PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charles Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tawi Ebana (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.

Houston
vs
Ebana

187 cm
24
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Charles Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tawi Ebana!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ebana with a lazy takedown attempt

and Houston moves into the clinch.

Ebana jumps guard and drags Houston to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Houston looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Houston with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houston is stalling in the full guard.
Houston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ebana is on top in guard.
Houston looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston looking for a sweep. Not yet Houston, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Charles Houston.
Ebana fails with the takedown

and Houston counters by moving into the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Houston.

Houston breaks from the clinch.

Houston closes the distance and clinches.
Houston just leaning against Ebana, taking a breather.
Ebana fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Charles Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tawi Ebana.
Ebana tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Houston just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houston lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ebana can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Houston controls the pace.

Ebana throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Houston controls from within his opponent's guard.
Houston wants to stand but Ebana is controlling his posture from full guard.
Houston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Charles Houston.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ebana is defended easily by Houston.

Houston moves into range and clinches up with Ebana.
Ebana tries to pull guard but Houston holds him up against the cage and eventually Ebana drops back down to his feet.
Ebana can't get the takedown.

Houston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Houston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Houston lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ebana circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ebana misses with a takedown
and Houston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Tawi Ebana has been cut.
Ebana fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Houston avoids it really well and circles away.
Houston keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ebana looks gassed!
Ebana shoots in but Houston avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Houston misses with a combination
and Ebana counters with a body kick that stops Houston in his tracks momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ebana tries for a takedown but Houston circles away easily

and Houston moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Houston dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tawi Ebana's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Houston throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ebana shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Houston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Houston.
Ebana jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Houston walks away with a smile on his face. Ebana gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Houston displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ebana.
Charles Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tawi Ebana.
A head kick from Ebana lands but Houston takes it in his stride.
Tawi Ebana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Houston gets a clinch.

Houston breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Houston, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Houston clinches with his opponent.

Houston has clasped his hands together around Ebana's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ebana tries to buck Houston off but Houston is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston working the ground and pound from side control.
Charles Houston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ebana is breathing heavily.
Ebana tries to buck Houston off but Houston is having none of it.
Houston lands a decent elbow from side control.
Houston controlling the position.
Houston wants to control but Ebana is keeping him busy.
Houston tries to get to his feet but Ebana is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Houston in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houston is looking to work some ground and pound but Ebana has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston wants to stand but Ebana has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ebana looking for a sweep. Not yet Ebana, not yet.

Ebana 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.
Ebana wants to sweep but no luck.
Ebana utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Houston controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ebana is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ebana being controlled here momentarily.
Houston wants to sweep here but Ebana controlling him for the moment.
Ebana wants to pass the guard but Houston is keeping the position.
Houston looking for a sweep. Not yet Houston, not yet.
Ebana trying to control but Houston is working from the bottom.
Ebana slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ebana seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Houston does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Houston is looking to improve his position.
Houston has a hand on Ebana's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ebana takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Houston is working to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houston avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ebana.

Ebana looking to isolate an arm here. Houston doesn't see it coming and as Ebana extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Ebana!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tawi Ebana!