PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 1350 p4p, 170 weight class) and Ricardinho Vieira (ranked 3431 p4p, 347 weight class). Howlett's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Push. Ricardinho Vieira will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Howlett
vs
Vieira

164 cm
20
162 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
178 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardinho Vieira!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vieira walks into a jab.
Vieira is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howlett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Howlett thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vieira defending well as Howlett loads up on a big left hand.
Vieira tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Howlett drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Vieira struggling a bit here.
Vieira taking punishment in the form of punches.
Vieira manages to work his way to half guard, despite Howlett's best efforts.
Howlett wants to free his trapped foot but Vieira is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vieira tries to roll over but Howlett keeps him under control.
Howlett is trying to control the action in half guard but Vieira is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Vieira actively working from the bottom here.
Howlett with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Vieira looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Howlett there.
Howlett looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vieira looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Vieira actively working from the bottom here.
Howlett lands with a punch from half guard.
Vieira has hold of Howlett's hands but Howlett slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Howlett scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Howlett lands strikes from half guard.
Vieira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Howlett is working away from the top position though.

Vieira actively working from the bottom here.
Vieira is not content to let Howlett control the position.
We've been hearing that Howlett has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Howlett wants to control but Vieira is keeping him busy.
Howlett scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Howlett seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Vieira tries to get to full guard but Howlett has control of the leg.
Howlett is trying to control the action in half guard but Vieira is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Vieira trying to control but Howlett postures up.

Vieira is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Howlett pulls his head out easily.
Howlett scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howlett working over Vieira with some ground and pound. Vieira looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vieira is looking to improve his position.
Howlett lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howlett is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Howlett blocks the strikes from Vieira.
Vieira is looking for a sweep. Howlett is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vieira on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vieira has hold of Howlett's hands but Howlett slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Vieira looking for submissions off his back.
Vieira regains full guard. Nicely done.

Vieira 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.

Vieira looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Howlett lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is in close to Vieira's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Vieira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Howlett is aware though and is defending well.
Howlett is working Vieira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Howlett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Howlett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howlett wants to control from the top but Vieira keeps moving.

Vieira looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Vieira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Howlett lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Howlett scoring with some ground and pound.
Vieira has momentary wrist control but Howlett slips an elbow through the middle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Howlett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vieira keeping moving, preventing Howlett from controlling successfully.

Vieira had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howlett defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Howlett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vieira moves away from the strike by Howlett.
Howlett throws a lazy right hand but Vieira sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Howlett keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Vieira dives in and grabs Howlett's left leg, looking for a takedown. Howlett pushes down on Vieira's head and hops out.

Howlett scores with a takedown into Vieira's guard.
Howlett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Howlett is working Vieira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vieira trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Howlett lands a couple of digs.
Howlett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Howlett stays in close to Vieira's body and controls the position.
Howlett stands up over Vieira, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Howlett stands up over Vieira, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Howlett got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vieira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Howlett has managed to get both his arms back between Vieira's legs - danger averted.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Howlett avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Howlett cracks Vieira with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Howlett wants to control from the top but Vieira keeps moving.

Vieira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Howlett stands up over Vieira, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Howlett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Howlett trying to control but Vieira is working from the bottom.
Howlett is really struggling to control Vieira but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Howlett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howlett trying to control the position from guard on top but Vieira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vieira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Howlett is aware though and is defending well.
Howlett tries to free his leg and advance position but Vieira is retaining full guard.
Vieira looking to hit a scissor sweep but Howlett is one step ahead there.
Howlett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Howlett here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Vieira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howlett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vieira can do to turn this around?

Vieira is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howlett defends well.
Howlett distracts Vieira with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James Howlett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howlett working some strikes from top position.
Howlett slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Howlett works over Vieira with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett postures up and lands a big shot to Vieira's brow.

Vieira working for a triangle but Howlett defends it easily.
Vieira keeping moving, preventing Howlett from controlling successfully.

Vieira is looking for a triangle but Howlett pushes his legs off easily.
Howlett lands a couple of elbows.

Vieira has his foot on Howlett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howlett works his way back into a safe position though.

Vieira escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howlett gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Howlett is in close to Vieira's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Howlett lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howlett landing with the ground and pound.
Howlett wants to control from the top but Vieira keeps moving.
Howlett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Vieira is looking to cinch up a triangle. Howlett throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Vieira's body to avoid the submission. Vieira has instead reached around Howlett's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Vieira arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ricardinho Vieira!