PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Sheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Howell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sheck
vs
Howell

178 cm
26
205 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

210 cm
31
223 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roger Sheck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Ben Watson and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheck misses with a wild body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Howell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Sheck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sheck will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Josh Howell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howell moves away from the strike by Sheck.
A jab from Sheck misses.
Howell scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sheck moves out of range of the strikes.
Sheck scores with a jab to the head.
Howell throws out a loose jab but Sheck uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Sheck.
Sheck throws a big shot that misses.
Howell throws out a counter right but Sheck avoids it with no problem.
Howell slips a jab and a cross from Sheck.
Howell uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sheck.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sheck throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheck misses with a lunging right hand
and Sheck takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sheck ducks under a wild hook from Howell.
Good exchange - Sheck coming out on top.
Howell lands a head shot.
Howell loads up on a big right hand but Sheck slips the punch.
Howell lands with a nice combination. Sheck backs away looking to recover.
A shot to the body from Howell misses
and Sheck counters with a nice uppercut.
Howell misses with a hook.
Howell dodges the punch combination from Sheck.
Howell slips a straight right by Sheck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howell takes a jab right on the kisser.
Howell scores with a jab. Sheck acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sheck throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sheck misses with a jab, cross combination.
Howell swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sheck throws an overhand right that lands on Howell's shoulder, as Howell tries to avoid the shot.
Sheck looks to land a right hand but Howell moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheck ducks under a wild hook from Howell.
Sheck throws a series of punches but Howell avoids them all with ease.
Sheck throws a lazy right hand but Howell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sheck connects with a body shot that sends Howell's belly button to the back.
Sheck throws an overhand right that lands on Howell's shoulder, as Howell tries to avoid the shot.
It seemed like Howell was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Howell displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sheck throws out the jab.
Sheck ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sheck throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sheck misses with a right hand
and Howell counters with a nice uppercut.
Howell misses with a body shot.
Sheck takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A big left from Howell misses.
Howell has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sheck finds it's way round the side to connect with Howell's head.
Sheck misses with a series of wild punches.
A slow jab from Howell misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sheck ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howell moves away.
Sheck misses with a wild body shot.
Sheck takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sheck swinging wildly here.
Howell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sheck.
Decent striking displayed by Howell there.

Sheck gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Sheck breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Howell does no damage.
Sheck throws a hook to the side of Howell's head but Howell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Some wild striking there from Sheck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell misses with a hook.
Sheck lands a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howell uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sheck.
Howell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sheck moves out of range of the strikes.
Howell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sheck.
Sheck misses with a looping right.
Howell connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sheck. Sheck circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A telegraphed right hand from Sheck misses the target.
Howell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sheck.
Howell might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sheck throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sheck appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sheck looks to throw the jab but Howell is out of range.
Sheck throws a big shot that misses.
Howell swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Howell dodges the punch combination from Sheck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Sheck dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sheck looks to land a right hand but Howell moved out of range.
Howell lands with a shot to the body.
Howell moves out of range as Sheck strikes.
Sheck has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Howell finds it's way round the side to connect with Sheck's head.
Sheck tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howell was well out of range. Poor timing from Sheck.
Sheck throws out a powerful jab.
Howell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Howell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sheck pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sheck ducks right into an uppercut from Howell.
Sheck looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sheck thows a left - swing and a miss!
Howell misses with a looping right.
Howell throws a hook but Sheck blocks it.
Howell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Roger Sheck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howell missing with a left hand there. Sheck was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howell looks to throw the jab but Sheck is out of range.
Howell digs a good body shot into Sheck's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sheck.
A jab from Sheck does it's job there.
Sheck jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Howell loads up on a big right hand but Sheck slips the punch.
Sheck slips a straight right by Howell.
Sheck on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sheck falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sheck takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A jab from Howell finds it's way through Sheck's defenses.
Sheck misses with a combination
and Howell counters with a nice uppercut.
Sheck lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Howell just misses with a punch to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sheck misses with an uppercut. Howell saw that one coming.
As Sheck backs off Howell throws a huge counter combo but Sheck manages to avoid it all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheck missing with a left hand there. Howell was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Howell is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sheck misses with an uppercut
and Howell counters with a straight right hand.
Howell dodges the punch combination from Sheck.
Howell misses with a body punch
and Sheck counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howell. Sheck does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howell swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Sheck has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sheck misses with the head strike.
Howell tries for a takedown but Sheck manages to get underhooks.

