PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Gabulov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Houser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gabulov
vs
Houser

185 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrey Gabulov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bob Houser!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houser throws a sloppy head kick and Gabulov moves out of range easily.
Houser stuffs the takedown.
Houser shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gabulov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Houser drags the fight down to the ground.

Gabulov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Houser manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gabulov has Houser in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gabulov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Houser really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gabulov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gabulov is looking for a triangle here but Houser uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Gabulov is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabulov throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Houser scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gabulov to see if he's OK.
Houser controls the position.
Gabulov is looking for a sweep.
Gabulov sneaks back into half guard.

Houser seems to be working for a kimura but Gabulov defends the submission attempt.
Houser looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Houser looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Gabulov actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gabulov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Houser trying to control the action but Gabulov is working from the bottom.
Gabulov has hold of Houser's hands but Houser slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Houser lands a nice short elbow.

Gabulov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Houser in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houser is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gabulov sees it coming and defends easily.

Gabulov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gabulov is trying to get back to full guard.
Gabulov is breathing heavily.
Gabulov has hold of Houser's hands but Houser slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gabulov is trying to get back to full guard.
Houser trying to control the pace.
Gabulov wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabulov manages to get to full guard.
Houser controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Houser trying to control the position from guard on top but Gabulov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bob Houser has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Houser tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gabulov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houser tries to clinch up but Gabulov circles away and keeps his distance.
Houser looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gabulov is fending him off so far but Houser persists. Nope, Gabulov circles away and we're back to standing.
Houser shoots in for a double leg but Gabulov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bob Houser will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Houser feints and as Gabulov raises his hands in defense, Houser changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Houser looking to pass the guard.

Gabulov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gabulov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Houser can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Houser wants to control from the top but Gabulov keeps moving.
Gabulov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Houser advances to half guard.
Gabulov regains full guard. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Houser scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabulov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Houser stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gabulov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Houser controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Gabulov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Houser passes into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Houser is looking to take a break and control but Gabulov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gabulov misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Gabulov is looking to regain half guard here but Houser keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houser decides to stand back up. Houser steps back and let's Gabulov get back to his feet.
Houser changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gabulov tries to avoid it but Houser manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gabulov to the ground. Gabulov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Houser fails in his attempt to clinch.
Houser tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gabulov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Houser somewhat.
Gabulov misses with a takedown attempt - Houser sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gabulov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Houser but Houser pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gabulov slaps away a takedown attempt from Houser, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Andrey Gabulov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Houser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houser throws the kick towards the body but Gabulov avoids it.
Houser tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gabulov swivels and escapes.

Gabulov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gabulov lands in his opponent's guard.
Gabulov landing with the ground and pound.

Houser is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gabulov cracks Houser with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabulov lands a couple of digs.
Houser is trying to keep Gabulov in close.
Gabulov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Gabulov has gone for a leg lock! Houser slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gabulov's guard.
Houser trying to control but Gabulov is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gabulov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andrey Gabulov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Houser looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabulov missing with punches from the bottom.
Houser looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gabulov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Houser drops an elbow to the side of Gabulov's head.
Gabulov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Houser scores with a couple of nice shots.
Houser is controlling the pace.
Gabulov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houser looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Houser takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Houser tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gabulov.

Gabulov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gabulov actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houser is controlling the pace.
Houser uses his free foot to push down on Gabulov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gabulov.
Gabulov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bob Houser has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gabulov regains half guard.
Houser is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gabulov missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabulov looking for submissions off his back.
Houser content to control rather than advance.
Gabulov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Gabulov strikes from the bottom but Houser uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Gabulov tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houser is looking to take a break and control but Gabulov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Houser tries to stand but Gabulov is controlling his head.
Gabulov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Houser wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Houser trying to control the position but Gabulov is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gabulov is looking to regain half guard here but Houser keeps moving and retains side control.
Gabulov trying to remain calm as Houser controls from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Houser comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Houser has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Houser!
Bob Houser decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.