PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keven Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cris Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Houston
vs
Leben

173 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

177 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 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, Cris Leben!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Houston pinned against the cage. Houston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Houston tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Leben manages to circle out of the way.
Leben tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Leben shoots in but Houston avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Houston moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Houston fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Keven Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cris Leben.
Houston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leben.
As Leben tries to get set, Houston tries to push him back and clinch up but Leben manages to avoid the attempt.
Leben shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It looked like Houston was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben tries to close the distance and clinch but Houston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Houston throws a big counter combination but Leben scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Leben dives in and scores a takedown into Houston's guard.
Houston bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Leben's guard.

Leben being controlled here, momentarily.
Houston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Houston keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Leben's head.
Houston controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leben escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Houston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Leben trying to control the position here.
Houston's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Houston with a nice head shot there.
Houston controlling from the top position.
Leben looking to control.
Leben wants to get back to his feet but Houston is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Leben is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Houston controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houston has closed the distance and engaged Leben in a clinch.
Leben prevents the takedown attempt.
Leben gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Houston.

Leben breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Leben shoots in and drives through. Houston sprawls well.
Leben gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Houston counters with a shoot takedown. Leben fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Houston trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Leben trying to control the position.
Houston content to stall in guard here.
Leben looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leben not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Houston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Houston lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Houston working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Houston controls from within his opponent's guard.
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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keven Houston dominated that round.
That's time! Houston's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Leben shoots for a takedown but Houston saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Leben with a poor takedown

and Houston counters by moving into the clinch.
Houston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leben can do to turn this around?

Houston has picked Leben up - he's going for a ride! Houston dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Houston stalling.
Houston winds up and cracks Leben with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Leben is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Houston drops an elbow to the side of Leben's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Houston seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben is trying to get back to full guard.
Houston trying to control the pace.
Houston is nestled in close to Leben, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Leben is trying to stand up here but Houston is controlling him well.
Leben taking some punishment here, with Houston in his half guard.
Still in half guard, Houston seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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 seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Leben for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Houston keeps the fight on the outside.
Leben is looking to clinch.
It appears Houston was looking to counter with a kick there.
Leben swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Houston counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Leben!
Houston scores with a couple of short elbows.
Houston moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Leben struggling a bit here.
Leben trying to remain calm as Houston controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houston decides to stand up, so the ref orders Leben to his feet.

Leben drives through with a takedown into Houston's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Houston managing to control the position.
Leben wants to stand but Houston has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Houston has control of Leben's left arm, preventing Leben from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben wants to pass the guard but Houston is keeping the position.
Leben controls from within his opponent's guard.
Houston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leben.

Houston has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Leben off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Keven Houston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leben is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leben looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Houston is fending him off so far but Leben persists. Nope, Houston circles away and we're back to standing.
Houston half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Keven Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cris Leben.
Houston leaves Leben with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leben shoots for a takedown but Houston saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Leben clinches up with Houston and pushes him back against the cage.
Houston avoids a wild elbow strike from Leben.
Leben jumps guard but Houston stands there with Leben around his waist. Leben gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Houston misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Houston presses Leben against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Houston is pressed up against the cage. Leben has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Houston down to the mat. Houston avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Keven Houston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cris Leben.
Leben tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben fails with the takedown

and Houston counters by clinching up.

Houston wants the takedown. Leben is fighting it off but Houston persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Leben's guard against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston sitting in guard here, content to control.
Leben doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Houston controlling from the top position.
Houston's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Houston.
Houston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leben works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leben trying to control the position.
Leben striking off his back.
Houston postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Leben shoots in and drives through. Houston sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Leben goes for a double leg but Houston avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Houston continues to drive forward.
Houston is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Leben.
Leben takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leben fails with the takedown

and Houston counters by moving into the clinch.
Leben wants a takedown but no success here.
Leben prevents a takedown attempt there.

Leben breaks from the clinch.
Houston circles away from the clinch attempt

and Houston counters with a nice double leg into side control. Leben won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Houston in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Houston cracks Leben with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Houston has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Leben looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Leben closes this distance looking for a takedown but Houston circles away.
Leben fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben shoots for a double leg takedown but Houston sprawls well. He's pushed Leben's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leben misses with a takedown attempt - Houston sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leben tries for a takedown but Houston circles away easily

and Houston counters by clinching up.
Houston has Leben pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Leben manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Houston tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leben tries to pull guard but Houston forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Houston works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cris Leben has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keven Houston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leben being controlled here, momentarily.

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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

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