PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Malini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chase Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Malini
vs
Howard

185 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Malini!
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, Chase Howard!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard drives through and clinches with Malini against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Howard takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Howard gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Malini is refusing to be controlled, as Howard sits in half guard.
Malini is controlling Howard's trapped leg to prevent Howard from advancing to side control.

Howard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Howard 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard trying to mount his opponent but Malini defends it.
Malini is looking for a sweep. Howard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Malini keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Howard tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ground and pound from Howard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Malini gets back to full guard.
Malini wants to sweep here but Howard controlling him for the moment.
Malini is trying to control the position but Howard postures up.
Malini looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howard scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Malini is proving hard to escape from.
Howard throws a strike but Malini rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Howard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Howard is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Howard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Howard stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malini has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Howard is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase Howard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Malini fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malini.
Howard scores with a three punch combo!
Malini fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Malini. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Malini decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Howard trying to control but Malini postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Malini is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard pulls Malini in close to prevent any damage.
Howard manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Howard is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Malini is in a horrible position here. Howard smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Malini in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Howard trying to control but Malini is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Howard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malini. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Howard looking to finish Malini with some ground and pound. This is bad for Malini!
Howard dominating with strikes here.
Howard can't control as he wanted to and Malini manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Malini wants to control but Howard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Howard stalling.
Howard wants to pass to mount but Malini is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Howard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Malini!
Malini regains half guard.
Howard looks to land a strike but Malini avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Howard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Malini, up you get!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Howard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malini can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard stands up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Howard.

Howard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Malini's guard.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Malini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malini wants to sweep but no luck.
Howard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Howard sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Malini's guard.
Malini regains full guard. Nicely done.

Howard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard preventing the sweep.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
Malini tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four 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.
Let's hope that Howard has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Howard throws a big right hand that misses.
Thiago Malini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chase Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howard slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chase Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Howard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

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