PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keven Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Zheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Houston
vs
Zheng

173 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
19
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Keven Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Zheng!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zheng shoots in but no luck this time.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zheng.
Zheng tries to clinch there but Houston circles away.
Houston appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zheng throws a series of punches but Houston avoids them all with ease.

Houston fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zheng sprawls well initially but Houston persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Houston working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Houston not doing much here.
Zheng wants to improve his position but Houston is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houston is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Houston looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston drops an elbow to the side of Zheng's head.
Houston with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Houston working over Zheng with some ground and pound. Zheng looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Houston is taking a breather. Zheng 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.
Houston wants to stand but Zheng has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Zheng is looking to improve his position.
Houston is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Houston lands strikes from half guard.
Zheng wants to improve his position but Houston is controlling well.
Houston is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zheng is looking to escape.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Houston perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Houston circles away from the clinch attempt.
Houston is looking to counter the offense by Zheng and move into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheng throws a sloppy head kick and Houston moves out of range easily.
Houston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zheng.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zheng.
Keven Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Zheng.
Zheng tries to close the distance and clinch but Houston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
John Zheng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zheng looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zheng throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zheng tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Houston manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston throws a sloppy head kick and Zheng moves out of range easily.

Zheng closes the distance and pushes Houston back into the cage.

Zheng's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Houston pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zheng tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Houston defends well and Zheng ends up having to push Houston into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zheng looks winded!
Houston tries a head kick but it misses.
Zheng tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Houston instigates a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A frustrated look appears on Houston's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Houston has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zheng after a bit of a struggle.
Houston has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zheng is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keven Houston dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zheng moves into the clinch successfully.

Zheng pulls guard successfully.
Zheng wants to stand up but Houston is controlling him.
Houston content to stall in guard here.
Houston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Houston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zheng can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houston looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Houston seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zheng for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston postures up in Zheng's guard and throws a big left but Zheng blocks it.
Zheng avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Houston's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zheng.
Zheng looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Houston is fending him off so far but Zheng persists. Nope, Houston circles away and we're back to standing.
Zheng throws a sloppy head kick

and Houston counters by moving into the clinch.
Houston wants a takedown.

Zheng breaks from the clinch.
Houston keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Keven Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Zheng.
Zheng is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zheng fails with the takedown

and Houston moves into the clinch.

Houston has picked Zheng up - he's going for a ride! Houston dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Houston content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Houston scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Keven Houston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Houston in particular looking to stall.
Zheng avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Houston.
Zheng trying to control here.
Zheng wants to improve his position but Houston is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zheng tries to roll over but Houston keeps him under control.
Houston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zheng is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Houston's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Houston's back!
Zheng trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Houston is really stuck here.
Zheng gets his hands free as Houston looks to control.
Zheng is trying to stick to Houston's back but Houston is turning into Zheng. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Zheng's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Houston.
Houston keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zheng's head.
Houston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston won't allow Zheng to sweep him here.
Houston throwing strikes but missing.
Houston sitting in guard here, content to control.
Houston chips away with some ground and pound.
Zheng looking to hit a scissor sweep but Houston is one step ahead there.
Houston content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zheng looking to hit a scissor sweep but Houston is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keven Houston 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!

Zheng looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Houston tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zheng manages to circle out of the way.
Zheng tries to clinch there but Houston circles away.
Houston lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zheng.
Houston seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Zheng shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Houston as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zheng fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Houston avoids it really well and circles away.
Houston tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zheng manages to circle out of the way.
Keven Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Zheng.
Zheng takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zheng misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Houston has taken the fight to the clinch.

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

Zheng has Houston up against the cage in a clinch.

Houston breaks the clinch.
Zheng tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Houston swivels and escapes.
Zheng just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHouston.
Zheng fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Houston closes the distance and pushes Zheng back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zheng is fighting off a takedown attempt but Houston is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zheng to the mat. Zheng regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Houston content to stall in guard here.
Zheng working a defensive guard here.
Houston has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zheng is proving hard to escape from.
Houston works over Zheng with some ground and pound from guard.
Houston is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Houston trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zheng's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zheng tries to clinch but Houston moves out of range.
Zheng avoids a kick to the body.

Zheng clinches with his opponent.
Houston is looking for a takedown.
Zheng tries for a takedown but Houston manages to get underhooks.
Zheng changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Houston fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Houston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zheng.
Houston wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zheng throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zheng moves out of range as Houston throws a body kick.

Houston moves into the clinch.
Zheng is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Houston is keeping busy.
Houston can't get the takedown.
Zheng tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Houston smiles and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zheng throws a right and a left that Houston avoids nicely.
Houston throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zheng.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keven Houston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Houston 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

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