PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Gustafsson (ranked 3305 p4p, 428 weight class) and Leonard Howell (ranked 3682 p4p, 462 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gustafsson
vs
Howell

200 cm
20
213 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
27
201 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Urban Fighter
Top Nutrition 160Q\200$ 140Q\150$ 100Q\50$

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Simon Gustafsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leonard Howell!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howell shoots in and drives through. Gustafsson sprawls well.
Gustafsson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gustafsson wants it to stay on the feet.
Howell fails to land the takedown.
Simon Gustafsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonard Howell.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gustafsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Howell, which made it look bad.
Howell with the counter takedown but Gustafsson avoids it easily.

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

Howell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gustafsson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gustafsson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustafsson throwing strikes from guard but Howell blocks nicely.

Gustafsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gustafsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gustafsson wants to pass the guard but Howell is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Howell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Howell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gustafsson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gustafsson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Howell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Howell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Howell is pulling down on Gustafsson's head to control his posture.
Gustafsson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gustafsson wants to pass the guard but Howell is keeping the position.
Gustafsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Howell has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gustafsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gustafsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell pulls Gustafsson in close to his closed guard and prevents Gustafsson from doing any damage or advancing position.

Gustafsson 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.
Howell is looking to stand up but Gustafsson isn't so interested in that idea.
Gustafsson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Howell trying to control the position here.
Gustafsson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Howell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gustafsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gustafsson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howell is looking for a triangle but Gustafsson pushes his legs off easily.
Gustafsson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gustafsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Howell has wrist control.

Gustafsson drops back looking for a leg! Howell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Howell manages to kick Gustafsson off! Gustafsson jumps back into Howell's guard.
Howell looking for a sweep. Not yet Howell, not yet.
Gustafsson advances to half guard.

Howell is defending against the submission attempts here by Gustafsson.
Howell looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gustafsson tries to pass to full mount but Howell defends it.
Gustafsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Howell is trying to control but can't.
Howell regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gustafsson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Howell's head.
Howell pulls Gustafsson in close to prevent any damage.

Howell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Howell can't keep his opponent in guard - Gustafsson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Howell works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Howell is looking to sweep but instead, Gustafsson has passed into half guard.
Gustafsson passes to side control.
Howell can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Gustafsson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gustafsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Howell tries to avoid it but Gustafsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Howell to the ground. Howell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gustafsson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howell can do to turn this around?
Howell closes the distance and clinches up with Gustafsson, looking for a takedown. Howell pushes Gustafsson against the cage but Gustafsson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Howell.
Howell shoots in looking for a takedown. Gustafsson tries to sprawl out of it but Howell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gustafsson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Howell tries to clinch up.
Gustafsson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Howell defends well and Gustafsson ends up having to push Howell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Howell tries to sprawl but Gustafsson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustafsson trying to advance position but Howell counters by regaining guard.

Gustafsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gustafsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Howell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gustafsson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Howell wants to sweep here but Gustafsson controlling him for the moment.
Gustafsson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Howell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howell is trying to control the position but Gustafsson postures up.
Howell is adopting a defensive guard.
Gustafsson wants to pass the guard but Howell is keeping the position.

Gustafsson 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.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Gustafsson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Howell dives on top into guard.

Howell lands a couple of digs.
Howell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

It looks like Simon Gustafsson has been cut.
Gustafsson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gustafsson wants to sweep here but Howell controlling him for the moment.

Gustafsson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Howell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Howell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Howell wants to control from the top but Gustafsson keeps moving.
Gustafsson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Howell wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Howell stays in close to Gustafsson's body and controls the position.
Howell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gustafsson keeping moving, preventing Howell from controlling successfully.

Gustafsson is looking for a triangle but Howell pushes his legs off easily.

Gustafsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Howell won't allow Gustafsson to sweep him here.

Howell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Howell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gustafsson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Howell has passed into half guard!
Gustafsson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Howell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gustafsson has managed to free his arm - good work.

Howell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gustafsson is refusing to be controlled, as Howell sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Howell passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Howell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Simon Gustafsson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gustafsson dives in and scores a takedown into Howell's guard.
Howell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gustafsson's guard.

Howell wants to control from the top but Gustafsson keeps moving.
Howell works over Gustafsson with some ground and pound from guard.
Howell keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gustafsson's head.

Howell drops back looking for a leg! Gustafsson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gustafsson manages to kick Howell off! Howell jumps back into Gustafsson's guard.

Howell is sitting in close to Gustafsson's body. Gustafsson has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Howell is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Howell is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Gustafsson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Simon Gustafsson!