PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Blanken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houk's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Hell's Bell's. Zeke Houk has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Houk
vs
Blanken

185 cm
21
204 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

225 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zeke Houk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Blanken!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Houk is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Blanken's half guard.
Blanken tries to roll over but Houk keeps him under control.
Blanken desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Ground and pound from Houk.
Houk throwing shots but Blanken is blocking nicely.
Houk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Houk is taking a breather. Blanken says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Blanken tries to roll over but Houk keeps him under control.
Houk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blanken keeps working.
Blanken is trying to stand up here but Houk is controlling him well.
Blanken is staying active underneath Houk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blanken actively working from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blanken defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Houk.
Blanken stuffs the takedown.
Houk moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Blanken. No joy for Houk on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeke Houk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanken keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Houk shoots in but Blanken avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Blanken is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Blanken takes the fight into the clinch.

Houk jumps into guard, dragging Blanken to the mat.
Blanken stopping the sweep attempt from Houk.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blanken trying to control but Houk is working from the bottom.
Houk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blanken drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Houk manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Blanken has Houk in his guard.
Blanken looks gassed!
Blanken tries to strike from the bottom.
Blanken wants to sweep here but Houk controlling him for the moment.

Houk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Houk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Houk trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houk controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanken punching to the body, from the bottom.
Houk stands up over Blanken, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Houk.
Blanken takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Blanken shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Houk defends it nicely.
Houk shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blanken sprawls well. Blanken wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Houk gets slowly back to his feet.
Houk with a lazy takedown attempt
and Blanken cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Blanken gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Houk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Blanken blocking the ground and pound attempt from Houk.

Houk is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Houk 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.
Blanken throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Houk working the head and body with strikes.
Houk throwing shots but Blanken is blocking nicely.

Houk wants to work for an arm triangle but Blanken is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Houk is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Houk is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Blanken defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Houk dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Houk blocks a head kick by Blanken.

Blanken throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Houk was covering up waiting for the punch and Blanken finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Blanken pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houk is keeping the position for now.
Blanken throws and elbow that misses. Houk uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blanken's guard. Nice move by Houk!
Blanken keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanken is breathing heavily.
Blanken looking to hit a scissor sweep but Houk is one step ahead there.
Houk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Houk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Blanken really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Houk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Houk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blanken to the mat! Blanken manages to get full guard.
Houk trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Blanken's guard.
Blanken on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanken is refusing to be controlled, as Houk sits in half guard.

Houk is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Blanken is just riding it out for now. Houk eventually gives up the hold.
Blanken is trying to maintain the position but Houk is very close to passing his half guard.

Blanken is defending against the submission attempts here by Houk.
Houk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blanken defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk throwing shots but Blanken is blocking nicely.
Houk thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Blanken to regain full guard.
Houk lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blanken is defended easily by Houk.
Houk shoots for a double leg takedown but Blanken sprawls well. He's pushed Houk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zeke Houk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Houk tries for a takedown but Blanken sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Blanken tries to clinch but Houk moves away

so Houk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Houk trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Houk postures up.
Houk throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk wants to control from the top but Blanken keeps moving.
Houk is really struggling to control Blanken but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Houk postures up in Blanken's guard and throws a big left but Blanken blocks it.
Blanken keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Blanken moves in looking to clinch but Houk pushes him off.
Blanken wants to clinch

so Houk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Houk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blanken controls Houk momentarily but Houk frees himself.
Blanken is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Houk 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Houk gets a clinch.

Houk manages to pull guard.
Houk working a defensive guard here.
Blanken trying to control the position from guard on top but Houk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houk is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blanken throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blanken takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houk keeping moving, preventing Blanken from controlling successfully.
Blanken postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Houk fails with a takedown attempt.
Houk misses with a takedown attempt - Blanken sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Houk gets a clinch.

Houk manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Houk is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Zeke Houk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanken won't allow Houk to get back to his feet.
Blanken trying to control but Houk is working from the bottom.
Houk is trying to control the position but Blanken postures up.
Blanken tries to free his leg and advance position but Houk is retaining full guard.
Houk looking to control.
Blanken wanted to stand there but Houk had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Blanken closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Blanken goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Houk has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Blanken but great work by Houk.

Houk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blanken is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
An elbow from Houk crashes against the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Blanken can do anything to dispel that myth.
Houk trying to control the action but Blanken is working from the bottom.
Houk working away.
Houk works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Blanken is looking to regain half guard here but Houk keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk lands an elbow.
Houk wants to control but Blanken is keeping him busy.
Blanken taking a bit of punishment here - Houk scoring with strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Houk shoots for a double leg takedown but Blanken sprawls well. He's pushed Houk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeke Houk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanken tries to clinch up.
Houk shoots in for a takedown but Blanken shows good takedown defense.
Blanken slaps away a takedown attempt from Houk, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blanken shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Houk as he avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Houk feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Blanken wants to get back to his feet but Houk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Houk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeke Houk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Houk, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeke Houk!