending well but Howell drives through and ends up in Kusuma's guard.
Kusuma pulls Howell in close to prevent any damage.
Howell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kusuma is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Howell is looking to work some ground and pound but Kusuma has wrist control.
Howell throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell wants to control from the top but Kusuma keeps moving.
Kusuma is looking to stand up but Howell isn't so interested in that idea.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Howell postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kusuma not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Howell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Howell wants to control from the top but Kusuma keeps moving.
Howell postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kusuma gets caught flat footed, as Howell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kusuma pushes Howell off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Anthony Kusuma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Douglas Howell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kusuma goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Douglas Howell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howell 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Douglas Howell!