PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rexx Howler (ranked 2788 p4p, 285 weight class) and Bleeding Spanner (ranked 3258 p4p, 310 weight class). Bleeding Spanner will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Howler
vs
Spanner

193 cm
20
255 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

202 cm
20
269 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rexx Howler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bleeding Spanner!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howler fails with the takedown.
Spanner scores with a leg kick.
Howler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spanner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've been hearing reports that Howler has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Howler will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Howler takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Howler tries to clinch but Spanner is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Spanner. No joy for Howler on that attempt.
And Spanner responds with a good body kick, but Howler manages to step out the way in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rexx Howler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howler tries for a takedown but Spanner circles away easily
and Howler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spanner has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Spanner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Howler shoots for a takedown but Spanner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Spanner appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A left lands for Spanner.

Spanner gets caught napping as Howler dives in and scores a takedown. Spanner manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spanner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howler is looking to work some ground and pound but Spanner has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spanner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Spanner has control of Howler's left arm, preventing Howler from doing any damage.
Howler throwing strikes but missing.
Howler being controlled here momentarily.
Howler postures up.
Howler trying to control but Spanner is working from the bottom.
Spanner wants to stand up but Howler is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Howler doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Spanner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Howler tries to score a power double leg takedown but Spanner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Howler somewhat.
Rexx Howler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Howler misses with a takedown attempt
and Spanner counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Howler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Spanner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Howler fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Spanner.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Spanner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Spanner is fending him off so far but Howler persists. Nope, Spanner circles away and we're back to standing.
Spanner lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Howler tries to clinch but Spanner moves away
and Spanner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Howler rushes Spanner and presses him up against the cage.

Spanner breaks from the clinch.
Howler has a takedown stuffed.
Spanner follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Howler manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Spanner on his heels. He'll look to pass Spanner's guard now, I'm sure.
Howler throws an elbow that misses. Spanner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howler's guard. Nice move by Spanner!

Howler wants to sweep but no luck.
Spanner seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Howler has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Spanner has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spanner tries to move to mount but Howler blocks the move with his legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Howler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The strikes coming from Spanner are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Howler tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Howler manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Howler is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bleeding Spanner dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howler is defended easily by Spanner.
Howler on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice sprawl there from Spanner as Howler shoots in.
Nice takedown defense from Spanner. No joy for Howler on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rexx Howler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howler closes the distance and clinches up with Spanner, looking for a takedown. Howler pushes Spanner against the cage but Spanner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Spanner on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Howler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spanner lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spanner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice straight punches there by Spanner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Spanner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howler walks into a left hand.
Spanner throws a front kick that sends Howler stumbling back into the cage.
Howler tries for a takedown but Spanner circles away easily
and Spanner counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Howler dives in and grabs Spanner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Spanner pushes down on Howler's head and hops out.
Howler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Spanner circles away.
Donk. Spanner catches Howler right on the button with a cross.
Howler walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Howler tries for a takedown but Spanner circles away easily
and Spanner counters with a good low kick that Howler was not able to check.
Howler fails to land the takedown.
Howler doesn't manage to clinch there - Spanner circles away.
Howler shoots in for a takedown but Spanner shows good takedown defense.
Spanner connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spanner thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Howler if he has to take too many more of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Howler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spanner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spanner counters with a body kick.
Howler shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Spanner as he jumps to the side.
Spanner steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Bleeding Spanner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howler gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Howler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Howler fails to land the takedown.
Spanner fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Howler on the side of the head.
Spanner bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Spanner lands with a shot to the body.
Howler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bleeding Spanner seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howler drops his hands momentarily and Spanner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Howler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Spanner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Howler closes the distance looking to clinch
and Spanner counters with a head kick. That will keep Howler thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Howler tries to clinch up.
Howler backing away here, and Spanner unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Howler looking to score a takedown here. Spanner is defending well but Howler drives through and ends up in Spanner's guard.
Spanner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howler manages to get himself to full guard.

Spanner trying to control but Howler is working from the bottom.
Howler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spanner is one step ahead there.
Spanner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Howler on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Howler tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howler looking for a sweep. Not yet Howler, not yet.
Spanner throws a big elbow that misses.
Spanner wanted to stand there but Howler had control of the position.
Howler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spanner is one step ahead there.
Rexx Howler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howler is trying to keep Spanner in close.
Spanner won't allow Howler to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bleeding Spanner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Spanner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Howler.
Spanner follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Howler looks to throw the jab but Spanner is out of range.
Howler on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Howler throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Spanner makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Howler really felt that one!
Spanner slaps away a takedown attempt from Howler, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Spanner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice shot lands for Spanner.
Howler tries to clinch up.
Spanner is looking for the big counter here.
Howler misses with a takedown
and Spanner counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rexx Howler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Spanner is fending him off so far but Howler persists. Nope, Spanner circles away and we're back to standing.
Spanner thinks about the counter body kick.
Howler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Spanner circles away.
No luck for Howler with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Howler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Spanner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Spanner tries to avoid it but Howler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Spanner to the ground. Spanner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Spanner lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Howler on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Howler needs to keep his hands up - Spanner had a free shot at his head there.
Howler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Howler steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Spanner. That one must have hurt.
Spanner thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Howler if he has to take too many more of those.
Spanner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Howler takes a kick to the side of the head.

Howler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Howler lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spanner is pulling down on Howler's head to control his posture.
Rexx Howler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howler trying to control but Spanner is working from the bottom.
Spanner has control of Howler's left arm, preventing Howler from doing any damage.
Bleeding Spanner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Spanner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Howler being controlled here momentarily.
Howler scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howler throws a big elbow that misses.
Howler with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Howler scoring with some ground and pound.
Howler works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Howler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Howler trying to pass the guard but Spanner defending well.
Howler is trying to control. Spanner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Howler is thwarting Spanner's attempts to control the position.
Spanner wants to improve his position but Howler is controlling well.
Spanner trying to control but Howler postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spanner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Howler passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Spanner!
Howler throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Howler throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Spanner sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Spanner is positioning himself well to prevent Howler advancing to mount.
Howler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bleeding Spanner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Spanner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bleeding Spanner!
A victorious Bleeding Spanner thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.