PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roon Vander Esch (ranked 4529 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Houls (ranked 4449 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Vander Esch
vs
Houls

177 cm
25
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roon Vander Esch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Howard Houls!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houls looks for a takedown but Vander Esch sprawls well.

Houls instigates a clinch.
Houls dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Houls's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Houls looks for a takedown but Vander Esch sprawls well.
Vander Esch thinks about countering with a head kick.
Houls stuffs the takedown attempt from Vander Esch. Vander Esch gets slowly back to his feet.
Vander Esch backing away here, and Houls unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houls displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Roon Vander Esch has been cut.
Vander Esch defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Houls.
Roon Vander Esch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Houls.
Houls scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Houls shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vander Esch as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houls clinches up against the cage.
Houls tries to break the clinch but Vander Esch is controlling the position.
Vander Esch prevents a takedown attempt there.

Vander Esch pulls guard.

Vander Esch wriggles free and stands up.

Vander Esch has Houls up against the cage in a clinch.

Vander Esch lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Vander Esch not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Vander Esch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Houls defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vander Esch is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vander Esch stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Vander Esch shoots in for a takedown but Houls shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Houls works over Vander Esch's head and body with a nice combination.
Houls misses with a takedown attempt - Vander Esch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Houls fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Houls looks winded!

Houls feints and as Vander Esch raises his hands in defense, Houls changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Vander Esch has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Houls off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Howard Houls seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vander Esch pushes Houls up against the cage in a clinch.
Vander Esch wants a takedown but no success here.
Vander Esch prevents the takedown attempt.
Houls looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Vander Esch has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Houls clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Houls covering up well and avoiding damage.

Vander Esch is working for a rear naked choke. Houls is not defending it well and Vander Esch has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Houls refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Houls's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Roon Vander Esch!
Howard Houls was interviewed post fight and said 'Loss is part of life. If you don't have loss, you don't grow.'.