PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dean Howard (ranked 4970 p4p, 4923 weight class) and Jieben Raspa (ranked 649 p4p, 641 weight class). Raspa has chosen Lion King On Ice - J. Cole as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Howard
vs
Raspa

185 cm
24
187
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
185
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Fight Club Clothing ($50-$75)

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dean Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jieben Raspa!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, David Schapiro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Howard with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Howard looks to score with a jab to the body but Raspa is just out of range.
Howard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Raspa misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Howard there.
Raspa looks winded!
Howard content to control rather than advance.
Raspa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Raspa should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Howard controlling the action here.
Howard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard slips a nice elbow through Raspa's hands, connecting with Raspa's forehead.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Raspa is looking to control Howard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Raspa avoid being mounted?
Howard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Howard is looking to advance position but Raspa won't allow it.
Howard controlling the action here.

That's two 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.
Howard winds up and cracks Raspa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Howard in particular looking to stall.
Howard scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Howard trying to control the pace.
Howard seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Raspa for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Howard throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Howard connects with a looping right hand.

Howard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Howard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Howard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Raspa being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Howard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Raspa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Howard swings for the body but Raspa moves out of range.
Raspa flicks out a counter leg kick but Howard steps away.
Howard sizes up Raspa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Raspa goes for a double leg but Howard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howard continues to drive forward.
Howard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Raspa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Howard moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Raspa misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard shoots in, scooping Raspa off his feet. Howard is holding his opponent over his shoulder. He slams Raspa to the mat and Raspa is in big trouble! Howard is landing strikes to his unconscious foe and the ref dives in to end the fight! Howard is celebrating with his corner and rightfully so.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Dean Howard!
A less than humble Dean Howard misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
In defeat, Jieben Raspa stepped up to the mic, saying 'Gonna bounce back, watch tapes and hit the gym asap '.