PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Massimo Fabbri (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.

Howell
vs
Fabbri

210 cm
26
223 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

189 cm
31
219 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Massimo Fabbri!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Darius Henderson and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fabbri darts in and clinches Howell up against the cage.
I was talking to Howell's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Come on Fabbri - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Fabbri pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Howell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fabbri is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fabbri misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Howell.
Fabbri is pushing Howell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Fabbri working aggressively here.

Howell jumps into guard, dragging Fabbri to the mat.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Howell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Fabbri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Howell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fabbri trying to control but Howell is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Massimo Fabbri has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Howell keeps the fight on the outside.
Howell swats away the attempt to clinch by Fabbri.
Fabbri doesn't manage to clinch there - Howell circles away.
Howell swats away the attempt to clinch by Fabbri.
Howell connects with a single shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Massimo Fabbri has been cut.
Fabbri slips under a jab.
Fabbri slips under a jab.
Howell cracks Fabbri with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Howell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Howell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fabbri wants to clinch.
Fabbri moves out of range as Howell strikes.
Fabbri misses with a head kick.
Howell connects with a body shot that sends Fabbri's belly button to the back.
Fabbri wants to clinch but Howell slips to the side
and Howell counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Howell swings away with a body shot that misses
and Fabbri counters with a left to the body.
Fabbri keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Howell.
Fabbri fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Howell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fabbri tries to clinch up.
Fabbri scores with a head kick.
Fabbri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Howell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Howell.
Fabbri tries to close the distance and clinch but Howell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Howell connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Fabbri momentarily.
Fabbri throws a sloppy head kick and Howell moves out of range easily.
Howell keeps the fight on the outside.
Howell scores with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fabbri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Howell is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Howell lands a slapping body shot.
Howell connects with a crisp jab.

Fabbri is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fabbri is still on wobbly legs! Can Howell finish him?
Howell fakes the body blow, causing Fabbri to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Fabbri goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Josh Howell!
A relieved looking Josh Howell thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.