PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 1238 p4p, 494 weight class) and Saurabh Pandeya (ranked 137 p4p, 62 weight class). Howlett kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Indestructible. Pandeya has chosen Clan In Da Front as his entrance music. Saurabh Pandeya has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Howlett
vs
Pandeya

167 cm
29
160
14 - 9 - 0

170 cm
27
160
16 - 9 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Pulling Guard

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saurabh Pandeya!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pandeya bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Howlett's head backwards.
Howlett blocks a leg kick.
Howlett feinted with a counter takedown.
Howlett ducks under a wild hook from Pandeya.
Howlett shoots in for a takedown but Pandeya shows good takedown defense.
Howlett tries to clinch but Pandeya moves out of range.
Howlett takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Pandeya has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Pandeya lands with a hook. Howlett tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Howlett ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pandeya misses with a looping right.
Howlett checks a low kick from Pandeya.
Pandeya displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Howlett.
Pandeya thuds a left hand into Howlett's body.
Howlett looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Howlett needs to keep his hands up - Pandeya had a free shot at his head there.
Pandeya stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Howlett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pandeya fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Howlett.
Pandeya lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howlett fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pandeya avoids it really well and circles away.
Howlett wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett shoots in but Pandeya avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pandeya lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pandeya connects with a body shot.
Pandeya throws a leg kick that is checked

and Howlett counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Howlett won't allow Pandeya to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Howlett drops back looking for a leg! Pandeya is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pandeya manages to kick Howlett off! Howlett jumps back into Pandeya's guard.
Pandeya keeping full guard, as Howlett tries to pass.
Pandeya working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya 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.
Pandeya is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Pandeya looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Howlett postures up.
Pandeya wants to sweep but no luck.
Howlett trying to control but Pandeya is working from the bottom.
Howlett is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pandeya is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pandeya lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pandeya drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Howlett manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pandeya has Howlett in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya wants to sweep but no luck.

Pandeya looking for a guillotine here but Howlett defends easily.
Pandeya keeping moving, preventing Howlett from controlling successfully.
Pandeya controls Howlett momentarily but Howlett frees himself.

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.
Pandeya 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.

Pandeya had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howlett defends it easily.
Pandeya trying to control the position.
Pandeya 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.

Pandeya working for submissions but it's allowed Howlett to get to half guard.

Howlett is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pandeya is just riding it out for now. Howlett eventually gives up the hold.
Pandeya holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saurabh Pandeya dominated that round.
That's time! Howlett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Howlett gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pandeya lands with a light punch inside.
Howlett blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pandeya gets underhooks to prevent Howlett's takedown attempt.
Pandeya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pandeya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howlett fails to pull guard.
Pandeya tries to work over Howlett's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hand to the body from Pandeya.
Howlett blocks a body shot from Pandeya.
Pandeya lands a body punch.
Pandeya throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Howletts head.
Pandeya has a couple of punches blocked by Howlett.
Pandeya lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Howlett.
Pandeya lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howlett successfully pulls guard.
James Howlett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pandeya slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howlett prevents Pandeya from improving position.
Howlett is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett is not content to let Pandeya control the position.
Howlett prevents Pandeya from improving position.

Pandeya thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pandeya moves into full mount!

Pandeya has control of Howlett's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Howlett regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two 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 is trying to escape the mount.
Howlett regains half guard.
Pandeya is looking to take a break and control but Howlett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Howlett is looking for a sweep. Pandeya is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pandeya tries to pass the half guard into mount. Howlett knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pandeya has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya controlling from the full mount.
Howlett is looking to get to half guard.
Pandeya wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Pandeya moves to the back.

Pandeya working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Pandeya has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Howlett looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Howlett tries to escape but Pandeya has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pandeya has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Howlett rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are battling for position here. Howlett manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Howlett keeping moving, preventing Pandeya from controlling successfully.
Pandeya is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Pandeya tries to free his leg and advance position but Howlett is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pandeya trying to control the position from guard on top but Howlett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pandeya tries to free his leg and advance position but Howlett is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saurabh Pandeya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Howlett or perhaps it was just good defense by Pandeya, which made it look bad.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pandeya lands with a good body shot.
Howlett fails in his attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pandeya! But no joy.

Howlett shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pandeya is trying to defend but Howlett finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pandeya manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Howlett postures up.
Pandeya is controlling Howlett's posture.

Pandeya had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howlett defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pandeya has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Howlett can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pandeya looking for a sweep. Not yet Pandeya, not yet.
Howlett advances position into side control!
Pandeya is not content to let Howlett control the position.
Pandeya sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya wants to get back to full guard.

Howlett is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Pandeya is defending against the submission attempts here by Howlett.
Pandeya is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Howlett's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Howlett's back!

Pandeya is persistently looking for the submission but Howlett is defending it well.

Pandeya is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Howlett knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Howlett for a finish.

Pandeya patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya trying to control momentarily.

Pandeya is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Howlett defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Pandeya working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Pandeya is trying to stick to Howlett's back but Howlett is turning into Pandeya. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pandeya's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Howlett.
Pandeya looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howlett is one step ahead there.
Howlett postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett won't allow Pandeya to sweep him here.
Howlett trying to control the position from guard on top but Pandeya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pandeya is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pandeya looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pandeya can't keep his opponent in guard - Howlett advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Howlett is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pandeya gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Saurabh Pandeya.
Well Pandeya 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saurabh Pandeya!
A very excited looking Saurabh Pandeya made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.