PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Frazier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Court Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nigel Frazier has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Frazier
vs
Howard

211 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

165 cm
23
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nigel Frazier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Court Howard!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Howard.

Frazier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Frazier gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Howard scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Frazier manages to mount him!
Frazier will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Howard is squirming around, avoiding Frazier's attempts to control the action.
Frazier lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Howard working to try and regain half guard.
Howard wants to control but Frazier is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is trying to escape the mount.
Frazier avoids the attempt from Howard to control.
Frazier working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Howard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frazier putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Howard wants to control but Frazier is having none of it.
Frazier scoring with strikes but Howard is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Howard is wriggling around trying to escape.
Frazier connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Frazier lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Howard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard gets back to half guard.
Howard tries to roll over but Frazier keeps him under control.
Howard trying to control here.
Frazier working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Howard is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Howard manages to get to full guard.
Frazier lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Howard wants to control but Frazier passes easily into half guard.
Frazier working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Frazier looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Frazier has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Frazier dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Frazier looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Howard is wriggling around but Frazier manages to pass to half guard.

Frazier working Howard over with strikes.
Frazier not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard wants to control but Frazier is keeping busy.
Frazier 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.

Howard kicks off Frazier and gets to his feet.

Howard moves into range and clinches up with Frazier.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Frazier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Court Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Frazier darts in and clinches Howard up against the cage.
Frazier tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Howard just stands there and leans against the cage.

Frazier breaks from the clinch.

Howard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Howard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Howard has Frazier pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Frazier manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Frazier jumps guard but Howard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nigel Frazier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Frazier managing to block the knees to the body from Howard.

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

Frazier scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Howard throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Frazier slaps away a takedown attempt from Howard, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Frazier instigates a clinch.
Frazier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howard can do to turn this around?
Frazier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Frazier is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Howard is defending well.
Frazier has Howard pressed against the cage, preventing Howard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Frazier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Frazier blocks a head kick by Howard.

Frazier darts in and clinches Howard up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Frazier breaks from the clinch.
Frazier really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Howard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Frazier.
Howard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Howard tries to pull guard but Frazier won't allow it.
Howard throws an elbow but it misses.
Howard wants to break the clinch but can't.

Howard pulls guard effortlessly.
Howard wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howard manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Frazier tries for a takedown but Howard manages to get underhooks.
Frazier is looking to take this one to the mat.
Howard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Frazier avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Frazier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howard pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Frazier is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Howard can't fight it off and eventually Frazier manages to take the fight to the floor. Howard looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Howard looking for a sweep. Not yet Howard, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Court Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Howard shoots in and drives through. Frazier sprawls well.
Frazier tries to clinch but Howard is having none of it.

Howard has managed to clinch.
Frazier is looking for a takedown.
Howard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Frazier goes for a takedown attempt but Howard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Howard throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard dives in and grabs Frazier's left leg, looking for a takedown. Frazier pushes down on Howard's head and hops out.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
Frazier wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nigel Frazier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Court Howard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard closes the distance and clinches.
Court Howard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Frazier tries to pull guard but Howard holds him up against the cage and eventually Frazier drops back down to his feet.

Frazier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Howard darts in and clinches Frazier up against the cage.
Howard is trying to break the clinch but Frazier has him pressed against the cage.
Howard lands a body shot.
With the fighters up against the cage, Howard throws an elbow but misses.
Howard trying to land knees to the body.
Frazier tries to score a body lock takedown but Howard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard lands with a right to the head.
Frazier wants a takedown.
Frazier has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Howard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Frazier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Howard wants to get back to striking at distance but Frazier won't allow it.
Howard has had enough of the clinch but Frazier keeps him there for the moment.
Frazier can't break the clinch.
Frazier jumps guard but Howard stands there with Frazier around his waist. Frazier gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Howard tries to break the clinch but Frazier is controlling the position.
Howard is working Frazier over against the cage.

Frazier breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frazier slaps away a takedown attempt from Howard, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Howard forces Frazier back against the cage and clinches.
Howard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Frazier is defending well for now.

Frazier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Howard moves into the clinch successfully.
Howard stops a takedown attempt from Frazier.

Frazier has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Howard clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Howard manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Court Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Howard rushes Frazier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Howard wants a takedown but no success here.
Frazier has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Howard after a bit of a struggle.
Frazier is working for takedown but Howard is calmly controlling the position for now.
A bit of stalling here from Howard.
Howard wants a takedown.
Frazier tries to score a body lock takedown but Howard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Howard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Frazier to keep the fight standing.
Frazier has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Good body shot from Howard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Court Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howard 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

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