PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johanna Tukiainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Houston is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Born of a Broken Man. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tukiainen
vs
Houston

187 cm
19
192 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johanna Tukiainen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Houston!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Houston moves into the clinch successfully.

Houston has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tukiainen regains guard immediately.
Houston postures up.
Houston advances position into side control!
Tukiainen is trying to control Houston's posture but Houston avoids it.
Tukiainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Houston lands some shots froms side control.
Tukiainen can't do much from the bottom here.

Houston stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tukiainen shoots in for a takedown but Houston shows good takedown defense.

Tukiainen tries to keep at a distance but Houston has taken the fight into the clinch.
Houston connects with a knee to the head.
Houston scores with a knee to the head.
Tukiainen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tukiainen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Houston gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johanna Tukiainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tukiainen tries for a takedown but Houston manages to get underhooks.
Houston scores with a knee to the head.
Tukiainen managing to block the knees to the body from Houston.
Houston tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Houston throws a knee to the head but misses.
Houston throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tukiainen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Houston swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Houston throws a knee to the head but misses.

Houston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tukiainen shoots in but no luck this time.

Houston gets the takedown into side control.
Houston has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Houston lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Tukiainen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Houston off and has taken his back!
Tukiainen lands a shot to the body.
Houston tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Houston working to try and regain half guard.
Houston regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Houston is trying to get back to full guard.

Houston looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Houston looks gassed!
Houston tries to get to full guard but Tukiainen has control of the leg.
Tukiainen is looking to advance position but Houston won't allow it.
Houston tries to roll over but Tukiainen keeps him under control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tukiainen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Houston is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tukiainen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tukiainen wants to pass to mount but Houston is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tukiainen works his foot free and advances to mount.
Houston is trying desperately to improve position.
Houston gets back to half guard.
Tukiainen is tying to control. Houston wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Houston is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Tukiainen pulls his head out easily.
Houston is looking for a sweep. Tukiainen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tukiainen is tying to control. Houston wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Houston taking some punishment here, with Tukiainen in his half guard.
Tukiainen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tukiainen prevents Houston from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Houston tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tukiainen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tukiainen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tukiainen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Houston pinned against the cage. Houston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tukiainen works over Houston's head and body with a nice combination.
Tukiainen misses with a body kick.
Houston fails to land with a series of punches.
Tukiainen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Houston counters with a left and a right that stings Tukiainen.
Tukiainen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Houston counters with a left and a right that stings Tukiainen.

Houston instigates a clinch.

Tukiainen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tukiainen manages to end up in side control.
Houston is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tukiainen off and has taken his back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Houston working for a choke but Tukiainen is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Houston looking to break Tukiainen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tukiainen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Houston will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tukiainen misses with a body punch
and Houston counters with a head kick.
Tukiainen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Houston swivels and escapes.
Houston moves in looking to clinch but Tukiainen pushes him off.

Houston gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tukiainen can't get the takedown.
Houston lands a knee to the head.

Houston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Houston tries to clinch there but Tukiainen circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tukiainen misses with a takedown attempt - Houston sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johanna Tukiainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tukiainen thows a leg kick but Houston checks it

so Houston counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Houston advances position into side control!
Houston lands some shots froms side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houston connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tukiainen some visible discomfort.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tukiainen regains half guard.

Houston is trying for a kimura here. Tukiainen looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Houston wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Austin Houston!
Austin Houston is the new middleweight champion!