PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between The Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ninja
vs
Houston

187 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, The Ninja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gerard Houston!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Houston.
Ninja lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Houston dives in and grabs Ninja's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ninja pushes down on Houston's head and hops out.
Houston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ninja swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Houston.

Houston has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ninja throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Houston fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ninja avoids it really well and circles away.
Houston tries to clinch but Ninja is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston misses with a takedown attempt - Ninja sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The Ninja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Houston.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ninja, as that shot connected.
Ninja lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Houston takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice sprawl there from Ninja as Houston shoots in.
Ninja tries to work over Houston's front leg with a kick but Houston checks it.
Houston tries to clinch up but Ninja circles away and keeps his distance.
Ninja is looking to land body kicks.
Ninja misses with a double jab.
Houston is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ninja closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ninja swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The Ninja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Houston changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ninja tries to avoid it but Houston manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ninja to the ground. Ninja escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Houston looks gassed!
Ninja lands a jab-cross combination.
Houston tries to close the distance and clinch but Ninja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ninja scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A right-left combo lands from Ninja.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ninja displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ninja lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ninja.
Ninja looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A left lands for Ninja.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Gerard Houston has been cut.
Nice straight punches there by Ninja. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ninja.
A head kick misses from Ninja.
Ninja lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ninja scores with a jab to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Ninja. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ninja.
Houston falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ninja counters with a straight right hand.
Ninja lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Houston takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ninja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gerard Houston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja works over Houston's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Houston takes one to the side of the head.
Ninja connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ninja throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Houston is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ninja.
Ninja misses with a wild combination.
Ninja changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninja fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ninja throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Houston avoids the head kick by Ninja.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Ninja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Houston's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Houston wants to clinch but Ninja slips to the side
and Ninja counters with a one-two to the body.
Houston has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Houston closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ninja counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Houston takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Houston shoots and misses
and Ninja counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ninja listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ninja lands a two punch combo.
The Ninja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Ninja.
Ninja throws a one two combo.
Ninja rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Houston moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Houston is breathing heavily.
Ninja lands a nice hook to Houston's body. Houston takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ninja throws a head kick that misses

and Houston counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ninja's guard now.
Houston wanted to stand there but Ninja had control of the position.
Houston trying to control but Ninja is working from the bottom.

Ninja pushes Houston off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ninja.

Houston scores with a takedown into Ninja's guard.
Ninja on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ninja tries to get out of the position.
Houston wants to stand but Ninja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Ninja has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Houston off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ninja lands with a nice body punch.
Houston with a poor takedown
enabling Ninja to counter with a crisp jab.
A right-left combo lands from Ninja.
Houston takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ninja is looking to wear down Houston with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ninja cracks Houston with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Jab by Ninja.
Ninja scores with a one two! Houston had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Ninja duly obliges.
Ninja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ninja throws a sloppy head kick and Houston moves out of range easily.
Ninja tests Houston's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Houston with a poor takedown
and Ninja counters with a left to the body.
The Ninja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Houston.
Ninja lands a slapping body shot.
Ninja lands with a hook. Houston tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houston tries to clinch up
letting Ninja counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Ninja dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Houston's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A nice combination there by Ninja.
Houston waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Ninja.
Houston tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Ninja counter with a right hand.
Ninja jabs at Houston's body.
Ninja throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Houston tries to land a body kick
and Ninja counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Houston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Houston doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ninja counters with a series of strikes. Houston will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ninja swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja is looking to land body kicks.
Houston dodges the punch combination from Ninja.

Ninja fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Houston sprawls well initially but Ninja persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Houston trying to control from the bottom.

Ninja escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ninja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston avoids the head kick by Ninja.
Houston with a poor takedown
and Ninja counters with a straight right hand.
Ninja pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Houston doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ninja counters with a left and a right that stings Houston.
The Ninja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Houston.
Ninja circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ninja counters with a two punch combo.
Ninja lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Houston misses with a body shot
enabling Ninja to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja digs a good hook to Houston's body.
Houston darts in trying to clinch
and Ninja counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ninja scores with a three punch combo!
Ninja throws a right and a left that Houston avoids nicely.
Ninja is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Houston with a poor takedown
and Ninja counters with a left to the body.
Ninja connects with a jab.
Ninja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four 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.
A head kick misses from Ninja.
Houston misses with a takedown
and Ninja counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Houston with a poor takedown
and Houston takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Houston has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ninja goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ninja circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ninja makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gerard Houston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Ninja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houston blocks the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Ninja showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ninja, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Ninja!