PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taneli Hauki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett comes to the cage accompanied by X-Men Theme Music. This should be fireworks!

Howlett
vs
Hauki

181 cm
29
186 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

188 cm
38
197 lbs
32 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

Spartan Nutrition
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 15 - 7 - 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 32 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taneli Hauki!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howlett moves out of range as Hauki strikes.
Nice body kick from Howlett.
Hauki digs a good hook to Howlett's body.
Hauki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howlett throwing a counter right hand but Hauki manages to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Hauki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Howlett dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hauki throws out a loose jab but Howlett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hauki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hauki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hauki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Howlett is out of range.
Hauki tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hauki throws a wild body kick that Howlett sees coming a mile off.
Hauki blocks a leg kick.
Howlett connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howlett throws a body kick that misses.
Howlett misses with a right hand
and Hauki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Howlett lunges at Hauki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hauki's hand.
We've been informed that Hauki has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett throws a big shot that misses.
Howlett connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hauki's hands.
Howlett connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hauki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hauki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A leg kick checked by Hauki.
Howlett slips a straight right by Hauki.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Howlett crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hauki - the referee stops the clock and Howlett gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hauki. Howlett manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Howlett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hauki.
Hauki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hauki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Howlett throws out the jab.
Hauki looks to land a right hand but Howlett moved out of range.
Howlett looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Despite the aggression on Hauki's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hauki misses with a low kick.
Howlett ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hauki moves out of range of the body kick from Howlett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hauki.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Howlett, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hauki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Howlett walks into a left hand.
Hauki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hauki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Howlett with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Howlett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hauki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Howlett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hauki throws a solid leg kick but Howlett takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hauki.
Hauki stalks Howlett and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Howlett's face. Howlett staggers backwards, shaken.
Howlett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hauki was well out of range. Poor timing from Howlett.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howlett.
Howlett throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Hauki counter with a right hand.
Hauki scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Howlett slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hauki drops Howlett with a left right combo! Hauki follows him down to the ground into side control.

Howlett is rocked!
Howlett is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Hauki is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Oh Howlett is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Howlett gets back to half guard.
Howlett seems to have got his legs back now.
Howlett is trying to stand up here but Hauki is controlling him well.

