PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Houdini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoruba Ahimbe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahimbe has chosen "Hit em Up" Tupac as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Houdini
vs
Ahimbe

172 cm
23
152 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Houdini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoruba Ahimbe!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houdini avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ahimbe slaps away a takedown attempt from Houdini, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ahimbe connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ahimbe works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Houdini throws a looping overhand right but Ahimbe ducks down to avoid it.
Houdini on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Houdini tries to move into range but Ahimbe moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Houdini has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Houdini there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ahimbe lands with a shot to the body.
Ahimbe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ahimbe wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Ahimbe as Houdini shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Houdini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ahimbe stuns Houdini with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ahimbe tests Houdini's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Houdini fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houdini shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ahimbe misses with a body shot.
Ahimbe with a hook.
Houdini shoots in for a takedown but Ahimbe shows good takedown defense.
Ahimbe throws a series of punches but Houdini avoids them all with ease.
Ahimbe swinging wilding here.
Houdini takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahimbe scores with a jab to the jaw.

Houdini gets caught flat footed, as Ahimbe shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Houdini is breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ahimbe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ahimbe is pushing down on Houdini's leg trying to pass to half guard. Houdini is fighting to maintain full guard but Ahimbe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ahimbe wants to pass to mount but Houdini is defending the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ahimbe lands a nice short elbow.

Houdini actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houdini wants to get back to full guard.

Houdini actively working from the bottom here.
Ahimbe working the head and body with strikes.
Ahimbe is trying to control the action in half guard but Houdini is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ahimbe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Houdini's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ahimbe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ahimbe jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houdini closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ahimbe with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Houdini takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ahimbe is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round!Houdini had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Houdini shoots and misses

and Ahimbe decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Houdini's guard.
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!
Ahimbe trying to control but Houdini is working from the bottom.
Ahimbe postures up and lands a big shot to Houdini's brow.
Ahimbe thows a big elbow that misses.

Houdini working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ahimbe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ahimbe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ahimbe scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ahimbe wants to control from the top but Houdini keeps moving.
Ahimbe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ahimbe wants to control from the top but Houdini keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahimbe stands up over Houdini, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Houdini 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.
Ahimbe advances to half guard.
Ahimbe is keen to just control but Houdini is a slippery customer.
Houdini avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ahimbe.
Houdini has a hand on Ahimbe's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ahimbe takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ahimbe punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ahimbe looking to finish Houdini with some ground and pound. This is bad for Houdini!
Houdini is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ahimbe with the ground and pound from mount.
Ahimbe wants to control the pace but Houdini is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahimbe scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Houdini?
Houdini is trying desperately to improve position.
Ahimbe lands with some strikes.
Ahimbe lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ahimbe landing shots from mount.
Ahimbe lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Houdini hang on?
Ahimbe landing shots from mount.
Houdini is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ahimbe lands a big elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ahimbe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Houdini looks a forlorn figure.
Ahimbe raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoruba Ahimbe dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Houdini tries a head kick but it misses.

Ahimbe looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Ahimbe seems to be working for a kimura but Houdini defends the submission attempt.
Houdini is trying to get back to full guard.

Houdini looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ahimbe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ahimbe lands with a punch from half guard.
Houdini is trying to control but can't.
Ahimbe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Houdini does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ahimbe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ahimbe is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ahimbe throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houdini looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ahimbe!
Ahimbe working to try and regain half guard.

Houdini wants to finish this one by submission but Ahimbe is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Houdini.
Ahimbe is squirming around, avoiding Houdini's attempts to control the action.
Ahimbe can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoruba Ahimbe has got the better of the ground game so far.

Houdini goes for an armbar but Ahimbe turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ahimbe.
Ahimbe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ahimbe wants to control from the top but Houdini keeps moving.
Ahimbe won't allow Houdini to sweep him here.
Ahimbe wants to pass the guard but Houdini is keeping the position.

Houdini escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ahimbe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houdini throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Houdini is trying to keep Ahimbe in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ahimbe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alex Houdini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ahimbe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ahimbe fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Houdini.
No joy there for Ahimbe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ahimbe looks for the body kick but Houdini saw that one coming.
Ahimbe misses with a hook. Houdini ducked under it nicely.
Houdini has his takedown stuffed
letting Ahimbe counter with a right hand.
Ahimbe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahimbe dips to his left and cracks Houdini with an uppercut!
Houdini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ahimbe.
Houdini with a poor takedown
and Ahimbe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ahimbe lands a nice leg kick that just misses Houdini's sensitive parts.
Ahimbe scores with a shot to the body.
Ahimbe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Houdini has his takedown stuffed

so Ahimbe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Houdini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ahimbe wants to control from the top but Houdini keeps moving.
Ahimbe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ahimbe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ahimbe throws a big right hand that misses.
Ahimbe trying to control the position from guard on top but Houdini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Houdini is looking for a triangle here but Ahimbe uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ahimbe scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoruba Ahimbe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Houdini fails with the takedown
and Ahimbe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ahimbe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ahimbe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Houdini is working to get back to half guard.
Ahimbe has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Houdini's face.
Ahimbe can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Houdini is looking to escape.
Ahimbe landing punches.
Houdini tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ahimbe looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Houdini is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ahimbe landing shots from mount.
Houdini is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahimbe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ahimbe with shots to the head and body - Houdini looks very uncomfortable down there.
Houdini takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Houdini is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ahimbe lands a big elbow.
Ahimbe wants to control the pace but Houdini is squirming around nicely.
Ahimbe lands a heavy elbow.
Ahimbe lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Houdini hang on?
Houdini 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.
Ahimbe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ahimbe slips a nice elbow through Houdini's hands, connecting with Houdini's forehead.
Houdini trying to hold on to Ahimbe's head to control him but Ahimbe postures up.
Ahimbe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Houdini defending well though.
Alex Houdini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houdini gets back to full guard.
Ahimbe looking to pass the guard.
Ahimbe distracts Houdini with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ahimbe with a flurry of punches that miss.

Houdini throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ahimbe uses it to pass to side control.
Ahimbe looks up at the clock and then as Houdini takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ahimbe smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Houdini wants to control but Ahimbe postures up.
Ahimbe cracks Houdini with a big elbow.
You can see the frustration on Houdini's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahimbe landing a few strikes.
Ahimbe wants to control but Houdini is keeping him busy.
Houdini is looking to regain half guard here but Ahimbe keeps moving and retains side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ahimbe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Houdini looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Houdini is looking for a sweep.
Ahimbe working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ahimbe is looking to take a break and control but Houdini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Houdini takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahimbe misses with the ground and pound.
Ahimbe avoids the strikes from the bottom by Houdini.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Houdini keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ahimbe.
Houdini misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Ahimbe to counter with a crisp jab.
Houdini misses with a takedown
enabling Ahimbe to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Houdini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ahimbe throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Houdini.
Houdini fails with the takedown
letting Ahimbe counter with a right hand.
Yoruba Ahimbe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ahimbe cracks Houdini with a right hand to the side of the head.
Houdini fails with the takedown
and Ahimbe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ahimbe lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ahimbe with a nice cross.
Ahimbe lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Houdini looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ahimbe with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoruba Ahimbe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ahimbe has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoruba Ahimbe!