PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Axel Henning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeke Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houk is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hell's Bell's. Zeke Houk will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Henning
vs
Houk

195 cm
22
203 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
204 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Axel Henning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zeke Houk!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Houk gets caught flat footed, as Henning shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Houk is looking to stand up but Henning isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henning loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henning knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Houk on the ground.
Henning wants to pass the guard but Houk is keeping the position.
Henning not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Houk is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Henning with a flurry of punches that miss.
Henning trying to control the position from guard on top but Houk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houk keeping full guard, as Henning tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Houk clinches up against the cage.

Henning has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Houk clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Houk wants to control his opponent's hands but Henning gets his hands free.
Henning tries to get the hooks in deep but Houk pushed the leg off.
Houk controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Houk turns into Henning and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houk working some strikes from top position.
Houk is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Henning is trying to keep Houk in close.
Henning looking to hit a scissor sweep but Houk is one step ahead there.
Houk works over Henning with some ground and pound from guard.
Henning utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henning keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.
Houk throws a big right hand that misses.
Henning preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Houk drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Henning keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.
Henning is breathing heavily.
Houk postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Houk has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Henning keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.
Henning is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Houk trying to control the position from guard on top but Henning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henning is trying to keep Houk in close.

Henning has his foot on Houk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Houk works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Houk clinches up with Henning and pushes him back against the cage.
Houk is trying to stall.

Houk tightens his grip and picks Henning up, before dumping him to the ground. Henning manages to land in guard.
Houk trying to control but Henning is working from the bottom.
Houk content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Houk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Houk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Houk trying to control but Henning is working from the bottom.
Houk lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Houk trying to control but Henning is working from the bottom.
Houk is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Houk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zeke Houk's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Houk shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Henning is looking to control Houk's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Henning avoid being mounted?
Houk winds up and cracks Henning with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Houk is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Henning doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Houk.
Houk prevents Henning from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Houk is looking to take a break and control but Henning is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henning is trying to control but can't.
Houk perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Houk seems to be looking for submissions.
Houk wants to take a breather but Henning is having none of it.
Houk trying to control the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Zeke Houk just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Houk misses with a takedown attempt

so Henning counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henning trying to move into half guard but instead Houk has managed to sweep!
Houk trying to control the position from guard on top but Henning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Houk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Henning dives on top into guard.
Houk trying to keep a closed guard but Henning is proving a slippery customer.
Houk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henning is one step ahead there.
Henning with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk keeping moving, preventing Henning from controlling successfully.

Houk is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henning is aware though and is defending well.
Henning postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Henning stands up from Houk's guard - Henning perhaps looking for a knockout.
Houk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Henning is fending him off so far but Houk persists. Nope, Henning circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Houk drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Houk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Henning wants to get back to his feet but Houk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Houk tries to free his leg and advance position but Henning is retaining full guard.
Henning on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henning tries to get out of the position.

Henning looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Houk has picked Henning up and slammed him! Henning can't keep hold of the triangle and Houk manages to pass to side control!
Henning takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Houk scoring with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Henning's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Houk working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Houk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zeke Houk's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Houk fails to land the takedown.

Houk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Henning to the mat! Henning manages to get full guard.
Henning working a defensive guard here.
Henning wants to sweep here but Houk controlling him for the moment.
Houk working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Houk's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Henning looking to hit a scissor sweep but Houk is one step ahead there.
Houk connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henning keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houk with a nice head shot there.
Houk would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Houk wants to control from the top but Henning keeps moving.
Henning wants to sweep here but Houk controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Houk has taken the fight to the clinch.

Houk gets control of Henning's arms and successfully pulls guard. Houk will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Henning throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Houk works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Houk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Houk is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Houk looking for a guillotine here but Henning defends easily.
Zeke Houk has got the better of the ground game so far.

Henning decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Houk, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk looks for the body kick but Henning saw that one coming.

Henning gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Houk to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Henning looking to hit a scissor sweep but Houk is one step ahead there.
Henning is working hard here to advance position.
Henning trying to keep a closed guard but Houk is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk controls from within his opponent's guard.
Henning working a defensive guard here.
Houk slips nicely into half guard.
Henning taking some punishment here, with Houk in his half guard.
Houk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henning keeps working.
Houk working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeke Houk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Houk 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeke Houk!