PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Danconia Jr (ranked 5923 p4p, 7198 weight class) and Michael Howard (ranked 97 p4p, 120 weight class). Michael Howard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Danconia Jr
vs
Howard

200 cm
18
245
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
21
240
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

PEAK

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francisco Danconia Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Howard!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Howard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Danconia Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Howard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Howard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Danconia Jr uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Howard.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Michael Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danconia Jr dodges the punch combination from Howard.
Howard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Danconia Jr checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Danconia Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Howard swinging wildly here.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Danconia Jr slips a jab and a cross from Howard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard misses with a few strikes there.
Howard is looking to score with low kicks.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Howard tries to bum rush Danconia Jr with a series of wild strikes but Danconia Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Danconia Jr blocks a leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Howard as he connects with a hook.
Howard lands a jab-cross combination.
Danconia Jr blocks a leg kick.
Howard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Danconia Jr.
Howard throws a series of punches but Danconia Jr moves out of range.
Howard throws a series of punches but Danconia Jr moves out of range.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.
Howard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Danconia Jr circles away quickly and effectively.
Howard throws a right hand that Danconia Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Danconia Jr also avoids with ease.
Danconia Jr feinted with a counter takedown.
Howard looks winded!
Howard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danconia Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howard.
Howard fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Danconia Jr is out of range.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An inside leg kick lands from Howard.
Danconia Jr takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Danconia Jr slips a straight right by Howard.
Michael Howard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Danconia Jr.
Howard throws a nice looking combination but Danconia Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Howard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Danconia Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Howard.
Danconia Jr feinted with a counter takedown.
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danconia Jr takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Howard misses with a two punch combination.
Howard throws a right hand that Danconia Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Danconia Jr also avoids with ease.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard tries to bum rush Danconia Jr with a series of wild strikes but Danconia Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Danconia Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Howard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Howard motions for Danconia Jr to come forward. Howard throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Howard throws a left and a right that both miss

and Danconia Jr counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Danconia Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Danconia Jr throwing shots but Howard is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Danconia Jr throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Danconia Jr.
Howard has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Danconia Jr 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.
Danconia Jr sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Howard defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danconia Jr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Danconia Jr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Danconia Jr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Danconia Jr.
Danconia Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Danconia Jr works his way into side control.
Danconia Jr postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Howard managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Danconia Jr.
Howard defending against the ground and pound.
Danconia Jr throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Danconia Jr fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Danconia Jr.
The strikes coming from Danconia Jr are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Howard managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Danconia Jr.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Howard dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.
Howard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Howard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Francisco Danconia Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howard's corner calls for a 1-2. Howard obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Howard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Danconia Jr is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Howard tries to bum rush Danconia Jr with a series of wild strikes but Danconia Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Howard does no damage.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Howard lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Howard.
Howard throws a series of punches but Danconia Jr avoids them all with ease.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danconia Jr avoids a kick to the body.
Danconia Jr checks a leg kick.
Danconia Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Danconia Jr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Danconia Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Howard is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard fails to land with a series of punches.
Danconia Jr dodges the punch combination from Howard.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard throws a nice looking combination but Danconia Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Howard misses with a looping right.
Howard throws a big shot that misses.
Danconia Jr feinted with a counter takedown.
Danconia Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howard.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.
Howard tries to bum rush Danconia Jr with a series of wild strikes but Danconia Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Danconia Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Howard. Those never looked like landing.
Howard misses with a double jab.
Danconia Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Howard throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws a series of punches but Danconia Jr moves out of range.
Howard throws a series of punches but Danconia Jr moves out of range.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Howard pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Howard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Danconia Jr circles away quickly and effectively.
Michael Howard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Howard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Danconia Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Howard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Howard misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Howard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard throws a right and a left that Danconia Jr avoids nicely.
Howard looks to land a combination but Danconia Jr avoids it well.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.
Howard misses with a series of wild punches.
Danconia Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws out a leg kick but Danconia Jr moves out of range and Howard only half commits.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard throws a head kick that misses.
Howard throws a nice looking combination but Danconia Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Danconia Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Howard misses with a two punch combination.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Howard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Howard tries to bum rush Danconia Jr with a series of wild strikes but Danconia Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Howard throws a right hand that Danconia Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Danconia Jr also avoids with ease.
Howard swinging wildly here.
Danconia Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howard.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws the kick towards the body but Danconia Jr avoids it.
Howard throws a head kick but Danconia Jr moves out of range.
Howard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.
Howard swinging wildly here.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Danconia Jr slips a jab and a cross from Howard.
Howard misses with a double jab.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Howard throws a leg kick but Danconia Jr sees it coming and moves out of range.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Danconia Jr keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard throws a chopping leg kick but Danconia Jr manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Howard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Danconia Jr.
A combination from Howard does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Howard does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Danconia Jr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Danconia Jr feinted with a counter takedown.
A clash of legs there as Danconia Jr blocks the low kick.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Howard looks to land a left hand but Danconia Jr moved out of range nicely.
Danconia Jr drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Howard throws a right and a left that Danconia Jr avoids nicely.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.
Howard throws a low kick but Danconia Jr avoids it.
Danconia Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Howard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Danconia Jr circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard misses with a jab, cross combination.
An inside leg kick from Howard misses.
Howard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Danconia Jr.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Howard misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Danconia Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Howard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Danconia Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Danconia Jr feinted with a counter takedown.
Howard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Danconia Jr tries to counter with a takedown but Howard is quick to defend against it.
Howard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
Danconia Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Howard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Danconia Jr slips a jab and a cross from Howard.
Howard looks to land a combination but Danconia Jr avoids it well.
Howard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Howard misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard misses with the combination.
Danconia Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Good work by Danconia Jr as he checks the leg kick.
Danconia Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Howard.
Danconia Jr attempts a counter takedown but Howard avoids it well and moves away.
Howard misses with a wild combination.
Danconia Jr dodges the punch combination from Howard.
Howard misses with a series of wild punches.
Danconia Jr feinted with a counter takedown.
Howard throws a series of punches but Danconia Jr moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danconia Jr slips a straight right by Howard.
Danconia Jr blocks a head kick by Howard.
No joy there for Howard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Danconia Jr counters with a nice double leg into side control. Howard won't be happy with that.
Danconia Jr throws an elbow but Howard slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Danconia Jr crashes against the mat.
Howard defending against the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Danconia Jr.
Danconia Jr sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Howard is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Danconia Jr in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Howard defending against the ground and pound.
Danconia Jr misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Francisco Danconia Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Danconia Jr misses with the ground and pound.
Danconia Jr tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danconia Jr throws an elbow but Howard slips to the side and avoids it well.
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!
Danconia Jr throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Danconia Jr throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Danconia Jr working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Danconia Jr in side control, throwing shots but Howard defends.
Danconia Jr in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Danconia Jr in side control, throwing shots but Howard defends.
Danconia Jr misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Danconia Jr fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Danconia Jr postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Danconia Jr in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Danconia Jr in side control, throwing shots but Howard defends.
Howard managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Danconia Jr.
Francisco Danconia Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Howard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danconia Jr throwing shots but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Howard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Howard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Howard!
A victorious Michael Howard thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.