PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tank Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryder Eipper (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.

Howell
vs
Eipper

185 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Demonic Drugs
SCP Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tank Howell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryder Eipper!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Eipper.
Eipper dodges the punch combination from Howell.

Eipper closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Eipper lands in his opponent's guard.
Eipper pushes down on Howell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Eipper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eipper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Howell actively working from the bottom here.
Eipper prevents Howell from standing back up.
Eipper trying to pass the guard but Howell defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eipper is nestled in close to Howell, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Howell is trying to stand back up but Eipper is controlling him

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Eipper rushes Howell and presses him up against the cage.
Howell looking for a takedown.
Eipper is trying to maintain a safe position but Howell gets an underhook and turns Eipper into the cage.
Eipper wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eipper content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Howell misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Eipper breaks from the clinch.
Howell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Eipper counters with a nice double leg into side control. Howell won't be happy with that.
Howell is breathing heavily.
Eipper trying to control the position but Howell is working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Eipper grinds an elbow into Howell's temple.
Howell is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eipper moves into full mount!
Howell is bucking up trying to escape but Eipper cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Eipper scoring with strikes but Howell is staying in there.
Howell is squirming around, avoiding Eipper's attempts to control the action.
Eipper with a couple of short strikes.
Howell takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Eipper is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Howell has managed to escape the submission attempt.
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.
Eipper working the ground and pound effectively.
Eipper scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Eipper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Howell looks a forlorn figure.
Howell is in a horrible position here. Eipper smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Eipper can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Howell is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Eipper dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick from Eipper lands but Howell takes it in his stride.

Eipper has Howell up against the cage in a clinch.
Eipper scores with a nice hook to the head.

Eipper jumps guard and drags Howell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Howell stopping the sweep attempt from Eipper.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eipper throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Howell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Howell preventing the sweep.
Eipper is trying to keep Howell in close.
Howell trying to stand up but can't free himself from Eipper's guard.

Eipper wriggles free and stands up.
Eipper closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tank Howell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Eipper shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Howell's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell is trying to keep Eipper in close.
Howell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Howell has his hands on Eipper's head, controlling the position.
Eipper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Eipper looking to sit in guard and control but Howell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eipper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eipper seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Eipper wants to sweep here but Howell controlling him for the moment.
Eipper trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Eipper wriggles free and stands up.

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.
Eipper tries to clinch but Howell moves out of range.
Eipper stuffs the takedown attempt from Howell. Howell gets slowly back to his feet.
Howell looks to land a left hand but Eipper moved out of range nicely.
Eipper throws a combination. Howell tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ryder Eipper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eipper steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Howell.
Eipper fails with the takedown
and Howell counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Eipper is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Eipper feints and as Howell raises his hands in defense, Eipper changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Howell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Eipper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Eipper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Eipper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Eipper fails with an attempt to clinch.
Eipper tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Eipper with that takedown attempt.
Howell is looking to clinch but Eipper is avoiding it.
Howell avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howell tries for a takedown but Eipper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Eipper misses with a wild combination.
Eipper tries to clinch

and Howell counters with a nice double leg into side control. Eipper won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eipper struggling a bit here.
Eipper takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Eipper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Howell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Eipper's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Howell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Eipper, who protects the arm well.
Howell scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Howell looks up at the clock and then as Eipper takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Howell smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Eipper wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Eipper fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Howell sprawls well initially but Eipper persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Howell tries to get to full guard but Eipper has control of the leg.
Howell wants to get back to his feet.

Howell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eipper sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Howell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Eipper is working away from the top position though.
Eipper trying to control from half guard but Howell is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Eipper thows a huge punch but Howell dodges it nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Eipper clinches up with Howell and pushes him back against the cage.
Eipper is looking to break free of the clinch but Howell has double underhooks.
Ryder Eipper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howell is trying to break free.
Eipper fails to pull guard.
Eipper tries to break the clinch but Howell is controlling the position.

Howell has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Eipper uses from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tank Howell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Eipper has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryder Eipper!