PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Van Houten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kedar Dere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kedar Dere has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Van Houten
vs
Dere

175 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 Montreal, Charlie Van Houten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kedar Dere!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dere shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Van Houten pushes Dere off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Van Houten rushes Dere and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Van Houten gets control of Dere's arms and successfully pulls guard. Van Houten will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Van Houten throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Houten wants to stand and escape but Dere is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Houten trying to control the position here.
Van Houten trying to keep a closed guard but Dere is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Houten is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dere defends well.
Van Houten tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Houten keeping full guard, as Dere tries to pass.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dere missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Dere is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Van Houten's half guard.

Van Houten manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Dere keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dere drops down looking for an ankle pick but Van Houten pulls his leg out and moves away.

Van Houten moves into the clinch.

Van Houten breaks from the clinch.
Dere shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Van Houten as he jumps to the side.
Dere looks winded!

Van Houten rushes Dere and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dere managing to block the knees to the body from Van Houten.
Dere should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Dere is fighting off a takedown attempt but Van Houten is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dere to the mat. Dere regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Houten wants to pass the guard but Dere is keeping the position.
Van Houten stopping the sweep attempt from Dere.
Van Houten throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van Houten stands and throws Dere's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dere being controlled for a moment.
Van Houten wants to control but Dere is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Van Houten controlling from side mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Van Houten shoots in but no luck this time.
Dere is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Van Houten with a body shot.
Dere's coach down at Cozad MMA Montreal was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Dere's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Van Houten shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dere's guard.
Van Houten wants to control from the top but Dere keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Van Houten dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Van Houten looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dere is fending him off so far but Van Houten persists. Nope, Dere circles away and we're back to standing.

Dere gets caught napping as Van Houten dives in and scores a takedown. Dere manages to retain guard.

Dere pushes Van Houten off and scrambles back to his feet.

Dere changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Van Houten looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Van Houten is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dere working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Dere stands up and beckons Van Houten to his feet.
Dere throws a series of punches but Van Houten avoids them all with ease.
Dere is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Houten displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dere.
Van Houten displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dere.

Van Houten moves into range and clinches up with Dere.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Dere has eaten all the pies!

Van Houten ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Van Houten no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Van Houten is looking to stand up but Dere isn't so interested in that idea.
Van Houten is pulling down on Dere's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Houten pushes Dere off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Good work by Dere as he checks the leg kick.

Van Houten has Dere up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Houten has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dere is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Van Houten wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Van Houten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Houten tries to score a body lock takedown but Dere shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Van Houten's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Dere manages to break the clinch.
Van Houten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dere tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Houten paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Dere feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dere slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dere stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Houten swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Van Houten is trying to keep Dere in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dere is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Van Houten wants to stand and escape but Dere is having none of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dere tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Houten is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Van Houten is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dere sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Van Houten shoots in looking for a takedown. Dere tries to sprawl out of it but Van Houten keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dere manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kedar Dere will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A big left from Van Houten misses.

Van Houten rushes Dere and presses him up against the cage.
Van Houten is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Van Houten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Houten fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Van Houten keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Houten tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dere swivels and escapes.
Dere throws a leg kick which misses Van Houten's front leg but catches the back leg as Van Houten tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Houten walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dere checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Van Houten has taken the fight to the clinch.

Van Houten works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Dere manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Houten takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Van Houten is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dere sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Van Houten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Houten misses with a head kick.
Van Houten takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dere connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Dere shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Van Houten manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Van Houten has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Dere has passed into side control.
Van Houten is trying to control Dere's posture but Dere avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Houten tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Van Houten is trying to control Dere's posture but Dere avoids it.
Dere moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Van Houten is trying to control Dere's posture but Dere avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dere lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Van Houten down.
Van Houten struggling a bit here.
Charlie Van Houten overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dere decides to stand back up.
Van Houten is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dere sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dere is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Van Houten's half guard.

Van Houten pushes Dere off and gets back to his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dere.
Van Houten fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Van Houten does no damage.
Dere looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Houten fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kedar Dere comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dere has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kedar Dere!
Kedar Dere seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.