PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Austin Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lolly Pop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houston comes to the cage accompanied by Born of a Broken Man. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Houston
vs
Pop

190 cm
28
190 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Austin Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lolly Pop!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houston fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pop manages to avoid it.
Nice jab there from Houston.
Houston swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pop tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Houston scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pop tries to score with a low kick but Houston moves his leg out of the way.
Pop smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Houston is looking to clinch but Pop is avoiding it.
Houston will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pop takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Houston fails to land the takedown.
A clash of legs there as Pop blocks the low kick.
Houston scores with the left hand. Pop knows he should have avoided that one.
Houston looks to throw the jab but Pop is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Pop throws a sloppy head kick and Houston moves out of range easily.
Pop avoids the head kick by Houston.
Houston lands a body shot.

Houston moves into the clinch.
Houston wants to stall.
Houston trying to land knees to the body.
Houston throws a knee to the head but misses.
Houston pushes Pop back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Pop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Houston looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pop is fending him off so far but Houston persists. Nope, Pop circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston lands with a nice body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A shot to the liver by Houston. Beautiful body shot.
Pop shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pop walks into a straight right hand from Houston.
Houston misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Pop counters with a body kick.
Pop moves out of range of the strikes.
Houston throws a hook but Pop avoids it easily.
Houston jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pop takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pop staying out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Houston checks a leg kick.
Austin Houston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pop misses with a head kick.
Houston shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pop but Pop pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Houston. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston misses the jab.
Pop shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Houston misses with an uppercut. Pop saw that one coming.
Pop slips under a jab.
Nice body punch from Houston.
Houston looks to throw the jab but Pop is out of range.
Houston scores with a hook.
The fighters circle momentarily. Houston darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Houston takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pop throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Houston's waist but Houston gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pop off to one side.
Houston misses with a head kick.
Houston is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston throws a series of punches but Pop moves out of range.

Houston has Pop up against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Pop - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Houston tries a body shot but Pop blocks it.
Houston letting Pop take a breather here.
Pop misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houston working aggressively here.
Houston tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pop stops a takedown attempt from Houston.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Houston dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Houston tries to clinch up.

Houston feints and as Pop raises his hands in defense, Houston changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Houston postures up.

Pop escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Houston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pop throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Pop working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Houston doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Houston manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pop keeping moving, preventing Houston from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pop preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Houston preventing the sweep.
Houston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pop is keeping the position for now.
Houston scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pop trying to keep a closed guard but Houston is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houston looking to pass the guard.
Houston works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Pop is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Houston pulls his head out easily.
Pop is looking to control Houston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pop avoid being mounted?
Pop is breathing heavily.
Houston wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pop keeps working.

Houston stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Pop to get to his feet.
Houston lands a nice shot to the body.
Pop throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Houston. Pop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Houston throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Houston shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pop sprawls well. Pop wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Houston gets slowly back to his feet.
Houston swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Houston staying out of range there.
Houston changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pop tries to avoid it but Houston manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pop to the ground. Pop escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houston fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pop on the side of the head.
Houston connects with a solid leg kick.
Austin Houston is winning the standup battle so far.
Houston wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Houston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pop was well out of range. Poor timing from Houston.
Houston swings widly with a right hand
and Pop counters with a three punch combo that has Houston backing up. Houston nods at Pop to acknowledge the strikes.
Pop throws a sloppy head kick
and Houston counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pop is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A swing and a miss from Pop.
Houston connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Houston fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pop looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Houston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pop to the mat! Pop manages to get full guard.
Pop keeping full guard, as Houston tries to pass.
Houston trying to control the position from guard on top but Pop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houston has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Houston stands and throws Pop's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pop trying his best to control but Houston has mounted him.
Pop is desperately trying to improve his position but Houston has a good base and remains in mount.
The referee warns Pop that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pop working to try and regain half guard.
Houston looking to control but Pop is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Houston with a couple of short strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pop is trying to escape the mount.
Houston lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Houston dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pop steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Houston.
Houston looks to land a body kick but Pop moved away.
Pop tries to move into range but Houston moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Houston misses the shot to the body.
Houston catches Pop with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Houston misses with a hook. Pop ducked under it nicely.
Pop slips under a jab from Houston.
Houston goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A head kick misses from Pop.
Pop throws a head kick but Houston moves out of range.
Pop showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Houston.
Pop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pop blocks a head kick by Houston.
Houston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pop swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Houston closes the distance and clinches up with Pop, looking for a takedown. Houston pushes Pop against the cage but Pop circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Houston throws a jab when Pop was well out of range.
Pop connects with a looping right hand.
Pop on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pop circles away from the clinch attempt.
Houston shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pop eats them both and turns towards Houston to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Houston throws a looping overhand right but Pop ducks down to avoid it.
Houston throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pop.
Houston ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pop moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston misses with a body shot.
Houston throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Houston throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Pop makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pop lands with a right hand.
Houston thows a body shot but no joy.
Houston drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Houston throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Pop counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houston is looking to clinch but Pop is avoiding it.
Houston cracks Pop with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Good leg kick by Pop there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pop takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston shoots in looking for a takedown. Pop tries to sprawl out of it but Houston keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pop manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Houston throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pop throws a front kick aimed at Houston's knee but Houston avoids it well.
Houston throws a predictable looking body shot
and Pop counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pop on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Houston checks a leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pop.
Houston checks a low kick from Pop.
No luck for Houston with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Houston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houston is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pop.
Houston misses with a low kick.
Houston doesn't manage to clinch there - Pop circles away.
Pop moves out of range as Houston throws a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Houston misses the target.
Austin Houston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Houston comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Pop connects with a right hand. Houston shakes it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab from Houston does it's job there.
Pop slips under a jab from Houston.
Lolly Pop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Houston misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Houston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Houston has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Houston!