PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petri Kosander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Howard
vs
Kosander

175 cm
22
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, BJ Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Petri Kosander!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Kosander sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kosander moves in looking to clinch but Howard pushes him off.
Howard has a takedown stuffed.

Howard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Howard tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kosander's legs.
Howard advances to full mount.
Kosander is squirming around, avoiding Howard's attempts to control the action.
Kosander manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kosander makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kosander.
Howard preventing the sweep.
Howard wants to pass the guard but Kosander is keeping the position.
Kosander wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosander keeping full guard, as Howard tries to pass.
Kosander lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Howard!
Howard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Kosander wants to finish this one by submission but Howard is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kosander.
Howard tries to reverse the position but Kosander maintains control.
Howard gets back to half guard.
Kosander tries to stand and escape but Howard is controlling the position.
Kosander sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kosander is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Howard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kosander looks gassed!
Howard is trying to control but can't.
Howard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Howard.

Howard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kosander must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kosander makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kosander wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.
Howard looking for a sweep. Not yet Howard, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kosander can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kosander with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Howard working for a triangle but Kosander defends it easily.
Kosander passes Howard's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Howard is staying active underneath Kosander, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Howard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kosander seems to be looking for submissions.
Howard is staying active underneath Kosander, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kosander is working for a submission of some sort.
Howard tries to roll over but Kosander keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 BJ Howard will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kosander closes the distance and clinches.
Kosander working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Kosander jumps into guard, dragging Howard to the mat.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kosander is keeping the position for now.

Kosander throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Howard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Howard passes Kosander's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Howard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kosander defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kosander is defending against the submission attempts here by Howard.
Kosander trying to control but Howard postures up.
Kosander tries to get to full guard but Howard has control of the leg.
Kosander tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Howard has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kosander stops Howard from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Kosander really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Howard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kosander tries to lock up and control but Howard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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

Howard is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kosander has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kosander!
Howard keeping moving, preventing Kosander from controlling successfully.

Kosander avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kosander gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kosander showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kosander is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Howard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kosander can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kosander trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kosander controlling from the top position.
Howard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kosander's guard.
Howard trying to control but Kosander is working from the bottom.
Kosander looking to control.
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Kosander is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Kosander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howard won't allow Kosander to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that BJ Howard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Howard tries for a takedown but Kosander sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt - Kosander sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kosander stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howard stuffs the takedown.
Howard with a poor takedown
and Kosander makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Kosander shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kosander was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Kosander wants to finish this one by submission but Howard is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kosander.
Howard is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howard is trying to reverse the position but instead Kosander has taken his back - oops!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Kosander's arms.
Howard manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kosander's guard. Nice work there by Howard.

Howard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kosander is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Howard, into his guard.

Howard working for submissions but it's allowed Kosander to get to half guard.
Kosander trying to control from half guard but Howard is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard is looking to improve his position.
Howard moves into full guard.
Kosander won't allow Howard to sweep him here.
Howard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kosander puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Kosander is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Howard is just riding it out for now. Kosander eventually gives up the hold.
Kosander prevents Howard from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosander seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Howard wants to control the action here but instead Kosander manages to pass to full mount!
Kosander tries to control but Howard wriggling away.
Howard wants to hold on but Kosander pushes him away.
Kosander fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Howard manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Howard is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kosander pulls his head out easily.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Kosander has control of the leg.

That's four 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.

Howard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kosander 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.
Kosander is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kosander wants to stand up but Howard has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Howard scores with a takedown into Kosander's guard.
Petri Kosander has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kosander is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petri Kosander comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... BJ Howard!