PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damian Tonon (ranked 824 p4p, 1191 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 102 p4p, 146 weight class). Howlett is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Indestructible. Damian Tonon could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to James Howlett's chin.

Tonon
vs
Howlett

175 cm
33
165
26 - 17 - 1

167 cm
26
160
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

FUClothing
Sakura Style

Senshi Fight Gear
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damian Tonon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonon throws a nice looking combination but Howlett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Howlett gets a double leg takedown into Tonon's guard.
Howlett stopping the sweep attempt from Tonon.
Tonon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Howlett's guard.

Howlett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Howlett keeping moving, preventing Tonon from controlling successfully.
Howlett manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tonon manages to get himself to full guard.

Howlett postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonon managing to control the position.
Tonon looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tonon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tonon keeping moving, preventing Howlett from controlling successfully.
Tonon wants to sweep here but Howlett controlling him for the moment.
Tonon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howlett manages to get himself to full guard.

Howlett keeping moving, preventing Tonon from controlling successfully.
Tonon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tonon wants to control from the top but Howlett keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tonon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Howlett is keeping the position for now.
Tonon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Howlett keeping moving, preventing Tonon from controlling successfully.

Howlett is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tonon content to stall in guard here.
Tonon with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon tries to free his leg and advance position but Howlett is retaining full guard.
Tonon trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Howlett manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Tonon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howlett is one step ahead there.
Tonon pulls Howlett in close to prevent any damage.

Howlett thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Tonon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is pulling down on Howlett's head. It's preventing any offense from Howlett, at least for the moment.
Tonon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Tonon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tonon trying to control the position here.
Tonon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howlett trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tonon misses with a straight right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Howlett 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.

Howlett's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Tonon connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Howlett scrambles back to his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Tonon.
Tonon connects with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Tonon as Howlett shoots in.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tonon darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Howlett shoots in and drives through. Tonon sprawls well.
Tonon looks to land a combination but Howlett avoids it well.
Tonon closes the distance and clinches up with Howlett, looking for a takedown. Tonon pushes Howlett against the cage but Howlett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Howlett changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tonon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howlett can do to turn this around?
Howlett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Damian Tonon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Howlett.
Tonon cracks Howlett with a good jab.

Howlett rushes Tonon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Howlett wants a takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Tonon lands a takedown into guard.
Tonon tries to free his leg and advance position but Howlett is retaining full guard.
Howlett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tonon is one step ahead there.
Tonon trying to control the position from guard on top but Howlett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon stopping the sweep attempt from Howlett.
Tonon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Tonon.
Tonon stands and throws Howlett's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Damian Tonon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howlett wants to control but Tonon postures up.
Tonon trying to control the position but Howlett is working away.

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.
Tonon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Howlett is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Howlett takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon advances to mount.
Tonon controlling the pace for now.
Howlett sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Tonon is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tonon tries to pass to full mount but Howlett defends it.
Howlett is staying active underneath Tonon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Howlett wants to control the action here but instead Tonon manages to pass to full mount!
Howlett tries to hold on but Tonon postures up.
Tonon content just to control the position here.
Howlett keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Howlett is squirming around, avoiding Tonon's attempts to control the action.
Tonon controlling the pace for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett regains half guard.
Tonon wants to control but Howlett is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Tonon dominated that second round.
That's time! Tonon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Howlett.
Tonon with a poor takedown

and Howlett counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tonon!
Tonon tries to control but Howlett manages to take his back.
Howlett is not going to allow Tonon to sit and survive in this position.
Howlett doesn't have the hooks in and Tonon manages to turn into his guard.
Howlett trying to control the position.

Howlett escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tonon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tonon wants to control from the top but Howlett keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon 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.
Tonon trying to control but Howlett is working from the bottom.
Tonon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tonon is trying to control. Howlett wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two 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.
Tonon prevents Howlett from improving his position.
Tonon stalling away here and it's allowed Howlett to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Tonon trying to control but Howlett is working from the bottom.
Howlett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tonon is one step ahead there.

Howlett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tonon trying to control the position from guard on top but Howlett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tonon preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tonon gets caught flat footed, as Howlett shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tonon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howlett is one step ahead there.
Tonon is trying to keep Howlett in close.
Howlett is pushing down on Tonon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tonon is fighting to maintain full guard but Howlett has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tonon wants to control but Howlett is keeping busy.
Tonon moves into full guard.
Howlett wants to pass the guard but Tonon is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tonon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Howlett drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Howlett jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tonon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tonon pulls Howlett in close to his closed guard and prevents Howlett from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Howlett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howlett 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Howlett!
James Howlett seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.