PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mati Krol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Krol
vs
Houston

185 cm
19
132 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mati Krol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Houston!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krol tries to score a power double leg takedown but Houston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Krol somewhat.
Houston looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A right-left combo lands from Houston.
Krol has his takedown stuffed
and Houston counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Houston moves into the clinch.
Houston lands a shoulder strike.
Houston lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Krol or not.
Houston prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mati Krol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krol tries to score a body lock takedown but Houston shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Krol is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Houston gets underhooks to prevent Krol's takedown attempt.
Houston misses with a punch to the body.

Krol has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Houston regains guard immediately.
Krol is breathing heavily.
Krol looking to pass the guard.
Krol won't allow Houston to get back to his feet.
Houston looking to control.
Houston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Houston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krol missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Krol showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Houston.
Krol shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Houston counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krol tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Houston leaves Krol with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Houston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Krol tries to counter by clinching up but Houston breaks away and moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Houston. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Houston.
Krol looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Krol really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Krol tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Houston swivels and escapes.
Houston lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Houston.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krol keeps the fight on the outside.
Krol doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Houston makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Houston ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Houston attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Houston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houston doesn't manage to clinch there - Krol circles away.
Steve Houston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Houston rushes Krol and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Houston dominated that 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.

Houston moves in looking to clinch but Krol pushes him off.
Krol changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Houston tries to avoid it but Krol manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Houston to the ground. Houston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Krol tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Houston defends well and Krol ends up having to push Houston into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Houston scores with a jab to the body.
Krol looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mati Krol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Krol swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krol on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Houston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Houston clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Houston lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Krol is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Houston.
A right handed body shot lands from Houston.
Nice body punch from Houston.
Krol being controlled against the cage.
Krol is trying to break free.
Krol is working for takedown but Houston is calmly controlling the position for now.
Houston lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Houston tries to stall but Krol uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Houston scores with a hook to the body.
Houston misses with a body punch.
Houston working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Houston avoiding damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Houston.
A short right from Houston.
Houston lands a hook that snaps the head of Krol backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston is trying to maintain a safe position but Krol gets an underhook and turns Houston into the cage.
Krol wants to take the fight to the mat but Houston manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Houston.
Houston misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Houston softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Krol swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Houston.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Houston is trying to maintain a safe position but Krol gets an underhook and turns Houston into the cage.
Houston wants to stall.
Houston is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Krol has denied him.
Houston tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Krol's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Houston creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Houston lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Houston lands a body punch in the clinch.
Houston lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Krol backwards.
Good body shot from Houston.
A body shot lands from Houston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krol is trying to drag Houston to the mat but Houston just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Houston lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Houston throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Houston can't find room to land a body shot as Krol controls the action.
Houston digs a right hand into Krol's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Krol's gas tank.
Houston scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Houston lands a right hand that snaps the head of Krol backwards.
Houston lands a body shot in the clinch.
Houston prevents the takedown attempt.
Houston lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Houston digs a right hand into Krol's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Krol's gas tank.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Houston lands with a right to the head.
Krol's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Steve Houston seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Krol has Houston pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Houston manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krol is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Houston stalling the fight.
Nice body punch from Houston.
Houston looking to slow down the pace here.
Houston is looking to control Krol's arms but Krol gets an underhook and turns him. Now Houston has his back to the cage.
Krol goes for a takedown in the clinch but Houston prevents it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Houston misses with a punch to the body.
Houston avoiding damage.
Krol has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Houston is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Houston throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Houston stalling in the clinch but Krol improves position.
A short left from Houston.
Houston lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Krol backwards.
A shot in the inside from Houston.
Krol wants to take the fight to the mat but Houston manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Houston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Houston wants to clinch.
Krol changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Houston is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Krol rather than just go for the knockout.
Krol changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Houston tries to avoid it but Krol manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Houston to the ground. Houston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Houston comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Houston connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Krol's hands.
Krol on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houston dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Houston moves into range and clinches up with Krol.
Houston lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston is leaning against Krol and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Houston.
Houston lands with a short shot to the head.
A body shot lands from Houston.
Houston goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Houston lands a hook that snaps the head of Krol backwards.
Krol looking for a takedown.
Houston stops a takedown attempt from Krol.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mati Krol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houston lands a shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Houston.
Houston trying to stall but Krol improves his position.
Krol is looking for a takedown.
Houston pushes Krol back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Houston is working Krol over against the cage.
Houston is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Houston lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston gets through Krol's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Krol is rocked!
Houston lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Oh Krol is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Houston scores with a hook to the body.
Houston can't find room to land a body shot as Krol controls the action.
Houston tries to stall but Krol uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A shot in the inside from Houston.
A nice right hand lands inside from Houston.
Houston lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Krol backwards.
Houston tries a body shot but Krol blocks it.
Houston working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A shot in the inside from Houston.
Houston has Krol pushed against the cage.
Houston misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Houston lands a nice uppercut.
Krol goes for a takedown attempt but Houston pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Krol takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mati Krol seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Houston scores with a punch to the head.
Houston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Krol attempts a counter takedown but Houston avoids it well and moves away.

Houston has Krol up against the cage in a clinch.
Houston lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Krol seems to have got his legs back now.
Houston lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston scores with a nice hook to the head.
Houston is working Krol over against the cage.
Houston digs a right hand into Krol's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Krol's gas tank.
Houston throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mati Krol has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Houston works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Houston tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Houston lands a body punch in the clinch.
Houston works on Krol's body with a couple of short punches.
Krol wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Steve Houston is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Houston trying to control the position but instead, Krol has worked for underhooks and has pushed Houston into the cage.
Houston stops a takedown attempt from Krol.
A right handed body shot lands from Houston.
Houston trying to control the position but instead, Krol has worked for underhooks and has pushed Houston into the cage.
Houston tries to stall but Krol uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Houston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Houston winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 25:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 25:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Houston!