PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neff Elim (ranked 4341 p4p, 24605 weight class) and Fred Howe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howe has chosen New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Elim
vs
Howe

225 cm
18
300
1 - 0 - 0

215 cm
18
300
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neff Elim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fred Howe!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Elim counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Howe clinches up against the cage.
Howe stops a takedown attempt from Elim.
Elim tries to break free but Howe pushes him back against the cage.
Howe tries to pull guard but Elim forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Elim manages to break the clinch.

Howe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Elim to the mat! Elim manages to get full guard.

Elim is looking for a triangle but Howe pushes his legs off easily.
Elim seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elim lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Elim wants to stand but Howe is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howe keeping moving, preventing Elim from controlling successfully.

Howe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Elim can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Elim wants to control from the top but Howe keeps moving.
Elim preventing the sweep.
Elim throwing strikes from guard but Howe blocks nicely.

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.
Howe wants to get back to his feet but Elim passes into half guard.
Howe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Elim.
Elim wants to control but Howe is keeping him busy.
Howe is trying to control but can't.
Howe is staying active underneath Elim, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Elim is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Elim is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Howe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elim is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Howe is just riding it out for now. Elim eventually gives up the hold.
Elim is breathing heavily.
Howe is trying to get back to full guard.

Elim seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Howe has recovered full guard.

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.
Howe keeping moving, preventing Elim from controlling successfully.
Elim throws an elbow that misses. Howe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Elim's guard. Nice move by Howe!

Howe won't allow Elim to get back to his feet.
Howe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elim is keeping the position for now.

Elim has his foot on Howe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howe works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howe prevents Elim from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Neff Elim will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Howe dives in and scores a takedown into Elim's guard.
Fred Howe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Elim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Elim has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Howe is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Elim has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howe is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Howe pulls guard effortlessly.
Elim looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howe is trying to control the position but Elim postures up.

Howe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Elim doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Elim manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Elim decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elim fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Howe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Elim.

Howe rushes Elim and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Howe successfully pulls guard.
Howe managing to control the position.
Elim chips away with some ground and pound.
Elim tries to free his leg and advance position but Howe is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elim trying to control but Howe is working from the bottom.
Elim is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Howe has Elim pulled in close to control his posture.
Howe keeping moving, preventing Elim from controlling successfully.

Howe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Elim can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Elim trying to control but Howe is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elim got a little sloppy there for a moment and Howe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Elim has managed to get both his arms back between Howe's legs - danger averted.

Elim gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Jab from Elim.

Howe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Howe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Elim gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Elim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Elim's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howe trying to control but Elim is working from the bottom.
Howe is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Howe wants to control from the top but Elim keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Elim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fred Howe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Elim shoots in for a takedown but Howe shows good takedown defense.

Howe moves into the clinch.

Elim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Elim closes this distance looking for a takedown but Howe circles away.
Howe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Elim shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howe as he avoids it easily.
Howe only half commits to the counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neff Elim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Elim.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Elim to the mat! Elim manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elim wants to stand but Howe is controlling the position.
Howe controlling from the top position.
Elim is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Howe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Elim. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Elim works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howe regains half guard.

Howe manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Elim keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Howe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Elim's face.
Howe is trying to pull guard but Elim has him pressed against the cage.
Howe taking a breather.

Howe pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elim throws a big right hand that misses.
Elim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Elim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Elim lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Howe has Elim pulled in close to control his posture.

Howe looking for a guillotine here but Elim defends easily.
Elim with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Elim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Howe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Elim being controlled here momentarily.
Howe keeping full guard, as Elim tries to pass.
Howe keeping moving, preventing Elim from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elim throws a shot from downtown. Howe moves away and avoids it.
Howe wants to counter with a clinch but Elim pushes him away.

Howe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Howe passes Elim's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Howe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howe 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Howe!