PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Evgeny Grishin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houk has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Zak Houk will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Grishin
vs
Houk

175 cm
21
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

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, Evgeny Grishin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 11 - 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!
Grishin shoots in for a double leg but Houk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Grishin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Houk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Grishin somewhat.
Houk tries to clinch but Grishin moves out of range.
Grishin looks for a takedown but Houk sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeny Grishin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grishin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Houk circles away.
Houk leaves Grishin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Grishin fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Houk stops a takedown attempt from Grishin.
Grishin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Houk pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Grishin is breathing heavily.

Houk pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Grishin 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.
Houk keeping full guard, as Grishin tries to pass.
Houk controls Grishin momentarily but Grishin frees himself.
Grishin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Grishin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Grishin is looking to take a break and control but Houk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grishin creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Houk sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houk can't do much from the bottom here.
Grishin moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Houk is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Houk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Grishin trying to control the position but Houk is working away.

Grishin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk is letting Grishin control him for a moment.

Grishin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Houk knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Grishin decides to stand up, so the ref orders Houk to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Houk enables Grishin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Houk manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Grishin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Grishin 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Houk is looking to stand up but Grishin isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grishin is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeny Grishin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grishin is defended easily by Houk.
Grishin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Houk fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Grishin avoids it really well and circles away.
Grishin tries for a takedown but Houk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeny Grishin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grishin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grishin is defended easily by Houk.
Grishin on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Houk slaps away a takedown attempt from Grishin, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grishin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grishin has a takedown stuffed.
Evgeny Grishin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Houk shoots in for a double leg but Grishin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Grishin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Houk on his heels. He'll look to pass Houk's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grishin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Grishin stopping the sweep attempt from Houk.

Grishin drops back looking for a leg! Houk is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Houk manages to kick Grishin off! Grishin jumps back into Houk's guard.

Grishin has gone for a leg lock! Houk slips out almost immediately though and dives into Grishin's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grishin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Grishin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grishin wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Houk manages to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houk is thwarting Grishin's attempts to control the position.
Houk is trying to control the action in half guard but Grishin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Houk stops Grishin from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Grishin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Grishin wriggles free and stands up.
Houk stuns Grishin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Grishin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Houk is pushing Grishin's head away, looking to escape. Grishin manages to hold on to the position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grishin decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Houk tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeny Grishin dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Grishin shoots in for a double leg but Houk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Grishin shoots in but no luck this time.
Grishin shoots in but Houk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeny Grishin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice sprawl there from Grishin as Houk shoots in.
Evgeny Grishin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Grishin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Grishin has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Houk is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Grishin yanks on the arm and Houk is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Grishin.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Evgeny Grishin!