PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjorn Ragnarson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bjorn Ragnarson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Francis Houston's chin.

Houston
vs
Ragnarson

199 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Francis Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bjorn Ragnarson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ragnarson fails to land the takedown.
Houston is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ragnarson.

Ragnarson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Houston napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Houston throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Ragnarson with a poor takedown
and Houston counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ragnarson thinking.

Ragnarson pushes Houston up against the cage in a clinch.

Ragnarson breaks the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houston stuffs the takedown attempt from Ragnarson. Ragnarson gets slowly back to his feet.
Houston swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Francis Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bjorn Ragnarson.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Houston.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houston working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Houston is trying to get an arm triangle but Ragnarson is defending well.
Houston postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Ragnarson parries the strikes from Houston easily there. Houston is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ragnarson to escape.
Ragnarson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ragnarson is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Houston working away.
Ragnarson is trying to buck Houston off.
Houston scores with punches from side control.
Ragnarson wants to control but Houston postures up.
Houston trying to control the action but Ragnarson is working from the bottom.
Ragnarson tries to improve position but can't.
Ragnarson gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarson is looking to control Houston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ragnarson avoid being mounted?
Ragnarson pushes Houston off looking to stand but Houston dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ragnarson delivers a nice body kick.
Ragnarson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Houston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ragnarson somewhat.
Houston thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ragnarson shoots for a takedown but Houston saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ragnarson swinging wildly here.
Houston seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Ragnarson moves into the clinch.
Houston prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ragnarson 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ragnarson tries to pull guard but Houston holds him up against the cage and eventually Ragnarson drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Houston 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.

Ragnarson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Houston swivels and escapes.

Houston moves into the clinch.
Houston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ragnarson can do to turn this around?

Ragnarson breaks the clinch.
Houston stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Houston wants it to stay on the feet.

Ragnarson moves into the clinch.
Ragnarson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Francis Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bjorn Ragnarson.
Ragnarson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Houston pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ragnarson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ragnarson is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragnarson tries to pull guard but Houston forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ragnarson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Houston walks away with a smile on his face. Ragnarson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Houston fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ragnarson avoids it really well and circles away.
Ragnarson is trying to counter with his kicks.
Ragnarson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Houston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ragnarson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Houston checks it well.
Houston is looking to counter the offense by Ragnarson and move into the clinch.

Ragnarson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Houston tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ragnarson is in Houston's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ragnarson throws a strike but Houston rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Houston is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Francis Houston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Houston postures up and lands a big shot to Ragnarson's brow.
Houston postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Houston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ragnarson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Houston controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Houston distracts Ragnarson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ragnarson, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Houston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ragnarson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Houston is in close to Ragnarson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Houston sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Houston postures up in Ragnarson's guard and throws a big left but Ragnarson blocks it.
Ragnarson is adopting a defensive guard.
Houston stopping the sweep attempt from Ragnarson.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ragnarson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Houston has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ragnarson regains guard immediately.
Houston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Houston working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Houston got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ragnarson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Houston has managed to get both his arms back between Ragnarson's legs - danger averted.

Ragnarson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Houston stacks Ragnarson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Houston!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ragnarson wants to get back to his feet but Houston drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Houston dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ragnarson is defended easily by Houston.
An attempted straight right counter from Houston misses the target.
Ragnarson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Houston defends well and Ragnarson ends up having to push Houston into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Houston is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ragnarson.
Houston looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ragnarson is fending him off so far but Houston persists. Nope, Ragnarson circles away and we're back to standing.

Houston drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ragnarson keeping moving, preventing Houston from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ragnarson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Houston defends well.
Ragnarson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston throwing strikes but missing.
Ragnarson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Houston manages to get himself to full guard.

Ragnarson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Houston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Houston wants to stand up but Ragnarson is controlling him.

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.

Ragnarson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ragnarson looks to land a combination but Houston avoids it well.
As Ragnarson tries to get set, Houston tries to push him back and clinch up but Ragnarson manages to avoid the attempt.
Ragnarson fails with the takedown
and Houston counters with a nice uppercut.
Francis Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bjorn Ragnarson.
Ragnarson fails with a takedown attempt.
Ragnarson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ragnarson moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ragnarson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Houston clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Houston is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ragnarson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Houston knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Houston for a finish.
Houston is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ragnarson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Houston trying to get back to his feet but Ragnarson is in full control for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bjorn Ragnarson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francis Houston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Houston has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Ragnarson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjorn Ragnarson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Houston has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

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