PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zak Houk has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jake Shields's chin.

Shields
vs
Houk

178 cm
20
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good in bed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jake Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zak Houk!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houk throws a series of strikes that have Shields backpedaling.

Houk gets caught napping as Shields dives in and scores a takedown. Houk manages to retain guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Shields content to stall in guard here.
Houk wants to sweep but no luck.
Houk being controlled here, momentarily.
Houk can't keep his opponent in guard - Shields advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shields takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shields wants to free his trapped foot but Houk is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shields sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Houk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shields. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shields is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Houk doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shields.
Shields is taking a breather. Houk says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Shields moves nicely into side control.

Shields decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shields moves into the clinch.
Houk is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shields to keep the fight standing.

Shields escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Shields shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Shields was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houk is working to get back to half guard.
Shields content just to control the position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houk is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields breaks from Houk's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Shields controlling the pace for now.
Shields's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Shields working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Shields looking for a guillotine from mount but Houk is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Shields controlling the pace for now.
Houk is looking to get to half guard.
Shields controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houk trying desperately to get to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houk really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Shields dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shields scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Houk has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shields is working away from the top position though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shields in particular looking to stall.
Shields moves nicely into side control.

Shields is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Houk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jake Shields overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shields is trying to get an arm triangle but Houk is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shields is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Houk knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shields controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Shields tries for a kimura but Houk is defending well.

Shields decides to stand back up. Shields steps back and let's Houk get back to his feet.
Shields defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Houk.
Shields tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Houk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zak Houk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shields shoots in and bounces Houk off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shields seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Houk for as long as he can get away with.
Houk can't keep his opponent in guard - Shields advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shields works his way into side control.
Houk is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Shields working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Houk is pushing Shields's head away, looking to escape. Shields manages to hold on to the position though.
Houk is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shields staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Shields dominated that second round.
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!

Shields closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shields lands in his opponent's guard.
Shields controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shields gets to his feet. Houk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houk gets caught flat footed, as Shields shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Houk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shields controls the pace.
Houk wants to hit a switch here but Shields passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Houk there!

Shields has hold of Houk's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Houk manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Shields lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields breaks from Houk's wrist control and lands an elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shields looking to control and managing it successfully.

Shields looking to secure an arm triangle but Houk defends it well.
Shields tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Shields landing shots from mount.

Houk is rocked!
Shields content just to control the position here.
Houk is still in real trouble! Can Shields finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Houk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Jake Shields has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Shields closes the distance looking for a takedown. Shields picks Houk up and slams him brutally to the floor. Houk is out! He's out cold! Wow, you don't see a finish like that every day!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Jake Shields!