PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between JF Houle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and GOD HIMSELF (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houle comes into the arena with Devine blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Houle
vs
HIMSELF

180 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
24
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JF Houle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, GOD HIMSELF!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts HIMSELF as he jumps to the side.
Houle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Houle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. HIMSELF sprawls well initially but Houle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Houle trying to control from half guard but HIMSELF is working away.
Houle is really struggling to control HIMSELF but he's trying to hold on to the position.

HIMSELF manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Houle goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
HIMSELF misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
HIMSELF tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from HIMSELF as Houle shoots in.
Decent striking displayed by Houle there.
HIMSELF misses with a combination

and Houle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in HIMSELF's guard.
Houle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Houle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if HIMSELF can do anything to dispel that myth.
HIMSELF seems keen to control Houle's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houle throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houle stays in close to HIMSELF's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Houle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Houle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Houle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

HIMSELF has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Houle off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
HIMSELF lands a head kick. Houle smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
HIMSELF looks gassed!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Houle.
HIMSELF is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Houle asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Houle creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HIMSELF wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Houle working the head with strikes.
Houle landing strikes.
Houle 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.
HIMSELF is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Houle has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Houle is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but HIMSELF is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Houle throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Houle wants to lay and pray for a moment but HIMSELF keeps working.
Houle working the ground and pound.
HIMSELF really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Houle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sloppy strikes there by Houle.
Houle prevents HIMSELF from escaping the position.
Houle lands an elbow.
Houle postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
HIMSELF takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Houle tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Houle has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Houle is looking to take a break and control but HIMSELF is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Houle fails to land a wild elbow strike.
HIMSELF prevents Houle from improving position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
HIMSELF takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Houle is chipping away with strikes.
Houle is putting a hurting on HIMSELF here, landing some big shots from side control.
Houle tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Houle working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houle tries to move to mount but HIMSELF blocks the move with his legs.
Houle prevents HIMSELF from escaping the position.
Houle landing a few strikes.

Houle is trying to get an arm triangle but HIMSELF is defending well.
Houle scoring with punches from side control.
HIMSELF managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Houle.
Houle throwing shots but missing, from side control.
HIMSELF takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Houle working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houle working the ground and pound but HIMSELF is defending the strikes.
Houle is chipping away with strikes.
HIMSELF can't do much from the bottom here.

Houle wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by HIMSELF, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JF Houle dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

HIMSELF slaps away a takedown attempt from Houle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
HIMSELF tries to clinch but Houle moves away

and Houle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Houle with a flurry of punches that miss.

Houle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Houle prevents HIMSELF from getting back to his feet.

Houle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Houle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Houle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. HIMSELF is keeping the position for now.

HIMSELF is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
HIMSELF lands on the inside with an uppercut.
HIMSELF gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Houle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houle has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. HIMSELF is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JF Houle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

HIMSELF breaks the clinch.
HIMSELF throws a sloppy head kick and Houle moves out of range easily.
Houle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. HIMSELF tries to avoid it but Houle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag HIMSELF to the ground. HIMSELF escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
GOD HIMSELF is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
HIMSELF lands with a kick to the temple. Houle shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
HIMSELF throws a combination. Houle tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Houle fails with a takedown attempt.
HIMSELF pulls out of a head kick attempt.
HIMSELF misses with an uppercut. Houle saw that one coming.
Houle shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. HIMSELF defends it nicely.
HIMSELF misses with a combination
and Houle counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HIMSELF throws a head kick that misses.

Houle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. HIMSELF sprawls well initially but Houle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Houle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but HIMSELF does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Houle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
HIMSELF looks like he's trying to stand up.
HIMSELF is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Houle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Houle is looking for a kimura here.
HIMSELF keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
HIMSELF throws a head kick but Houle moves out of range.
Houle shoots in for a takedown but HIMSELF shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
HIMSELF tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Houle counters with a single leg into guard. HIMSELF didn't expect that.
JF Houle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Houle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
HIMSELF wants to stand but Houle is controlling the position.
Houle preventing the sweep.
Houle stops HIMSELF from standing up.
Houle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Houle is in close to HIMSELF's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Houle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of HIMSELF's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houle forces his way into half guard.

HIMSELF is defending against the submission attempts here by Houle.
Houle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Houle lands strikes from half guard.
HIMSELF is looking to escape.
HIMSELF trying to hold on to Houle's head to control him but Houle postures up.
Houle wants to take a breather but HIMSELF is having none of it.
HIMSELF pushes Houle off looking to stand but Houle dives back in and keeps control.
HIMSELF has hold of Houle's hands but Houle slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Houle closes this distance looking for a takedown but HIMSELF circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JF Houle 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!

Houle bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
HIMSELF sneaks back into half guard.
HIMSELF avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Houle.
Houle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Houle is looking to take a break and control but HIMSELF is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Houle trying to mount his opponent but HIMSELF defends it.
Houle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Houle is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so HIMSELF is just riding it out for now. Houle eventually gives up the hold.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Houle has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
HIMSELF lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
HIMSELF scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Houle scores a takedown into full mount!
Houle with good strikes from the mount here!
A nice elbow there by Houle.
Houle raining down shots from the mount!
HIMSELF is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Houle putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The referee warns HIMSELF that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
GOD HIMSELF has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Houle.
Houle working HIMSELF over with strikes here.

Houle is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but HIMSELF is surviving well by controlling Houle's body position as best he can.
Houle thowing shots but they're missing.
JF Houle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Houle throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for HIMSELF because Houle loaded up on that one.
Houle thowing shots but they're missing.
HIMSELF trying desperately to get to his feet.
HIMSELF is in a horrible position here. Houle smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Houle lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Houle sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houle is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, HIMSELF has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Houle takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
HIMSELF is trying to escape the mount.
Houle landing strikes from the mount.
The referee warns HIMSELF that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Houle looking to finish HIMSELF with some ground and pound. This is bad for HIMSELF!
Houle pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

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.
HIMSELF wants to get back to his feet.
Houle with a couple of short strikes.
HIMSELF throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Houle controlling the pace for now.
HIMSELF is bucking up trying to escape but Houle cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
HIMSELF is in all sorts of trouble here.
Houle landing strikes from the mount and HIMSELF is in trouble!
Houle working HIMSELF over with strikes here.
Houle punishing his opponent with strikes.
Houle looking to control but HIMSELF is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
HIMSELF tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
JF Houle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Houle, 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JF Houle!