PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Moraes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houston comes to the cage accompanied by Born to Rise. Chris Houston has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Houston
vs
Moraes

184 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
19
196 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Moraes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moraes tries to clinch up

and Houston counters with a single leg into guard. Moraes didn't expect that.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Houston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Moraes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Houston throws a strike but Moraes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Moraes postures up.
Moraes trying to control the position from guard on top but Houston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houston is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Moraes passes Houston's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Moraes works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes looking to control but Houston is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moraes pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moraes tries to control but Houston wriggling away.
Houston regains half guard.
Houston is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houston punching from the bottom.
Houston is not content to let Moraes control the position.
Moraes is just content to waste time from the top position. Houston takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Moraes wants to control from the top but Houston keeps moving.
Houston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Moraes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Houston knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Moraes on the ground.
Houston looking for a sweep. Not yet Houston, not yet.
Moraes wants to control from the top but Houston keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matheus Moraes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Moraes is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston keeps the fight on the outside.
Matheus Moraes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A leg kick checked by Houston.
Moraes wants to clinch.
Moraes misses with a leg kick.
Moraes closes the distance but Houston moves to the side

and Houston counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Houston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moraes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Houston.

Houston avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Houston postures up in Moraes's guard and throws a big left but Moraes blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Houston will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Moraes tries to clinch but Houston moves out of range.
A punch combination from Moraes misses.
Houston will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Moraes scores with a hook.
Houston missing with a left hand there. Moraes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Moraes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Moraes scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Houston scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Houston throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Moraes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Houston.

Moraes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Houston pulls his head out easily.
Houston throwing shots but Moraes is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moraes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Houston missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Houston with the ground and pound but Moraes uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Moraes looking for subs off his back but Houston has passed one foot through into half guard.
Houston throwing shots but Moraes is blocking nicely.
Houston not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Moraes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Houston thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Houston is trying to control the action in half guard but Moraes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Moraes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Houston pulls his head out easily.

Moraes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Houston wants to control but Moraes is keeping him busy.
Chris Houston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Moraes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Houston got a little sloppy there for a moment and Moraes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Houston has managed to get both his arms back between Moraes's legs - danger averted.
Moraes is breathing heavily.
Moraes looking to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Houston from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Houston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Houston throwing strikes from guard but Moraes blocks nicely.
Houston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Houston controls from within his opponent's guard.

Houston is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Moraes has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Houston is looking to defend but Moraes has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Houston! Moraes pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Houston taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Matheus Moraes!