PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zak Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Asuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houk is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Houk
vs
Asuka

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
18
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zak Houk!
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, Lucas Asuka!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asuka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zak Houk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Houk is breathing heavily.
Asuka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Houk cracks Asuka with a good jab.
Houk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Houk wants it to stay on the feet.
Zak Houk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Asuka.
Asuka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Houk.

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

Asuka drags the fight down to the ground.
Asuka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Houk!

Houk defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Asuka.
Asuka unloads with some shots from mount but Houk bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Asuka is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Houk can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Asuka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Asuka throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Asuka cracks Houk with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Asuka is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Houk to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Houk shrugs it off.
Asuka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Asuka misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Asuka throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Asuka get's back to his feet.
Asuka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Houk swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown by Asuka or perhaps it was just good defense by Houk which made him look bad.
Houk leaves Asuka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Houk tries to move into range but Asuka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Asuka throws a right and a left that Houk avoids nicely.

Asuka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asuka is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asuka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Houk's efforts to push away.

Asuka pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Asuka 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.
Asuka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Houk manages to get himself to full guard.
Asuka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asuka is pushing down on Houk's leg trying to pass to half guard. Houk is fighting to maintain full guard but Asuka has managed to sneak the leg through.
Asuka controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houk is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sloppy strikes from Houk. Those never looked like landing.
Asuka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Asuka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Asuka closes the distance and pushes Houk back into the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Asuka.
Asuka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Asuka pulls guard effortlessly.
Asuka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Asuka controlling the action here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Asuka decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Asuka, right into the meat.
Asuka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Asuka moves into the clinch successfully.
Asuka wants a takedown.

Asuka pulls guard.
Asuka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Houk's guard.

Asuka has gone for a leg lock! Houk slips out almost immediately though and dives into Asuka's guard.
Asuka tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Asuka is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Asuka is on top in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
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.
Asuka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asuka content to stall in guard here.
Houk knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Asuka on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lucas Asuka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Asuka fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Houk to the ground. Asuka is now in Houk's guard.

Asuka gets to his feet - Houk follows without any prompting.
Asuka throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Houk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Houk takes a jab right on the kisser.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houk throws a nice looking combination but Asuka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Asuka is defended easily by Houk.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Asuka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Houk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Asuka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Asuka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Asuka has Houk up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Asuka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Houk takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Houk to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Asuka holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Asuka continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lucas Asuka.
Asuka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Houk tries a head kick but it misses.
Asuka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Houk as he avoids it easily.
Zak Houk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Asuka.
Houk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Asuka counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Asuka 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 control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houk has his foot on Asuka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Asuka works his way back into a safe position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houk wants to stand and escape but Asuka is having none of it.
Asuka throwing strikes from guard but Houk blocks nicely.
Asuka throws a big elbow that misses.
Asuka is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Houk throws his legs up looking for a submission but Asuka uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Asuka has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Asuka scores with a head kick.
Asuka closes the distance and clinches up with Houk, looking for a takedown. Asuka pushes Houk against the cage but Houk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Houk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Houk gets tackled into the cage by Asuka. Asuka maintains the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Houk creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Asuka pulls Houk into guard.
Asuka trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Asuka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Houk's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asuka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Asuka decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Houk, up you get!
Asuka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asuka throws a series of punches but Houk avoids them all with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Asuka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Houk sprawls well. Houk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Asuka gets slowly back to his feet.
Asuka misses with a takedown attempt - Houk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Asuka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Asuka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Asuka!