PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cks ss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zak Houk will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

ss
vs
Houk

200 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cks ss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zak Houk!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by ss or perhaps it was just good defense by Houk which made him look bad.
ss fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
ss is breathing heavily.
Houk thows a body shot but no joy.
ss shoots in for a double leg but Houk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cks ss. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Houk drives through and clinches with ss against the cage.
ss is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
ss is trying to drag Houk to the mat but Houk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Houk decides to pull guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Houk working a defensive guard here.

Houk looking for a guillotine here but ss defends easily.
ss wants to stand but Houk has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houk wants to stand and escape but ss is having none of it.
ss stopping the sweep attempt from Houk.

Houk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Houk looking to control.
Houk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with ss. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Houk working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. ss doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. ss manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Houk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Houk is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houk is trying to control the action in half guard but ss is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Zak Houk hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
ss slaps away a takedown attempt from Houk, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Houk lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nice takedown defense from ss. No joy for Houk on that attempt.
ss shoots for a double leg takedown but Houk sprawls well. He's pushed ss's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Houk closes this distance looking for a takedown but ss circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk fails to land the takedown.

ss closes the distance and clinches.

ss gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Houk regains guard.
ss is looking to stand up but Houk won't let him.
Houk 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.
Houk wants to stand but ss is controlling the position.

Houk is working an open guard so ss takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from ss. No joy for Houk on that attempt.

ss shoots in and gets a takedown into Houk's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

ss stands and steps away. Houk gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

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

ss decides to stand and escape the position.
Houk throws a sloppy head kick

and ss counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Houk!

ss is standing up, even though he is in mount.
ss shoots in for a double leg but Houk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
ss ducks under a wild hook from Houk.
Houk scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cks ss dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

ss tries for a takedown but Houk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Houk shoots in looking for a takedown. ss tries to sprawl out of it but Houk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. ss manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Houk fails with the takedown.
Houk slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
ss avoids a kick to the body.
ss throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Houk rushes ss and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Houk lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Houk pulls guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Houk has his foot on ss's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. ss works his way back into a safe position though.
ss trying to stand up but can't free himself from Houk's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

ss stands up and waves to Houk to follow him.
ss leaves Houk with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cks ss has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zak Houk.
ss closes this distance looking for a takedown but Houk circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ss throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Houk's waist but Houk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing ss off to one side.
ss avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sloppy strikes from ss. Those never looked like landing.
Nice sprawl there from ss as Houk shoots in.

Houk takes the fight into the clinch.
ss changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Houk fights it off and pushes away nicely.
ss shoots in looking for a takedown but Houk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing ss's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
ss shoots in for a takedown but Houk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Houk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? ss is fending him off so far but Houk persists. Nope, ss circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk is trying hard to land a takedown here. ss sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Houk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with ss but ss pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Houk gets a clinch.
Still in the clinch, ss scores with a nice short uppercut.
Houk prevents a takedown attempt there.
Houk working hard to break the clinch.
Houk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. ss is defending well for now.
Houk tries to circle away but ss has him pinned against the cage.
Houk is struggling to control the position.
Houk stalling in the clinch but ss improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

ss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Houk throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and ss counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Houk's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

ss decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Houk, up you get!
No luck for Houk with that takedown attempt.

Houk gets a clinch.

ss is trying to trip Houk. He has hold of a leg but Houk is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. ss persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Houk has a closed guard, preventing ss from standing up.

ss stands up and waves to Houk to follow him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Houk closes the distance and pushes ss back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cks ss will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Houk tries for a takedown but ss sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Houk drives through and clinches with ss against the cage.
ss wants to take the fight to the mat but Houk manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Houk has ss pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. ss manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
ss wants to take the fight to the mat but Houk manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Houk trying to control the position but instead, ss has worked for underhooks and has pushed Houk into the cage.
ss avoids a wild elbow strike from Houk.

Houk jumps guard.
ss really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

ss got a little sloppy there for a moment and Houk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, ss has managed to get both his arms back between Houk's legs - danger averted.

ss stands and steps away. Houk gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
ss dives in and grabs Houk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Houk pushes down on ss's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cks ss. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from ss is defended easily by Houk.
ss fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Houk closes the distance and pushes ss back into the cage.

ss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Houk rushes ss and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Houk tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. ss just stands there and leans against the cage.

ss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Houk or perhaps it was just good defense by ss which made him look bad.
Houk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around ss's waist but ss gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Houk off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ss throws a nice head kick!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Houk manages to break the clinch.
Cks ss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
ss stuffs the takedown.

ss shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Houk napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

ss decides to stand back up.
ss fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from ss is defended easily by Houk.
Houk throws a body punch but ss moves out of range.
ss shoots in but Houk avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houk darts in and clinches ss up against the cage.
ss tries for a takedown. No joy.
ss letting Houk take a breather here.
ss looking for a takedown.
Houk misses with an elbow strike.
Houk jumps guard but ss stands there with Houk around his waist. Houk gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

ss has Houk pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. ss pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Houk tumbling to the mat - ss dives into Houk's guard.

ss stands up from Houk's guard - ss perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk shoots in for a takedown but ss shows good takedown defense.
Houk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zak Houk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
ss throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Houk's waist but Houk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing ss off to one side.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Houk enables ss to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Houk manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

ss decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
ss shoots in looking for a takedown. Houk tries to sprawl out of it but ss keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Houk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cks ss is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
ss throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Houk's waist but Houk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing ss off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cks ss showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for ss, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cks ss!
A very excited looking Cks ss rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.