PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leslie Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Cox acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Houston
vs
Cox

169 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Leslie Houston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Cox!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cox shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cox was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cox working away.
Cox creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Houston sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cox is looking to take a break and control but Houston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Houston is trying to control Cox's posture but Cox avoids it.
Houston is letting Cox control him for a moment.

Cox working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Houston's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houston is trying to escape the position but Cox is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston wants to control but Cox postures up.
Houston tries to buck Cox off but Cox is having none of it.
Houston misses with a strike from the bottom.

Cox looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Houston gets back to half guard.
Houston trying to control from the bottom.
Houston keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Houston has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cox is working away from the top position though.
Houston is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cox is looking to take a break and control but Houston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Houston tries to get to full guard but Cox has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Cox manages to pass to mount!
Cox scoring with strikes but Houston is staying in there.
Cox breaks from Houston's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Houston tries to hold on but Cox pushes him away.

Cox has hold of Houston's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Houston manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Houston is in all sorts of trouble here.
Houston is working hard here to advance position.
Houston takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Houston tries to hold on but Cox pushes him away.
Cox seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Houston is holding on tight.

Houston defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cox.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Houston is looking to escape.
Houston is desperately trying to improve his position but Cox has a good base and remains in mount.
Cox seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Houston is holding on tight.
Cox controlling the pace for now.
Houston sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cox is nestled in close to Houston, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Houston wants to control but Cox is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cox looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Cox is looking to take a break and control but Houston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cox is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Houston defends it well.
Cox wants to lay and pray for a moment but Houston keeps working.
Houston makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Houston.
Houston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Houston wants to get back to his feet but Cox is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houston is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cox dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cox shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cox was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cox working away.

Cox wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Houston, who protects the arm well.
Houston is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Houston is trying to control Cox's posture but Cox avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houston stops Cox from passing to mount.

Cox wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Houston, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cox thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Houston tries to buck Cox off but Cox is having none of it.

Cox looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Houston stops Cox from passing to mount.
Houston manages to get back to half guard.

Cox seems to be working for a kimura but Houston defends the submission attempt.
Houston trying to hold on to Cox's head to control him but Cox postures up.

That's two 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.
Houston is trying is best to control the position here.
Houston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Houston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Houston keeping moving, preventing Cox from controlling successfully.
Daniel Cox has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Houston gets caught flat footed, as Cox shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox passes into half guard.
Cox wants to pass the guard but Houston is defending well.
Cox controlling the action here.
Houston keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Houston wants to get back to full guard.
It looks like Cox is going to stand back up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Houston tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Houston manages to get to full guard.
Cox trying to control the position from guard on top but Houston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houston is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cox thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Cox drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cox tries to free his leg and advance position but Houston is retaining full guard.
Houston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Houston is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cox is controlling Houston's trapped leg to prevent Houston from advancing to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Cox is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Houston is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Houston is not content to let Cox control the position.

Cox is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Houston works his way to full guard. Good work.
Houston looking to control.
Cox trying to stand up but can't free himself from Houston's guard.
Houston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston wants to sweep but no luck.
Cox sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Houston's guard.
Houston is trying to maintain the position but Cox is very close to passing his half guard.
Houston makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Houston.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cox distracts Houston with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cox trying to control but Houston is working from the bottom.
Cox controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox trying to control but Houston is working from the bottom.

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

Cox closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Houston is trying to get back to half guard.
Cox has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cox tries to score with some ground and pound. Houston controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cox lands some shots froms side control.
Cox grinds an elbow into Houston's temple.
Houston is trying to get back to half guard.
Cox has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Cox looking to control but Houston is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston is working to get back to half guard.
Houston regains half guard.
Cox wants to lay and pray for a moment but Houston keeps working.
Houston is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cox's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cox's back!
Houston punches the canvas rather than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houston is hanging on to Cox's back as he tries to escape.
Leslie Houston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniel Cox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Houston scores with strikes from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Cox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cox has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Cox!
A victorious Daniel Cox thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.