Sheck breaks from the clinch.
Sheck throws the left hand but Howell avoids the punch easily.
Sheck closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sheck uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howell.
Howell lands a glancing blow to the side of Sheck's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell staying out of range there.
Howell digs a good hook to Sheck's body.

Sheck instigates a clinch.
Howell is trying to pull guard but Sheck has him pressed against the cage.

Sheck's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Howell throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Howell connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sheck's hands.
Howell scores with a punch to the head.
Sheck tries to clinch but Howell moves out of range.
Sheck misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Howell.
Josh Howell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sheck fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sheck throws a body punch but Howell moves out of range.
Sheck misses with a wild combination.
Howell takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sheck throws a combination that misses
letting Howell counter with a right hand.
Howell misses with a series of wild punches.
Sheck was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sheck throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Howell takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Howell throws an off balance right hand
and Sheck connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Howell lands with a right hand.
Sheck misses with a right hand
and Howell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sheck misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howell scores with a decent looking hook.
Sheck ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sheck throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Howell sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Howell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Howell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Howell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Howell lands with a nice combination. Sheck backs away looking to recover.
Sheck throws a jab when Howell was well out of range.
Sheck keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sheck wants to clinch up but Howell keeps it at a distance.
Howell with a nice cross.
Howell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sheck moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sheck swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sheck pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Howell defending well as Sheck loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut there from Howell.
Sheck misses with an uppercut. Howell saw that one coming.
Howell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sheck.
No joy there for Sheck, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sheck waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Howell.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sheck throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell throws a lazy uppercut
letting Sheck counter with a right hand.
Howell throws a hook to the side of Sheck's head but Sheck sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Howell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sheck swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sheck throws the left hand but Howell avoids the punch easily.
Sheck is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Howell.
Sheck slips a straight right by Howell.
Sheck uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howell.
Sheck throws a looping overhand right but Howell ducks down to avoid it.
Sheck throws a jab but it's blocked by Howell.
Howell slips under a jab.
Sheck misses with a right hand
letting Howell counter with a right hand.
Howell fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sheck looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Howell feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shecks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sheck misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell connects with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sheck misses with a looping left.
Howell lands with an uppercut that bounces Sheck off the cage and back into range.
Howell sizes up Sheck with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Howell slips a straight right by Sheck.
Sheck jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little jabbing left from Howell on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Howell lands a really nice looking cross but Sheck seems unphased.
Sheck throws a jab when Howell was well out of range.
Howell looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Howell punishes Sheck's body with a nice straight punch.
Howell has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sheck moves out of range as Howell strikes.
Sheck takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Howell darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sheck tries to move into range but Howell moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Howell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sheck throws a series of punches but Howell moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheck throws an overhand right that lands on Howell's shoulder, as Howell tries to avoid the shot.
Howell dips to his left and cracks Sheck with an uppercut!
Sheck throws a right and a left that Howell avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howell connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sheck. Sheck circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sheck uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Howell.
A jab from Howell misses.
Sheck is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Sheck keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sheck misses with an uppercut
and Howell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Sheck misses.
Sheck throws a right hand that misses
and Howell counters with a left to the body.
Howell scores with a hook.
Howell digs a good body shot into Sheck's ribs.
Howell with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sheck pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheck takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A swing and a miss from Sheck.
Howell just misses with a punch to the body.
Howell moves away from the strike by Sheck.
Sheck bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Howell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sheck lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Howell circles away quickly and effectively.
Sheck misses with a looping right.
The crowd cheers as Howell lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sheck doesn't seem phased though.
Howell scores with a body shot.
Sheck loads up on a big right hand but Howell slips the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howell takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sheck tries to clinch up but Howell circles away and keeps his distance.
Sheck looks to land a left hand but Howell moved out of range nicely.
Sheck throws a body punch but Howell moves out of range.
Howell looks like he wants to counter punch here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Howell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howell has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.