PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harold Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Tatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard comes to the cage accompanied by Eddie Money - Take me home tonight. Tatov has chosen Soundgarden - Superunknown as his entrance music. Igor Tatov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Howard
vs
Tatov

196 cm
27
277 lbs
18 - 2 - 0

201 cm
29
292 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Harold Howard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Igor Tatov!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tatov manages to avoid it.
Howard thows a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Howard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tatov.
Tatov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tatov jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Tatov clinches.
Howard tries a body shot but Tatov blocks it.
Tatov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Howard is defending well.
Howard tries to work over Tatov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Howard blocks the elbow strike.
Tatov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tatov lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tatov misses with a knee strike.
Tatov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tatov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Howard's elbow.
Howard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tatov misses with an elbow strike.
Howard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatov wants to stall.
Tatov blocks a body shot from Howard.
Tatov taking a breather.
Howard misses with a body punch.
Howard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tatovs head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Howard.
Howard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tatov backwards.
Howard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tatov misses with the head strike.
Tatov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Howard backwards.
Tatov tries for a takedown but Howard manages to get underhooks.
Tatov throws an elbow but it misses.
Howard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howard misses with a punch to the body.
Tatov misses with a punch to the body.
Howard digs a right hand into Tatov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tatov's gas tank.
Tatov managing to block the knees to the body from Howard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Howard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Harold Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Tatov.
Howard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tatov backwards.
Howard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howard has a couple of punches blocked by Tatov.

Tatov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard taking some punishment here, with Tatov in his half guard.
Howard is refusing to be controlled, as Tatov sits in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tatov lands a nice short elbow.
Howard won't allow Tatov to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Howard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Howard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tatov is fighting to break Howard's control of his arms but Howard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tatov passes Howard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tatov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is controlling Tatov's trapped leg to prevent Tatov from advancing to side control.
Tatov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tatov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Howard is looking to improve his position.
Howard is staying active underneath Tatov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tatov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Howard!
Howard wants to control but Tatov is having none of it.
Howard manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Howard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tatov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tatov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Howard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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!
Tatov thows a huge punch but Howard dodges it nicely.
Tatov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howard regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Howard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tatov tries to free his leg and advance position but Howard is retaining full guard.
Howard looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Harold Howard will probably get the nod.
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.

Tatov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tatov blocks a low kick nicely.
Tatov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Howard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tatov.
Tatov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Howard. Howard obviously looking to wear him down.
Howard blocks a head kick by Tatov.
A left lands for Howard.
Howard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tatov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard tests Tatov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tatov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Howard throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tatov defending well as Howard loads up on a big left hand.
Howard ducks right into an uppercut from Tatov.
Howard thows a body shot but no joy.
Tatov tries to clinch up.
Howard swings for the body but Tatov moves out of range.
A punch combination from Tatov misses.
Tatov is looking to chop away at Howard's legs.
Tatov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Howard misses with a jab to the body
and Tatov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tatov slips a jab from Howard.
Tatov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Howard.
Howard keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard missing with a left hand there. Tatov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tatov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Howard.
Tatov avoids the body shot from Howard.
Howard fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tatov wants to slow Howard down by chopping away at his legs.
Howard wants to land a leg kick but Tatov is out of range.
Tatov shoots in and drives through. Howard sprawls well.
Harold Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howard throws a head kick but Tatov moves out of range.
Howard throws out a leg kick but Tatov moves out of range and Howard only half commits.
Tatov shoots in but no luck this time.
Tatov misses with a hook.
Howard throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard scores with a push kick.
Howard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tatov is able to avoid easily.
Howard looks to score with a jab to the body but Tatov is just out of range.
Howard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tatov.
A telegraphed right hand from Howard misses the target.
Tatov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howard jabs at Tatov's body.
A telegraphed right hand from Tatov misses the target.
Howard lands a nice shot that snaps Tatov's head back.
Howard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Howard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatov throws a looping overhand right but Howard ducks down to avoid it.
Howard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Howard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howard looks to score with a jab to the body but Tatov is just out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tatov has closed the distance and engaged Howard in a clinch.
Tatov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tatov missing with knees to the body.
Howard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tatov lands a body punch.
Tatov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Howard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tatov 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.
Harold Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Tatov.
Howard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tatov blocks a body shot from Howard.
Howard can't find room to land a body shot as Tatov controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tatov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harold Howard dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Howard lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Howard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tatov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Howard lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tatov throws a lazy right hand but Howard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Howard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tatov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howard.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Howard trying to land knees to the body.
Howard misses with a knee strike.
Howard misses with the head strike.
Tatov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tatov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Howard.
Howard lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Howard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tatov's elbow.
Harold Howard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tatov misses with the head strike.
Tatov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Howard misses with a punch to the body.
Howard tries to work over Tatov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Howard lands a shoulder strike.
Tatov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Howard struggles to land a body shot inside as Tatov controls his hands.
Howard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Howard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tatov backwards.
Tatov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A shot in the inside from Tatov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tatov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Howard.
Howard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tatov's efforts to push away.
Howard tries a body shot but Tatov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Howard landing knees to the body.
Tatov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Howard lands a left hand.
Howard tries to work over Tatov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Howard misses with a punch to the body.
Howard digs a right hand into Tatov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tatov's gas tank.
A right hand to the body from Howard.
Howard tries to throw a body punch but Tatov avoids it by throwing Howard back against the cage.
Howard lands a hook that snaps the head of Tatov backwards.
Tatov blocks a body shot from Howard.
Tatov prevents a body shot from Howard.
A short right from Howard.
Howard is leaning against Tatov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Howard struggles to land a body shot inside as Tatov controls his hands.
Good body shot from Howard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Howard.
Tatov takes a shot to the head.

Tatov is rocked!
Howard dips a shoulder and cracks Tatov with a mighty uppercut! Tatov falls back against the cage and Howard unloads with a barrage of strikes! Tatov is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Howard screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Harold Howard!
Harold Howard retains his super heavyweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Harold Howard thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.