PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zak Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Houk
vs
Castro

180 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 15 - 0

176 cm
18
165 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 lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 15 - 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, Jordan Castro!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houk lands a two punch combo.
Castro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Castro is defended easily by Houk.
Houk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Houk shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castro sprawls well. Castro wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Houk gets slowly back to his feet.

Houk moves into range and clinches up with Castro.

Castro pulls Houk into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houk preventing the sweep.
Houk trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.

Castro pushes Houk off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Castro.
A combination from Houk does no damage.
Castro tries for a takedown but Houk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zak Houk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Castro.
Houk tries to clinch but Castro is having none of it.

Castro rushes Houk and presses him up against the cage.
Castro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Houk misses with an elbow strike.
Castro lands a body punch.
Castro is trying to stall.
Castro prevents Houk from breaking the clinch.
Castro goes for a takedown in the clinch but Houk prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Houk throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Houk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Castro motions for Houk to come forward. Castro throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Castro has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Jordan Castro has been cut.
Castro looks gassed!
Castro moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Houk closes the distance looking to clinch

and Castro counters by clinching up.
Houk tries to break free but Castro pushes him back against the cage.
Houk has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Houk wants a takedown but no success here.
Houk working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Houk fails to land.
Castro changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Houk fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Houk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Houk swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castro.
Houk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Castro.
Houk motions for Castro to come forward. Houk throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Houk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Houk lands a right hook to the body.
Houk throws a series of punches but Castro avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Castro.
Houk doesn't manage to clinch there - Castro circles away.

Houk clinches with his opponent.
Houk wants to break the clinch but can't.
Houk tries to circle away but Castro has him pinned against the cage.

Castro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Castro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castro tries to clinch but Houk moves out of range.
Houk shoots in looking for a takedown. Castro tries to sprawl out of it but Houk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Castro manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Houk has a takedown stuffed.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Houk avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Houk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jordan Castro's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Houk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Houk tries to clinch up but Castro circles away and keeps his distance.
Houk throws a series of punches but Castro avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castro.
Houk shoots in for a takedown but Castro shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Houk tries to clinch there but Castro circles away.
Houk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Houk wants it to stay on the feet.
Houk closes the distance and clinches up with Castro, looking for a takedown. Houk pushes Castro against the cage but Castro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Castro is breathing heavily.

Houk gets tackled into the cage by Castro. Castro maintains the clinch.
Castro avoiding damage as Houk throws knees to the body.

Houk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Houk. Those never looked like landing.
Houk misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zak Houk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Houk misses with a double jab

and Castro counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Castro.
Castro wants a takedown but no success here.
Zak Houk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Castro.
Castro misses with an elbow over the top.
Castro prevents the takedown attempt.
Houk prevents a takedown attempt there.
Houk is trying to break the clinch but Castro has him pressed against the cage.
Houk has Castro pushed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro lands a shoulder strike.
Houk looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Houk fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Castro lands a good knee to the midsection. Houk won't want to take too many of those.
Houk changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Castro fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Houk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Castro avoids the head kick by Houk.
Castro shoots in for a double leg but Houk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Castro has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Castro fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Houk tries to close the distance and clinch but Castro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Houk has closed the distance and engaged Castro in a clinch.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Houk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Houk is looking to clinch but Castro is avoiding it.

Houk clinches up with Castro and pushes him back against the cage.
Castro gets underhooks to prevent Houk's takedown attempt.
Houk drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Castro gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Castro has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Houk avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Houk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Houk lands a jab to Castro's midsection.
Houk fails with a takedown attempt.
Zak Houk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Castro misses.
Houk scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Houk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Castro fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Houk.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Castro has Houk up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Houk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jordan Castro's cut.
That's time! Houk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Castro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Houk defends it nicely.
Castro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Houk throws a head kick that misses.
Zak Houk is winning the standup battle so far.

Houk looking to score a takedown here. Castro is defending well but Houk drives through and ends up in Castro's guard.

Castro 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.
Houk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Castro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Houk would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Houk controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Houk looking to sit in guard and control but Castro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Castro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Castro wants to control from the top but Houk keeps moving.
Castro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Houk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Castro's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houk tries to free his leg and advance position but Castro is retaining full guard.
Castro keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.
Houk wants to stand but Castro has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Houk trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Castro dives in and grabs Houk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Houk pushes down on Castro's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk scores with a three punch combo!
Houk lands a body shot.
Some wild striking there from Houk.

Houk clinches with his opponent.
Houk wants to get back to striking at distance but Castro won't allow it.
Houk is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Houk can't break the clinch.
Houk is trying to pull guard but Castro turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Castro tries to pull guard but Houk forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zak Houk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Castro.
Houk can't break the clinch.
Castro is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Houk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Houk tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Castro just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Houk manages to break the clinch.
Houk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Castro clinches.
Castro is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Houk tries to circle away but Castro has him pinned against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Castro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Houk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houk buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Houk tries to land a front kick but Castro steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jordan Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zak Houk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Castro stuffs the takedown attempt from Houk. Houk gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zak Houk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Houk has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zak Houk!
A less than humble Zak Houk misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.