PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DK Oakston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DK Oakston will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Houston
vs
Oakston

182 cm
18
168 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, DK Oakston!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Houston 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.
Oakston keeping full guard, as Houston tries to pass.
Houston trying to control but Oakston is working from the bottom.
Houston postures up.
Houston makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Houston is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Oakston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Houston is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Houston scoring with punches to the head and body.
Houston passes Oakston's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Houston seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Oakston looking for submissions off his back.
Oakston is trying to stand back up but Houston is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston trying to control the action but Oakston is working from the bottom.
Oakston has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Houston is working away from the top position though.
Houston looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Oakston with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Houston is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Oakston is just riding it out for now. Houston eventually gives up the hold.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Houston lands a nice short elbow.
Houston thows a huge punch but Oakston dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houston prevents Oakston from standing back up.

Oakston kicks Houston off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houston closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Oakston did well to prevent Houston getting side control.
Houston working over Oakston with some ground and pound. Oakston looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Oakston on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Houston lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Houston seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ground and pound from Houston.
Oakston wants to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Houston.
Oakston makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Oakston.
Oakston looks gassed!
Houston sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Houston wants to pass the guard but Oakston is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Houston has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Houston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Houston drops back looking for a leg! Oakston is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Oakston manages to kick Houston off! Houston jumps back into Oakston's guard.
Houston wants to control from the top but Oakston keeps moving.
Houston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Houston trying to control but Oakston is working from the bottom.
Houston lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Houston postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oakston is trying to control the position but Houston postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Houston fails to land the takedown.
Oakston throws a combination. Houston tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Houston takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Houston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Oakston to the mat! Oakston manages to get full guard.
Houston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Houston with a nice head shot there.
Oakston controls Houston momentarily but Houston frees himself.
Oakston wants to get back to his feet but Houston is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Houston content to stall in guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Houston dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Houston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oakston moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Houston looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Houston lands a couple of digs.
Oakston keeping moving, preventing Houston from controlling successfully.
Houston works over Oakston with some ground and pound from guard.
Houston postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Oakston can't keep his opponent in guard - Houston advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Houston seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Houston is looking for a kimura here.

Houston is working for a kimura but Oakston is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
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 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 postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Oakston to stand up.

Houston changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Oakston looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Houston cracks Oakston with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Oakston taking punishment in the form of punches.
Oakston can't do much from the bottom here.
Oakston tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oakston can't do much from the bottom here.
Oakston is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Houston lands a few punches from side control.
Houston working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Oakston is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Houston asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Houston lands an elbow.
Houston moves into full mount!
Houston dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houston fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Marcus Houston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Houston landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Houston is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Oakston can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Oakston is breathing heavily.
A nice elbow there by Houston.
Houston unloading with bombs!
Houston scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Houston scoring with strikes but Oakston is staying in there.
Houston lands a nice shot to the head.
Oakston is trying desperately to improve position.
Houston working the ground and pound effectively.
Houston controlling the pace for now.
Houston landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Oakston can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houston cracks Oakston with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Houston scoring with strikes but Oakston is staying in there.
A nice elbow there by Houston.
Oakston really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Oakston is bucking up trying to escape but Houston cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Houston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Oakston can do to turn this around?
Houston scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Oakston?
Houston lands a big shot there that rocks Oakston but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Houston landing strikes from the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Houston moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Oakston has worked his arm free - good work by Oakston!
Houston working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus 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!

Houston throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Oakston was covering up waiting for the punch and Houston finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Houston wants to control from the top but Oakston keeps moving.
Houston stands up over Oakston, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Houston thows a big elbow that misses.
Oakston lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Houston!
Oakston prevents Houston from getting the reversal.
Oakston sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Houston is squirming around, avoiding Oakston's attempts to control the action.
Houston is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston wants to hold on but Oakston pushes him away.
Oakston with the ground and pound from mount.
Oakston can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Houston is looking to escape.
Houston sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Oakston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Houston kicks off Oakston and gets to his feet.

Houston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Oakston to the mat! Oakston manages to get full guard.
Houston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Oakston is keeping the position for now.
Houston trying to control but Oakston is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oakston wants to stand but Houston is controlling the position.
Houston scoring with punches to the head and body.
Oakston has momentary wrist control but Houston slips an elbow through the middle.
Oakston wants to sweep but no luck.

Houston stands and steps away. Oakston gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Houston scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Houston winds up and cracks Oakston with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Houston passes into side control, despite Oakston's attempt to control the position.
Houston working the head and body with strikes.

Houston tries for a kimura but Oakston is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oakston explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Oakston tries for a takedown but Houston circles away easily

and Houston counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Oakston's guard now.
Houston connects with a couple of short punches.
Houston is stalling in the full guard.
Houston connects with a couple of short punches.

Oakston throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Houston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston with a nice head shot there.
Houston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oakston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Oakston can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Houston controls the pace.
Houston chips away with some ground and pound.
Houston trying to control the position from guard on top but Oakston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houston working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Oakston's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Houston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Houston wants to control from the top but Oakston keeps moving.
DK Oakston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Houston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Oakston trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Houston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Houston, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:26

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