Howlett kicks Hauki off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hauki throws a low kick but Howlett moves out of range easily.
Howlett throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hauki avoids it.
Howlett avoids the head kick by Hauki.
Hauki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howlett was well out of range. Poor timing from Hauki.
Hauki bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Howlett's head.
Hauki's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Howlett connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hauki scrambles back to his feet.
Howlett fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hauki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hauki throws out a powerful jab.
Hauki lands with a thumping leg kick.
Howlett scores with a jab. Hauki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett ducks under a wild hook from Hauki.
Hauki throws a leg kick that misses.
Howlett tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hauki is able to avoid easily.
Hauki tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hauki misses with a right hand
and Hauki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice inside leg kick there by Howlett. That's going to slow Hauki down.
Hauki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Howlett checks a leg kick.
Howlett lands a body shot.
Hauki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
It appears Howlett was looking to counter with a kick there.
Hauki staying out of range there.
Hauki misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hauki tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Howlett is able to avoid easily.
Howlett is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hauki finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Howlett half committed to a counter leg kick.
Howlett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howlett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hauki.
Hauki tries to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Taneli Hauki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hauki throws a sloppy head kick and Howlett moves out of range easily.
Hauki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from Howlett misses the target.
Howlett throws a hook to the side of Hauki's head but Hauki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Howlett connects with an inside leg kick.
Hauki's corner calls for a 1-2. Hauki obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Howlett throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hauki lands an overhand right.
Howlett misses with a looping left.
Howlett scores with a hook.
Howlett keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Howlett fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hauki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hauki scoring well with a low kick there.
Hauki throws a lazy uppercut
and Howlett counters with a lovely shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hauki connects with a good right hand that stumbles Howlett. Howlett circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hauki ducks right into an uppercut from Howlett.
The fighters circling - Hauki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hauki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Howlett works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hauki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hauki throws a leg kick
and Howlett counters with a nice kick to the body.
Howlett ducks under a wild hook from Hauki.
Howlett throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hauki is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hauki.
Howlett misses with a looping left.
Howlett showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hauki.
Howlett throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Howlett lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hauki lands with a good body shot.
Hauki's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Howlett tries a low kick but Hauki avoids it.
Howlett moves out of range of the leg kick from Hauki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hauki avoids the head kick by Howlett.
Hauki chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hauki misses with an uppercut.
Hauki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hauki tried to score with a low kick but Howlett checks it.
Howlett throws a low kick but Hauki moves out of range easily.
Howlett gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hauki swats away the attempt to clinch by Howlett.
Hauki tries to counter by closing the distance.
Howlett swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little jabbing left from Hauki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hauki swings for the body but Howlett moves out of range.
Howlett tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hauki swings away with a body shot that misses
and Howlett counters with a body kick that stops Hauki in his tracks momentarily.
A lazy left from Howlett finds it's target.
Howlett tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is looking to chop away at Hauki's legs.
Hauki wants to counter the offense by Howlett and move into the clinch position.
Hauki misses with a straight left.
Howlett turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hauki misses with a hook. Howlett ducked under it nicely.
Hauki throws a leg kick
and Hauki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Howlett wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Hauki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Howlett.
Hauki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Howlett blocks an uppercut.
Howlett blocks an uppercut.
Hauki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Howlett lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Howlett looking to throw knees to the head but Hauki is blocking nicely.
Hauki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Howlett tries to work over Hauki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hauki blocking some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howlett.
Hauki throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hauki.
Hauki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Howletts head.
Hauki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Howletts head.
Hauki struggles to land a body shot inside as Howlett controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Howlett.
Howlett misses with a punch on the inside.
Hauki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hauki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Howlett.
Howlett getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Howlett.
Howlett misses with a low kick.
Hauki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Howlett.
Hauki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hauki throws a leg kick but Howlett checks it.
Howlett appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Howlett throws a lazy uppercut
and Hauki counters with a leg kick.
Hauki looks to land a right hand but Howlett moved out of range.
Howlett scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Howlett connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hauki momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hauki lands a right hook to the body.
Howlett lands a glancing blow to the side of Hauki's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hauki misses with a hook
and Howlett counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hauki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Howlett counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hauki tries to score with a low kick but Howlett moves his leg out of the way.
Hauki takes one on the button.
Hauki scores with a punch to the head.
Howlett throws a looping overhand right but Hauki ducks down to avoid it.
Hauki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Howlett half committed to a counter leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hauki.
Howlett takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hauki defending well as Howlett loads up on a big left hand.
Hauki takes a jab right on the kisser.
James Howlett is winning the standup battle so far.
Howlett lands with a shot to the body.
Hauki throws a big shot that misses.
A big left from Howlett misses.
Howlett lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hauki lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howlett throws a solid leg kick but Hauki takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Howlett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hauki misses with an attempted mid kick.
It looked like Howlett wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hauki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hauki scores with a nice head shot.
Howlett misses with an uppercut. Hauki saw that one coming.
Hauki loads up on a big right hand but Howlett slips the punch.
Howlett throws a hook but Hauki avoids it easily.
Howlett connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Howlett lands with a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howlett. Hauki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howlett scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hauki in his tracks.
Howlett fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hauki manages to avoid it.
A jab from Howlett misses.
Howlett works the jab nicely.
Hauki slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hauki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Howlett's sensitive parts.
Howlett takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Howlett throws an overhand right that lands on Hauki's shoulder, as Hauki tries to avoid the shot.
Howlett scores with a hook.
Howlett steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hauki.
Howlett throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hauki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hauki tries to clinch but Howlett is having none of it.
Howlett wants to land a leg kick but Hauki is out of range.
Hauki doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Hauki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Howlett gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Howlett takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Howlett fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hauki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Howlett takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hauki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hauki.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howlett fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett dips to his left and cracks Hauki with an uppercut!
Hauki throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Hauki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hauki tries a body shot but Howlett blocks it.
Hauki lands a shoulder strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hauki.
Hauki misses with a punch on the inside.
Howlett lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hauki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howlett swings wildly with an uppercut but Hauki uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howlett.
Hauki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Howlett.
I think Howlett has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Howlett!
During a confident post fight interview, James Howlett thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.