PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cian McGarrity (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett comes to the cage accompanied by Berserker. McGarrity has chosen Irish Fighting Song - We Come in Pieces as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Howlett
vs
McGarrity

172 cm
36
160 lbs
29 - 6 - 2

174 cm
36
170 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Hellbent

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cian McGarrity!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGarrity lands with a nice body kick.
Howlett fakes the leg kick and cracks McGarrity in the body.
McGarrity throws a head kick but Howlett moves out of range.
Howlett misses with a head kick.
A slow jab from McGarrity misses its intended target.
McGarrity missing with a left hand there. Howlett was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howlett is looking to land body kicks.
McGarrity throws a good cross that connects.
A swing and a miss from McGarrity.
McGarrity lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGarrity throws a body shot but no joy.
Howlett misses with a wild body shot.
McGarrity moves out of range as Howlett strikes.
Howlett takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A swing and a miss from Howlett.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howlett looks to score with a jab to the body but McGarrity is just out of range.
Howlett takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McGarrity has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGarrity throws a low kick, looking for Howlett's leg but Howlett calmly moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howlett.
Howlett looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McGarrity cracks Howlett with a right hand to the side of the head.
McGarrity fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Howlett shoots in and gets a takedown into McGarrity's guard.
McGarrity is controlling Howlett's posture.
McGarrity's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Howlett lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGarrity wants to sweep but no luck.
Howlett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howlett stops McGarrity from standing up.
Howlett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McGarrity swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Howlett wants to control from the top but McGarrity keeps moving.
Howlett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howlett has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McGarrity controls Howlett momentarily but Howlett frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Howlett accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McGarrity keeping moving, preventing Howlett from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett throws a big elbow that misses.
Howlett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses. McGarrity uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howlett's guard. Nice move by McGarrity!

McGarrity with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McGarrity trying to control but Howlett is working from the bottom.
Howlett working a defensive guard here.
McGarrity makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McGarrity trying to control the position from guard on top but Howlett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGarrity is pushing down on Howlett's leg trying to pass to half guard. Howlett is fighting to maintain full guard but McGarrity has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGarrity is looking to take a break and control but Howlett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McGarrity seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Howlett has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McGarrity is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howlett is trying to get back to full guard.
Howlett moves into full guard.

McGarrity avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cian McGarrity will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A jab lands there for McGarrity.
McGarrity looks to land a right hand but Howlett moved out of range.
McGarrity connects with a body shot.
McGarrity moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
McGarrity throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Howlett on the side of the head.
A slow jab from McGarrity misses its intended target.
Howlett misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from McGarrity. Howlett does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett jabs McGarrity right on the nose. McGarrity blinks but takes it well.
McGarrity slips under a jab.
McGarrity throws a nice head kick!
McGarrity lands a jab to Howlett's midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howlett takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett wants to slow McGarrity down by chopping away at his legs.
McGarrity throws a leg kick

and Howlett counters with a takedown into side control.
McGarrity tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howlett working away.
McGarrity avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Howlett.
Howlett is working McGarrity over with some ground and pound from side control.
Howlett fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Howlett working the head and body with strikes.
McGarrity manages to get back to half guard.
Howlett throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McGarrity gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett looking to pass the guard.
McGarrity working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Howlett.
McGarrity has his hands on Howlett's head, controlling the position.
Howlett slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGarrity has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Howlett is working away from the top position though.
Howlett throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Howlett missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McGarrity on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGarrity wants to improve his position but Howlett is controlling well.
McGarrity wants to control the action here but instead Howlett manages to pass to full mount!
Howlett lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
McGarrity is working to get back to half guard.
McGarrity wants to control but Howlett is having none of it.
Howlett lands with some strikes.
Howlett can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McGarrity is looking to escape.
McGarrity tries to hold on but Howlett postures up.
Howlett landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGarrity is in a horrible position here. Howlett smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The referee warns McGarrity that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

