PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between AJ Daniels (ranked 4976 p4p, 370 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 4345 p4p, 344 weight class). James Howlett struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. AJ Daniels is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Daniels
vs
Howlett

170 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

179 cm
25
154 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, AJ Daniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniels closes the distance looking to clinch
and Howlett counters with a straight right hand.
Howlett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Daniels looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Daniels shoots in for a takedown but Howlett shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howlett appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Daniels rushes Howlett and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Howlett is trying to force a seperation but Daniels has the dominant position.
Howlett can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett is looking to break free of the clinch but Daniels has double underhooks.

Howlett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howlett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Howlett counters with a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Howlett as Daniels shoots in.
Howlett steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Daniels. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Daniels clinches with his opponent.

Howlett breaks from the clinch.
Daniels throws a series of punches but Howlett avoids them all with ease.
Daniels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howlett pinned against the cage. Howlett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Daniels looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Daniels controls from within his opponent's guard.
Daniels seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Howlett for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Daniels is controlling him.
Daniels engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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.

Daniels gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Daniels darts in trying to clinch
and Howlett counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Daniels instigates a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Howlett breaks the clinch.
Howlett keeps the fight on the outside.
A nice side step and Howlett releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that AJ Daniels will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

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

Howlett manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

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

Daniels shoots in and bounces Howlett off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Daniels slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Howlett really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Daniels. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Daniels advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels tries to advance to mount but can't.
Daniels landing strikes.

Daniels wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Howlett, who protects the arm well.

Daniels is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Howlett knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Daniels stands up and we're back to a striking position.
AJ Daniels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Daniels shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A little jabbing left from Howlett on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Daniels fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Howlett to the ground. Daniels is now in Howlett's guard.

Howlett is working an open guard so Daniels takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett stuffs the takedown.

Daniels has taken the fight to the clinch.
Daniels is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Howlett is defending well.
Daniels is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howlett can do to turn this around?

Daniels has picked Howlett up - he's going for a ride! Daniels dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Daniels missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Daniels decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Daniels throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Howlett tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Daniels is in Howlett's guard.
Daniels looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daniels throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels prevents Howlett from getting back to his feet.
Howlett keeping full guard, as Daniels tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Daniels accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Daniels controls the pace.
Howlett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Daniels dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Daniels misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Howlett replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Daniels blocks it well.
Daniels tries for a takedown but Howlett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Daniels shoots and misses
and Howlett makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Daniels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daniels misses with a takedown attempt
and Howlett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Daniels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Howlett thinks about the counter body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howlett is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Daniels with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Daniels throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Howlett's waist but Howlett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Daniels off to one side.
A countering left hand to the body from Howlett misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Howlett is looking for the big counter here.
Daniels wants to clinch.
James Howlett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Daniels fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Howlett avoids it really well and circles away.
Daniels throws a leg kick but Howlett moved away.
And Howlett responds with a good body kick, but Daniels manages to step out the way in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Howlett leaves Daniels with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Howlett doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Daniels tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Howlett swivels and escapes.
Howlett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Daniels.
Daniels shoots and misses
and Howlett counters with a nice body shot.
Daniels shoots in for a double leg but Howlett sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Howlett appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Daniels or perhaps it was just good defense by Howlett, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels moves to clinch but Howlett breaks away
and Howlett counters with a right hand to the body.
Howlett slaps away a takedown attempt from Daniels, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And Howlett responds with a good body kick, but Daniels manages to step out the way in time.
Daniels shoots and misses
and Howlett counters with a left to the body.
Daniels finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Daniels throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howlett makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Howlett keeps the fight on the outside.
Howlett displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Daniels.
James Howlett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniels shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Howlett as he jumps to the side.
AJ Daniels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howlett swats away the attempt to clinch by Daniels.
Howlett now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Howlett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Daniels 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... AJ Daniels!