PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Theodore Jensen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Howard is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Jensen
vs
Howard

167 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Theodore Jensen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steven Howard!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard rushes Jensen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Howard looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Howard working hard to break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jensen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Jensen.
Howard wants a takedown but no success here.
Jensen throws a punch but it's blocked by Howard.
Jensen effectively controlling the action here.
Jensen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jensen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jensen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jensen fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jensen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jensen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Jensen for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Jensen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Jensen shows good takedown defense.
As Howard tries to get set, Jensen tries to push him back and clinch up but Howard manages to avoid the attempt.

Jensen clinches up with Howard and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jensen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Howard wants to get back to striking at distance but Jensen won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jensen prevents the takedown attempt.
Theodore Jensen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Howard.
Howard takes a knee to the side of the body.

Jensen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jensen scores with a head kick. Howard tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Jensen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard is trying to control Jensen's posture but Jensen avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jensen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Howard has escaped the position, nice work there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard parries the strikes from Jensen easily there. Jensen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Howard to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jensen wants to control but Howard is keeping him busy.
Jensen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Howard is avoiding damage well.
Howard tries to buck Jensen off but Jensen is having none of it.
Jensen throws an elbow but Howard slips to the side and avoids it well.
Howard misses with a strike from the bottom.
Jensen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Howard is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Jensen lands an elbow.

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.

Jensen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Howard, who protects the arm well.
Jensen is working Howard over with some ground and pound from side control.
Jensen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jensen controlling the position from side mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jensen's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theodore Jensen dominated that round.
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.

Jensen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Howard. Howard circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Howard with a poor takedown

and Jensen counters by moving into the clinch.
Jensen stalling the fight.
Howard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jensen smiles and moves away.

Jensen darts in and clinches Howard up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jensen.
Jensen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howard can do to turn this around?
Howard is breathing heavily.
Howard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jensen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Theodore Jensen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Howard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Jensen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Jensen working hard to break the clinch.
Jensen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Jensen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jensen lands with a nice combination. Howard backs away looking to recover.

Howard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Howard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Howard struggles to land a body shot inside as Jensen controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jensen 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.
Jensen misses with a punch to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Howard successfully pulls guard.
Howard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jensen is one step ahead there.
Howard working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jensen cracks Howard with a solid left hand.
Howard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jensen wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.
Theodore Jensen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard keeping full guard, as Jensen tries to pass.
Jensen stands up over Howard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Howard looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Howard blocks a head kick by Jensen.
Jensen misses with the combination.
Howard looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Howard has taken the fight to the clinch.

Jensen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Howard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Howard fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jensen throws a push kick but Howard slaps the foot to one side.

Howard rushes Jensen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jensen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Jensen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Jensen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Howard on the ground.
Jensen is putting a hurting on Howard here, landing some big shots from side control.
Jensen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard wants to control but Jensen postures up.
Jensen scores with a couple of short elbows.
Howard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howard gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jensen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Howard defends it well.
Howard trying to control from the bottom.
Howard is trying to stand.
Jensen is thwarting Howard's attempts to control the position.
Howard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
Jensen thows a huge punch but Howard dodges it nicely.
Jensen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Howard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jensen swivels and escapes.
It appears Jensen was looking to counter with a kick there.
Howard darts in looking for a takedown but Jensen gets double underhooks and turns Howard into the cage.
Howard tries to land a body kick

and Jensen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jensen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Theodore Jensen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jensen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jensen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Howard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jensen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Steven Howard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jensen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jensen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Howard keeps working.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is trying to control Jensen's posture but Jensen avoids it.
Jensen tries to score with some ground and pound. Howard controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Howard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jensen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jensen is controlling him well.
Steven Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Theodore Jensen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Howard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jensen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Theodore Jensen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jensen 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Theodore Jensen!