PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Howard (ranked 5486 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeke Garcia (ranked 4994 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Howard
vs
Garcia

170 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zeke Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Garcia.
A nice combination there by Garcia.

Howard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Garcia's half guard.
Howard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Howard is nestled in close to Garcia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Howard scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Howard connects with a nice short shot to Garcia's temple.
Howard is nestled in close to Garcia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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!
Garcia is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Howard scores with a couple of nice shots.

Garcia is defending against the submission attempts here by Howard.
Howard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Garcia's head.
Howard is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garcia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Howard.
Howard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Garcia is looking to escape.
Howard is taking a breather. Garcia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Howard is looking for a kimura here.
Garcia is trying to stand back up but Howard is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Howard is working for a kimura but Garcia is defending it quite comfortably.
Howard trying to control the pace.
Howard stops Garcia from getting back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Howard wants to work for an arm triangle but Garcia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Howard is working for a kimura but Garcia is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard is trying to work for a kimura but Garcia is defending well.
Howard winds up and cracks Garcia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Howard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Howard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Garcia is trying to stand.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Howard connects with a nice short shot to Garcia's temple.
Howard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Garcia avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Howard.
Garcia is trying to stand back up but Howard is controlling him
Howard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Howard thows a huge punch but Garcia dodges it nicely.
Howard lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Howard lands a nice short elbow.
Howard working Garcia over with strikes.
Garcia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Howard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Garcia is defending against the submission attempts here by Howard.

Howard is looking for a kimura but Garcia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Howard to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Howard dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Garcia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garcia scores with a jab to the body.
Garcia punishes Howard's body with a nice straight punch.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown. Garcia tries to sprawl out of it but Howard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Garcia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Howard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garcia.
Howard seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Howard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Howard dodges the punch combination from Garcia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Howard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Garcia has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Howard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Garcia prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Howard blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Howard jumps guard and drags Garcia to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Garcia wants to stand and escape but instead Howard has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Howard throwing strikes but missing.
Howard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Howard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Garcia wants to stand and escape but Howard is having none of it.
Garcia can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Howard controls the pace.

Howard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.
Howard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Howard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Garcia wants to stand up but Howard is controlling him.
Howard is stalling in the full guard.
Garcia has momentary wrist control but Howard slips an elbow through the middle.
Howard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Howard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Howard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Howard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howard scoring with some ground and pound.
Garcia is looking to stand up but Howard isn't so interested in that idea.
Howard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet but Howard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Howard darts in and clinches Garcia up against the cage.
Howard lands a right hand.

Howard pulls guard successfully.
Garcia wants to stand and escape but instead Howard has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Howard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Garcia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Garcia is wriggling around but Howard manages to pass to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Howard lands a nice short elbow.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Howard in particular looking to stall.

Howard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Howard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Howard dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Garcia attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Howard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Garcia!
Howard is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Garcia will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ricardo Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Howard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Garcia has escaped the position, nice work there.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet.

Howard is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Garcia is trying to escape and Howard transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Garcia is forced to tap! Nice work there by Howard! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ricardo Howard!
Zeke Garcia was interviewed post fight and said 'It is what it is. I just have to go back to the drawing board.'.