PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keiran McCormick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Issac Van Houtten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Houtten has chosen AFI - Miss Murder as his entrance music. Keiran McCormick has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McCormick
vs
Van Houtten

187 cm
21
222 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

211 cm
23
225 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Keiran McCormick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Issac Van Houtten!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Houtten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Houtten tries to clinch but McCormick moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by McCormick or perhaps it was just good defense by Van Houtten which made him look bad.
Van Houtten stuffs the takedown attempt from McCormick. McCormick gets slowly back to his feet.

Van Houtten rushes McCormick and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Van Houtten connects with a nasty looking knee right to McCormick's face.

It looks like Keiran McCormick has been cut.
Van Houtten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McCormick goes for a takedown attempt but Van Houtten pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keiran McCormick. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van Houtten gets a powerful takedown and that's hurt McCormick.

McCormick is rocked!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Van Houtten is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McCormick has escaped the position, nice work there.

Van Houtten is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McCormick is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Van Houtten tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McCormick striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Houtten fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Van Houtten wants to stand but McCormick has his arm trapped.
McCormick is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Van Houtten tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Van Houtten has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
McCormick is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McCormick wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Van Houtten wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCormick keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van Houtten throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McCormick's head.
Van Houtten is looking to clinch.
McCormick swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Houtten.
McCormick fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Van Houtten misses with a knee to the head.
Van Houtten is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McCormick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Houtten using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCormick has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McCormick is pressed up against the ropes. Van Houtten has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McCormick down to the mat. McCormick avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McCormick circles away from the clinch attempt

and McCormick counters with a single leg into guard. Van Houtten didn't expect that.
McCormick is breathing heavily.
McCormick trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Houtten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCormick trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCormick would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Van Houtten is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Van Houtten throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCormick tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Houtten is retaining full guard.

Van Houtten looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Van Houtten wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McCormick gets to his feet. Van Houtten looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Houtten clinches but McCormick breaks the clinch

and McCormick decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Van Houtten's guard.
Van Houtten keeping moving, preventing McCormick from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issac Van Houtten dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Keiran McCormick's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Houtten instigates a clinch.
Van Houtten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Van Houtten.

Van Houtten pulls guard.

McCormick avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McCormick trying to control but Van Houtten is working from the bottom.

Van Houtten isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. McCormick stacks Van Houtten on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by McCormick!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McCormick trying to control the position but Van Houtten is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Houtten tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McCormick working away.
Van Houtten tries to bench press McCormick off him but McCormick keeps the position.
An elbow from McCormick crashes against the mat.
Sloppy strikes there by McCormick.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Van Houtten fails with the takedown

and McCormick moves into the clinch.
Van Houtten using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCormick has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Houtten lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McCormick fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Van Houtten gets underhooks to prevent McCormick's takedown attempt.
Van Houtten tries to land a knee to the head but McCormick blocks with his arms.
McCormick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Van Houtten just stands there and leans against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keiran McCormick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Houtten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McCormick can't get the takedown.
Van Houtten lands a knee to the body.
Van Houtten throws a knee to the head but misses.
McCormick tries to pull guard but Van Houtten won't allow it.
Van Houtten throws a knee to the head but misses.
McCormick can't get the takedown.
Van Houtten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Van Houtten prevents the takedown attempt.
McCormick wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Van Houtten has him pressed against the ropes.
Van Houtten landing knees to the head.
Van Houtten misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Van Houtten.
Van Houtten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Van Houtten breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McCormick is defended easily by Van Houtten.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Houtten.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCormick circles away from the clinch attempt

and McCormick counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Van Houtten's guard now.

Van Houtten had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McCormick is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Van Houtten Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McCormick's back instead.

Van Houtten has got his arm under McCormick's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! McCormick has spun round into Van Houtten's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

Van Houtten is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McCormick trying to control but Van Houtten is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCormick postures up.
McCormick trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Houtten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Houtten is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Keiran McCormick overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Van Houtten looking for a guillotine here but McCormick defends easily.
McCormick wanted to stand there but Van Houtten had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Issac Van Houtten will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Keiran McCormick's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Houtten wants to clinch but McCormick slips to the side

and McCormick counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Houtten won't be happy with that.

McCormick goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Van Houtten rolls with the submission and now he's on top in McCormick's guard! Nice work there by Van Houtten!
Van Houtten lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Van Houtten is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McCormick is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McCormick has escaped and now he's on top!
McCormick might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Van Houtten looking for a triangle here. McCormick is fighting it but it looks tight! Van Houtten pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, McCormick is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Issac Van Houtten!