PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Christian Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kushin Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Howard
vs
Takahashi

174 cm
25
166 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

176 cm
23
166 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Russian Mob Nutrition (159 Recovery - $150)

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Christian Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kushin Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takahashi gets a takedown into half guard.
Howard desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Howard is looking to improve his position.
Howard preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Takahashi has control of the leg.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.
Takahashi trying to control from half guard but Howard is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takahashi seems to be working for a kimura but Howard defends the submission attempt.
Howard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Howard tries to get out of the position.
Howard controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Takahashi has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Takahashi looks for a takedown but Howard sprawls well.
Takahashi shoots in for a double leg but Howard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Howard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is 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.
Takahashi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Howard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Christian Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kushin Takahashi.

Howard manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takahashi fails with the takedown.
Howard throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Howard misses with a two punch combination.
Howard misses with the combination.

Howard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takahashi, pushing him back against the cage.

Takahashi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Howard is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Takahashi to the mat. Takahashi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Takahashi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Howard trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Takahashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howard manages to get himself to full guard.
Takahashi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Howard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Takahashi from controlling successfully.

Howard is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi wants a takedown but no success here.
Takahashi looks gassed!

Howard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Howard instigates a clinch.

Howard breaks from the clinch.
Takahashi has a takedown stuffed.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Howard.

Howard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Takahashi tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Howard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takahashi shoots and misses

and Howard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Takahashi won't be happy with that.
Takahashi seems a little lost for a moment, as Howard dominates the positioning.
Howard working the body and head with strikes.
Takahashi is trying to escape the position but Howard is controlling the position.

Howard stands up.
Howard tries to clinch up but Takahashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Takahashi misses with a takedown attempt

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch.

Howard gets control of Takahashi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Howard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Takahashi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Howard is controlling Takahashi's posture.
Takahashi trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Takahashi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Howard scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Takahashi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Howard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Takahashi's guard now.
Christian Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kushin Takahashi.
Howard works over Takahashi with some ground and pound from guard.
Takahashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Takahashi isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Howard stacks Takahashi on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Howard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard cracks Takahashi with a big right hand but Takahashi just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Howard stands up and beckons Takahashi to his feet.
Takahashi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Howard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Howard.
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!
Howard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Howard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Takahashi's head.

Takahashi looking for subs off his back but Howard has passed one foot through into half guard.
Takahashi tries to roll over but Howard keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard wants to stand up but Takahashi is controlling the position.
Takahashi is looking to improve his position.

That's four 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.

Howard decides to stand and escape the position.
Takahashi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Howard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Takahashi jumps guard but Howard stands there with Takahashi around his waist. Takahashi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Takahashi avoiding damage as Howard throws knees to the body.
Takahashi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Howard gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Howard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howard preventing the sweep.
Christian Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Howard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Howard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takahashi looking for a guillotine here but Howard defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Howard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Howard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Takahashi wants to sweep but Howard has passed to side control!
Takahashi wants to control but Howard postures up.
Howard wants to control but Takahashi is keeping him busy.
Takahashi is trying to get back to half guard.
Takahashi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi trying to control but Howard flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Howard wants to control but Takahashi is keeping busy.
Takahashi is really stuck here.
Takahashi is covering up but some of the strikes from Howard are getting through and doing damage.
Howard lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Takahashi can't escape the position.
Howard avoiding Takahashi 's attempts to control his hands.
Howard controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Howard is hanging on to Takahashi's back as he tries to escape.
Can Takahashi hold on?! Howard is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Takahashi tries to roll but Howard sticks to his back.
Takahashi turns into Howard and is now in his guard.
Howard working a defensive guard here.
Takahashi wants to pass the guard but Howard is keeping the position.
Takahashi trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Christian Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takahashi is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takahashi with a poor takedown

and Howard moves into the clinch.
Takahashi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Howard prevents it.

Howard successfully pulls guard.
Howard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takahashi manages to get himself to full guard.
Howard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Howard preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Takahashi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howard is one step ahead there.
Howard postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Takahashi is on top in guard.
Kushin Takahashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takahashi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christian Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christian Howard!