PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Will Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett has chosen X-MEN as his entrance music. James Howlett will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rhodes
vs
Howlett

178 cm
23
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
177 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Marvel Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Will Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howlett sprawls well. Howlett wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rhodes gets slowly back to his feet.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch but Rhodes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rhodes swats away the attempt to clinch by Howlett.
Rhodes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Howlett moves in looking to clinch but Rhodes pushes him off.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rhodes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howlett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howlett wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rhodes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howlett tries to clinch there but Rhodes circles away.
Howlett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Howlett wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick misses from Howlett.
Rhodes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will Rhodes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhodes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Howlett closes the distance and clinches.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.

It looks like Will Rhodes has been cut.
Howlett prevents the takedown attempt.
Howlett prevents the takedown attempt.
Rhodes is working for takedown but Howlett is calmly controlling the position for now.
Howlett landing knees to the body.
Rhodes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhodes's defenses.
Howlett connects with a knee to the head.
Rhodes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Howlett avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Howlett lands an elbow that stopped Rhodes in his tracks for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howlett obliges.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Howlett lands a good knee to the midsection. Rhodes won't want to take too many of those.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
Howlett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Howlett lands an elbow inside.

Rhodes is rocked!
Rhodes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Oh Rhodes is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett scores with a knee to the head.
Howlett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Howlett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howlett working Rhodes over with knees to the body.
Howlett unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rhodes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Rhodes shrugs off.
Rhodes looking for a takedown.
Nice elbow from Howlett.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Rhodes shrugs off.
Howlett scores with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Howlett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Howlett lands a nice elbow.
Howlett scores a nice knee to the body.
Howlett creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhodes's defenses.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Rhodes shrugs off.

Will Rhodes's cut is getting worse.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Howlett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice elbow from Howlett.
Howlett lands a nice knee to the body.
Howlett lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Howlett using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Howlett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Howlett lands an elbow that stopped Rhodes in his tracks for a moment.
Howlett lands an elbow just above Rhodes 's eye.
Howlett lands a nice knee to the body.
Howlett lands a nice knee to the body.
Rhodes seems to have got his legs back now.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett lands a good knee to the midsection. Rhodes won't want to take too many of those.
Howlett working Rhodes over with knees to the body.
Howlett lands an elbow inside.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Howlett with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Howlett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rhodes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett working Rhodes over with knees to the body.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
Howlett connects with a knee to the head.
Howlett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howlett obliges.
Howlett using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett connects with a knee to the head.
Rhodes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howlett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Howlett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rhodes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Howlett creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhodes's defenses.
Howlett prevents the takedown attempt.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Knees in the clinch landing for Howlett.
Howlett landing knees to the head.
Howlett unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rhodes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Rhodes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Howlett lands an elbow just above Rhodes 's eye.
Howlett is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Rhodes looking for a takedown.
Nice elbow from Howlett.
Rhodes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Howlett walks away with a smile on his face. Rhodes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Howlett has Rhodes up against the cage in a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howlett obliges.
Howlett crunches a lovely knee into Rhodes's ribcage.
Howlett is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
Howlett lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Howlett unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Howlett with a knee to the head.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Howlett landing knees to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Howlett.
Howlett tries to land knees in the clinch but Rhodes avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Will Rhodes's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rhodes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rhodes.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rhodes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howlett doesn't manage to clinch there - Rhodes circles away.

Howlett rushes Rhodes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nice elbow from Howlett.
Howlett is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rhodes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rhodes tries to pull guard but Howlett won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will Rhodes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
Howlett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Howlett lands a knee to the head.
Howlett utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Howlett lands an elbow that stopped Rhodes in his tracks for a moment.
Howlett working Rhodes over with knees to the body.
Howlett landing knees to the head.
Howlett lands a nice knee to the body.
Howlett with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Howlett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howlett obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Howlett landing knees to the body.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Howlett prevents the takedown attempt.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Rhodes shrugs off.
Knees in the clinch landing for Howlett.
Rhodes is working for takedown but Howlett is calmly controlling the position for now.
Howlett has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rhodes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Howlett prevents it.
Nice elbow from Howlett.
Knees in the clinch landing for Howlett.
Howlett with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
Howlett lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
James Howlett seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Howlett lands a nice knee to the body.
Rhodes is working for takedown but Howlett is calmly controlling the position for now.
Howlett working Rhodes over with knees to the body.
Howlett crunches a lovely knee into Rhodes's ribcage.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Rhodes shrugs off.
Howlett crunches a lovely knee into Rhodes's ribcage.
Rhodes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Howlett just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett lands an elbow just above Rhodes 's eye.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rhodes.
Rhodes tries for a takedown but Howlett manages to get underhooks.
Howlett connects with a knee to the head.
Rhodes blocks an elbow strike from Howlett.
Rhodes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Howlett creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhodes's defenses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Howlett.
Howlett gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rhodes.
Rhodes tries to pull guard but Howlett won't allow it.
Rhodes tries for a takedown but Howlett manages to get underhooks.
Howlett creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhodes's defenses.
Howlett lands an elbow that stopped Rhodes in his tracks for a moment.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Howlett creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rhodes's defenses.
Howlett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Howlett lands a knee to the body.
Howlett lands a knee to the body.
Howlett crunches a lovely knee into Rhodes's ribcage.
Howlett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is pressed up against the cage. Rhodes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howlett down to the mat. Howlett avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Howlett. Rhodes shrugs it off though.
Rhodes keeps the fight on the outside.
Howlett wants to clinch up but Rhodes keeps it at a distance.
Howlett moves in looking to clinch but Rhodes pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howlett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Howlett wants to clinch up but Rhodes keeps it at a distance.

Howlett rushes Rhodes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Howlett.
Rhodes managing to block the knees to the body from Howlett.
Rhodes avoids the elbow strike from Howlett, against the cage.
Rhodes takes an elbow to the temple.
Howlett lands an elbow that stopped Rhodes in his tracks for a moment.

Rhodes is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Howlett can't fight it off and eventually Rhodes manages to take the fight to the floor. Howlett looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rhodes wants to control from the top but Howlett keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes stands and throws Howlett's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Rhodes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Howlett has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rhodes working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howlett is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rhodes is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Will Rhodes's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rhodes fails to land the takedown.
Howlett lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rhodes keeps the fight on the outside.

Howlett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rhodes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rhodes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Howlett avoids it.
Howlett utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Howlett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Rhodes shrugs off.
Howlett with a knee to the head.
Howlett lands an elbow just above Rhodes 's eye.
Knees to the body from Howlett.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Will Rhodes's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!
Knees to the body from Howlett.
Howlett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rhodes's face.
A fake to the body and Howlett gets the Thai clinch. He wastes no time and tries to connect with knees to the head. This is dangerous for Rhodes! He should get out! Another devastating knee and Rhodes falls head first to the ground. It's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). James Howlett!