PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between DeAndre Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Smith
vs
Howard

181 cm
24
198 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

178 cm
34
192 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, DeAndre Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Howard!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Howard lands a right hook to the body.
Howard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Smith has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Smith there as he acknowledges the shot.
Howard jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Howard misses with a jab to the body

and Smith holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Howard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Howard taking a breather.
A nice left hand lands by Howard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Howard clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Howard is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Smith gets his way!

Smith has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Howard has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Smith manages to miss with strikes from the back.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Howard staying busy and making it hard for Smith to control.
Howard can't escape the position.
Smith wants to control the position but Howard frees himself and scrambles - Smith manages to regain control in side control.
Smith working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Smith lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Howard down.

Smith tries for a kimura but Howard is defending well.

Smith swings around for an armbar but Howard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Smith's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Howard looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith won't allow Howard to sweep him here.
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 trying to control the position.
Smith pushing down on Howard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Howard is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Howard is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Howard wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Howard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith throws a strike but Howard avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Howard.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
Howard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Howard is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Howard's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith slows the pace down in half guard.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith throwing shots but Howard is blocking nicely.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Howard's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Howard throws a sloppy body shot
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
Howard missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howard swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Howard scores with a nice head shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howard. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Howard to the ground. Smith is now in Howard's guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.
Howard 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.
DeAndre Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Howard blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Howard's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Howard can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Smith decides to stand up.
Howard scores with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Howard pinned against the ropes. Howard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Howard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith fails with the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Howard. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DeAndre Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Howard tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Howard is pressed up against the ropes. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howard down to the mat. Howard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Howard is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smith rather than just go for the knockout.

Howard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Howard.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Howard is defending well for now.
Howard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Howard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Howard is pressed up against the ropes. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howard down to the mat. Howard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A cross from Howard lands.

It looks like DeAndre Smith has been cut.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Howard but Howard pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard connects with a body shot.
John Howard seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Howard closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith being controlled against the ropes.
Howard lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Howard throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Howard.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Howard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Howard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on DeAndre Smith'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!

Danga de danga de dang - Howard scores with a four punch combination!
Howard works the jab nicely.

Howard drives through and clinches with Smith against the ropes.
Smith has Howard pressed against the ropes, preventing Howard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A body shot lands from Howard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Howard.
Good body shot from Howard.
Howard working aggressively here.
Howard stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Howard is pressed up against the ropes. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howard down to the mat. Howard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Howard lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Howard swinging wildly here.
Howard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Howard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Howard takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Howard dips to his left and cracks Smith with an uppercut!
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DeAndre Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves forwards but Howard connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Howard clinches with his opponent.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Howard walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Howard gets in close and tags Smith with a short punch that almost sends Smith to the mat! Oh Smith is in big trouble! He turns his back on Howard, trying to create some distance but Howard rushes him, striking wildly and Smith goes down! The referee tackles Howard into the ropes to end the fight! Howard is one violent man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Howard!