McGarrity is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGarrity tries to hold on but Howlett pushes him away.
McGarrity regains half guard.
Howlett is looking to advance position but McGarrity won't allow it.
Howlett scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Howlett is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McGarrity is just riding it out for now. Howlett eventually gives up the hold.
McGarrity is looking to control Howlett's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McGarrity avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Howlett uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGarrity.
McGarrity tries a head kick but it misses.
McGarrity throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Howlett misses the shot to the body.
McGarrity blocks the body kick.
McGarrity misses with a hook. Howlett ducked under it nicely.
McGarrity throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGarrity works the jab nicely.
Cian McGarrity seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Howlett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from McGarrity.
Howlett shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Howlett walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McGarrity checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Howlett plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Howlett lands a nice leg kick that just misses McGarrity's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett avoids a kick to the body.
Howlett moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Howlett is looking to slow McGarrity down with leg kicks.
Nice body kick there by McGarrity.
Howlett is looking to slow McGarrity down with leg kicks.
McGarrity lands a jab to the nose.
McGarrity throws a nice inside leg kick.
McGarrity lands a head kick. Howlett smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
McGarrity misses with a body shot.
Cian McGarrity is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howlett takes a jab right on the kisser.
Howlett plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howlett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McGarrity sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Howlett fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGarrity throws a leg kick but Howlett moved away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McGarrity.
McGarrity throws a head kick but Howlett moves out of range.
Howlett avoids the body shot from McGarrity.
Howlett tries to score a power double leg takedown but McGarrity sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Howlett somewhat.
A telegraphed right hand from Howlett misses the target.
Howlett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howlett misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from Howlett.
Howlett sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Howlett throws a shot from downtown. McGarrity moves away and avoids it.
McGarrity misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett looks for the body kick but McGarrity saw that one coming.
McGarrity looks to throw a body kick
and Howlett counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McGarrity thinking.
Howlett blocks the body kick.
Cian McGarrity seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGarrity lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Howlett has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McGarrity.
McGarrity lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McGarrity walks forward, straight into a front kick from Howlett.
McGarrity jabs Howlett right on the nose. Howlett blinks but takes it well.
A lazy left from McGarrity finds it's target.
Howlett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McGarrity misses the shot to the body.
Howlett takes a swing at McGarrity's ribcage but misses.
McGarrity is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Howlett misses
enabling McGarrity to counter with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGarrity keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McGarrity throws a sloppy head kick
and Howlett counters with a body kick that stops McGarrity in his tracks momentarily.
McGarrity scores with a sloppy right hand. Howlett should have avoided that one.
Howlett blocks a head kick by McGarrity.
Howlett jabs at McGarrity's body.
McGarrity ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howlett moves away.
No joy there for Howlett, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Howlett slips under a jab.
McGarrity stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Howlett.
Howlett lands a leg kick that knocks McGarrity off balance momentarily.
McGarrity misses with a leg kick

and Howlett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McGarrity's guard.
McGarrity is trying to control the position but Howlett postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Cian McGarrity just about did enough to take it.
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.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McGarrity.
McGarrity checks a low kick from Howlett.
McGarrity looks to score with a jab to the body but Howlett is just out of range.
McGarrity scores with a shot to the body.
McGarrity misses with a lunging right hand

and Howlett counters with a nice double leg into guard.

McGarrity has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Howlett can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McGarrity is trying to control the position but Howlett postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howlett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howlett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGarrity works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McGarrity keeping full guard, as Howlett tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGarrity looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Howlett connects with a couple of short punches.
Howlett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Howlett landing with the ground and pound.
McGarrity tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McGarrity working a defensive guard but Howlett manages to pass into side control anyway.
James Howlett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howlett in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Howlett scoring with punches and elbows.
Howlett lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
McGarrity is still in real trouble! Can Howlett finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett lands a strong strike to the head of McGarrity. That's dazed him! Howlett looking to finish here. McGarrity is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Howlett lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Howlett!
James Howlett thanked the fans post fight for their support.