PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zak Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tapio Korjunne (ranked 0 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.

Houk
vs
Korjunne

195 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zak Houk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tapio Korjunne!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houk lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Korjunne circles away quickly and effectively.
Houk looks to clinch

so Korjunne counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Houk wants to stand up but Korjunne is controlling him.
Korjunne controls from within his opponent's guard.
Korjunne stops Houk from standing up.
Korjunne thows a big elbow that misses.
Houk really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Houk keeping full guard, as Korjunne tries to pass.
Korjunne seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tapio Korjunne.
Korjunne tries for a takedown but Houk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Korjunne instigates a clinch.

Korjunne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Korjunne gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Korjunne pushes Houk back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Korjunne has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Houk avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Korjunne lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Houk backwards.

Korjunne breaks from the clinch.

Houk tries to sprawl but Korjunne drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Houk wants to control but Korjunne is keeping busy.
Still in half guard, Korjunne seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Houk manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Korjunne won't allow Houk to sweep him here.
Korjunne landing with the ground and pound.
Houk is trying to control the position but Korjunne postures up.

Korjunne stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Korjunne shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Houk manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korjunne controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Houk is breathing heavily.
Korjunne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Houk wants to sweep here but Korjunne controlling him for the moment.
Korjunne distracts Houk with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Korjunne trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Houk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Korjunne controls the pace.
Korjunne won't allow Houk to sweep him here.
Korjunne is stalling in the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Korjunne dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Korjunne has Houk up against the cage in a clinch.

Houk pulls guard.

Korjunne decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Houk, up you get!
Houk takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Korjunne rushes Houk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Korjunne unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Korjunne has Houk pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Korjunne pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Houk tumbling to the mat - Korjunne dives into Houk's guard.
Houk has a closed guard, preventing Korjunne from standing up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korjunne stops Houk from standing up.
Houk has a closed guard, preventing Korjunne from standing up.
Houk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Houk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Korjunne.
Korjunne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Korjunne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Korjunne is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Houk keeping full guard, as Korjunne tries to pass.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tapio Korjunne hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Houk tries to clinch

and Korjunne counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Korjunne.
Korjunne content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korjunne is looking to stand up but Houk won't let him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Houk controls Korjunne momentarily but Korjunne frees himself.
Houk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Korjunne is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Korjunne is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Houk.

Korjunne shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Korjunne seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Korjunne has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Korjunne postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Korjunne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Korjunne has his takedown stuffed
and Houk makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Korjunne is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Houk's half guard.
Korjunne working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Houk trying to control from the bottom.
Houk is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Korjunne's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Korjunne's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Houk working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Houk is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houk tries to get the hooks in deep but Korjunne pushed the leg off.
Korjunne controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Houk's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Houk working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Korjunne wants to get back to his feet.
Korjunne takes a big shot to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Korjunne showing good submission defense here.
Korjunne looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Korjunne 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.
Houk gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Korjunne has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Korjunne is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Houk trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Korjunne doesn't escape.
Korjunne trying to get back to his feet but Houk is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Houk working for a choke but Korjunne is defending well.
A lull in the action here.
Zak Houk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tapio Korjunne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houk missing with strikes from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zak Houk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Korjunne has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tapio Korjunne!