PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Floyd Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Tinker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Tinker will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Howard
vs
Tinker

150 cm
36
130 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

150 cm
27
123 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Floyd Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phil Tinker!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Phil Tinker has been cut.
Tinker throws a big shot that misses.
Howard is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tinker.
Good work by Tinker as he checks the leg kick.

Howard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Howard showed some decent athleticism there.
Tinker won't allow Howard to pass to mount.
Howard controlling the action here.
Howard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Tinker tries to kick Howard off but Howard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tinker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Howard is working away from the top position though.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Howard is looking for a kimura but Tinker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Howard to get the leverage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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

Howard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tinker has escaped the position, nice work there.

Tinker throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howard moves into the clinch.

Howard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck for Tinker with that takedown attempt.
Tinker throws a series of strikes that have Howard backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Howard does no damage.

Howard shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tinker napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Howard is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Tinker will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tinker manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard wants to control but Tinker is keeping busy.
Howard is not content to let Tinker control the position.
Howard wants to control but Tinker is keeping busy.
We've been informed that Tinker has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Howard is looking for a sweep. Tinker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Howard is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Howard is looking to improve his position.
Howard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tinker's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tinker's back!
Howard trying to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Tinker's body.
Howard is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Tinker up.

Tinker fending off the submission attempt from Howard.
Howard is trying to stick to Tinker's back but Tinker is turning into Howard. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Howard's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Tinker.
Tinker wanted to stand there but Howard had control of the position.
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 Floyd Howard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Phil Tinker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Howard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Howard moves into the clinch.

Howard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tinker's half guard.
Howard is pressing down on Tinker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tinker is holding on for now.

Howard decides to stand and escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Howard is trying to work for a kimura but Tinker is defending well.
Floyd Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard is pressing down on Tinker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tinker is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard thows a huge punch but Tinker dodges it nicely.
Howard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Howard decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Tinker looks for the body kick but Howard saw that one coming.

Howard dives in and scores a takedown into Tinker's guard.

Tinker is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Tinker can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tinker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Howard is trying to trip Tinker. He has hold of a leg but Tinker is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Howard persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Howard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tinker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Howard lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Howard is looking to work some ground and pound but Tinker has wrist control.
Howard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Howard's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Howard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tinker's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.
Howard looking to pass the guard.

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

Howard has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Tinker has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Tinker is looking for a takedown.
Floyd Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Tinker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Howard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Howard turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Howard manages to end up in side control.
Tinker tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard is punishing Tinker with strikes - can he finish him?!
Good control from Howard.
Howard struggling to keep hold of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Howard dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phil Tinker's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tinker goes for a double leg but Howard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howard continues to drive forward.

Howard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Howard sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tinker is not content to let Howard control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard is pressing down on Tinker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tinker is holding on for now.
Howard content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is trying to control. Tinker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Howard stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Howard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Howard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tinker, up you get!
Tinker throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tinker's calf.
Tinker throws a right hand that Howard ducks under and follows up with a left that Howard also avoids with ease.
A quick step to the side and Howard tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tinker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tinker's half guard.
Tinker is looking to get back to is feet but Howard passes into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Howard stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Howard keeps the fight on the outside.

Howard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Howard trying to control the position but Tinker is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard cracks Tinker with a big elbow.
Howard in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Tinker is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Howard is working Tinker over with some ground and pound from side control.
Howard slows the pace down.
Tinker struggling a bit here.

Howard stands up.
Phil Tinker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tinker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Howard is fending him off so far but Tinker persists. Nope, Howard circles away and we're back to standing.
Floyd Howard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tinker gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Howard to score an easy takedown into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Floyd Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Floyd Howard!