Round 1 - LaFlare draws first blood with a heavy left roundhouse kick to the midsection, and follows it with his signature duck-under takedown. LaFlare in half guard looking to pass, and does. LaFlare looks to isolate the far-side arm and Howard nearly bucks him off, but LaFlare maintains position and cinches up a D'arce choke. Howard kinks his neck to breathe and rides it out, then scrambles free and back to his feet.
Howard attacks with punches and anticipates LaFlare's counter takedown. They trade punches on the fence with LaFlare playing the bully, pushing Howard into the cage and breaking the clinch with a knee downstairs and a horizontal elbow. Howard rolls out of a lateral drop attempt from LaFlare and they square off in the center. They trade beefy shots and LaFlare wins the exchange with another huge left kick to the body that may have landed early with the knee. LaFlare throws another but Howard catches it at the bell. 10-9 LaFlare.
Round 2 - Howard clips LaFlare early with a short left hook and uppercut, then takes him down when LaFlare clinches up. High, heavy base in half guard for Howard. LaFlare bumps his hips and hits a clever sweep, reversing into side control. Howard powers his way into a sweep that's close enough to force LaFlare to back off and they restart standing. LaFlare lands hard knees to the body in the immediate clinch that ensues, and Howard circles off the fence. LaFlare circles back and smashes Howard's junk with a vicious knee to the cup.
We pause. The doctor comes in to examine Howard and the way his face contorts in agony does not bode well -- he makes the saddest sad face ever. Nearing the end of his five-minute respite, Howard decides to continue.
Rear front kick from LaFlare, then a smooth outside trip when they clinch. Howard rolls onto his knees and gets back up, nearly answering with an outside trip from body lock. LaFlare fights it off, lands a knee to the body and gets busy with straight punches from distance. Howard fends off another takedown but ends up smashed on the fence, digesting a series of knees downstairs. Howard circles off, LaFlare circles back and greets him with another knee. Howard breaks the clinch and throws alternating left and right hooks with some mustard on them. 10-9 LaFlare.
Round 3 - Howard nearly chops LaFlare's leg in half with a hard inside low kick. LaFlare changes levels and gets a takedown, Howard elevates his hips and sweeps him but LaFlare sweeps him right back. Full guard for Howard, then butterfly guard, which he uses to create space and boot LaFlare off. LaFlare dives back down into Howard's guard to prevent the escape. Howard again uses butterfly guard to elevate LaFlare's hips but LaFlare reverses on the sweep.
Howard, showing huge balls, rolls into a leg lock and catches LaFlare off guard with it, extending the leg in kneebar/heel-hook position but seemingly unsure what to do with it. LaFlare slips his leg out and tackles Howard to finish the round on top. 10-9 LaFlare for a 30-27 on my card.
Ryan LaFlare defeats John Howard by unanimous decision (no scores announced)