PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Newby Staples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maek Houzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Staples
vs
Houzo

183 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
22
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Newby Staples!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maek Houzo!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staples has a takedown stuffed.
Maek Houzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staples looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Houzo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Staples has hold of Houzo's hands but Houzo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Houzo lands with a punch from half guard.
Houzo slips a nice elbow through Staples's hands, connecting with Staples's forehead.

Houzo seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Houzo lands a nice short elbow.
Staples is looking for a sweep. Houzo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houzo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The referee warns Staples that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Houzo with a couple of short strikes.
Houzo dominating with strikes here.
Staples in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staples in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Houzo.
Houzo lands a big shot there that rocks Staples but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Houzo lands a heavy elbow.

Houzo working for a guillotine from mount but Staples is in no mood to give up.
Staples is desperately trying to improve his position but Houzo has a good base and remains in mount.

Houzo working for a submission but Staples is keeping him at bay.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Houzo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
BOOM! Houzo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Staples is in all sorts of trouble here.
Houzo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Houzo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Staples is desperately trying to improve his position but Houzo has a good base and remains in mount.
Houzo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Staples looks a forlorn figure.
Staples tries to hold on but Houzo postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houzo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Staples can't escape the position.
Houzo with shots to the head and body - Staples looks very uncomfortable down there.
Staples is working to get back to half guard.
Houzo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Staples's face.
Houzo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Staples's face.
Houzo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Staples really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Houzo lands a heavy elbow.
Staples is trying to escape the mount.
Staples is working hard here to advance position.
Houzo working the ground and pound effectively.
Houzo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Staples looks a forlorn figure.
Staples is looking to improve his position but Houzo isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houzo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Staples is surviving well by controlling Houzo's body position as best he can.
Houzo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Staples regains half guard.
Staples is looking to improve his position.
Houzo works his way into side control.
Houzo lands an elbow.
Staples tries to buck Houzo off but Houzo is having none of it.

Houzo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Staples is looking to regain half guard here but Houzo keeps moving and retains side control.
Houzo working the ground and pound.
Staples is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Houzo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Houzo looks up at the clock and then as Staples takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Houzo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Staples tries to buck Houzo off but Houzo is having none of it.

Houzo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Staples to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Houzo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Staples tries for a takedown but Houzo circles away easily

and Houzo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Houzo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staples has momentary wrist control but Houzo slips an elbow through the middle.
Houzo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Houzo advances position into side control!

Houzo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maek Houzo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Staples shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Houzo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Houzo passes Staples's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Staples has hold of Houzo's hands but Houzo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Houzo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Houzo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Houzo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Staples won't allow Houzo to pass to mount.
Houzo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Houzo moves nicely into side control.
Staples manages to get back to half guard.
Houzo works his way into full mount!
Houzo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Houzo punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee warns Staples that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houzo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Houzo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Houzo breaks from Staples's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Staples is in a horrible position here. Houzo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Houzo lands a nice shot to the head.
BOOM! Houzo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Houzo working Staples over with strikes here.

Houzo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Staples turns into him and now he's in Houzo's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Houzo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Staples advances to half guard.

Houzo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Houzo moves into full guard.
Houzo wants to sweep but no luck.

Staples drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Staples jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Houzo looking for a sweep. Not yet Houzo, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houzo has his feet on Staples's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Staples doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Houzo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Houzo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Staples working for a triangle but Houzo defends it easily.
Houzo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Staples's head.
Houzo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Staples controls Houzo momentarily but Houzo frees himself.

Staples escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Houzo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Staples looking for a guillotine here but Houzo defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Staples keeping full guard, as Houzo tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Staples has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Houzo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Houzo lands a couple of elbows.
Houzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Staples is retaining full guard.
Houzo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Staples manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Staples won't allow Houzo to sweep him here.

Staples drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Staples jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Staples tries to free his leg and advance position but Houzo is retaining full guard.
Houzo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Staples!
A nice elbow there by Houzo.
Houzo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Staples gets back to half guard.
Houzo throws a strike but Staples avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Houzo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Staples's guard.
Houzo lands with a punch from half guard.
Houzo working over Staples with some ground and pound. Staples looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Houzo lands with a punch from half guard.
Staples is in trouble now - Houzo has advanced to mount!
Houzo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Houzo scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Houzo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Staples is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Staples and Houzo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Staples dodges the ground and pound from Houzo.
Staples is trying to get back to half guard.
Houzo lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staples on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Houzo scoring with punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houzo is working Staples over with some ground and pound from side control.
Houzo lands a few punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maek Houzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Houzo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Staples's guard.
Houzo postures up and lands a big shot to Staples's brow.
Houzo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Houzo looking to pass the guard.
Maek Houzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Houzo lands a couple of digs.

Staples has his foot on Houzo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Houzo works his way back into a safe position though.
Houzo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Staples is keeping the position for now.
Houzo distracts Staples with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Houzo landing some decent shots from guard.
Houzo landing with the ground and pound.

Staples is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Houzo slips nicely into half guard.
Staples taking some punishment here, with Houzo in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Houzo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houzo passes to side control.
Houzo landing a few strikes.
Houzo cracks Staples with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Staples on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Houzo tries to advance to mount but Staples denies him.
Staples tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Houzo decides to stand back up. Houzo steps back and let's Staples get back to his feet.

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

Houzo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Staples, who protects the arm well.
Staples tries to improve position but can't.
Houzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Staples to see if he's OK.
Houzo cracks Staples with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Houzo lands a nice forearm strike.
Staples is working to avoid the ground and pound but Houzo connects with a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staples is trying to get back to half guard.
Houzo cracks Staples with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Houzo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Staples on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Staples takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Houzo scores with a couple of short elbows.
Staples is looking for a sweep.
Houzo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Staples tries to buck Houzo off but Houzo is having none of it.
Houzo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Staples down.
Staples is working to avoid the ground and pound but Houzo connects with a decent elbow.
Staples is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Houzo working the body and head with strikes.
Houzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Staples to see if he's OK.
Staples gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Houzo with the ground and pound from mount.
Houzo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houzo is landing with some decent strikes but Staples is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Houzo lands a heavy elbow.
Staples is bucking up trying to escape but Houzo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Staples is rocked!
Staples is wriggling around trying to escape.
Oh Staples is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Houzo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Staples seems to have got his legs back now.
Staples is looking to improve his position but Houzo isn't that keen on the idea.
Houzo looking to finish Staples with some ground and pound. This is bad for Staples!
Staples tries to hold on but Houzo postures up.
Staples can't escape the position.
Houzo is landing with some decent strikes but Staples is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Staples is looking to improve his position but Houzo isn't that keen on the idea.

Houzo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Staples manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Staples manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houzo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Houzo working over Staples with some ground and pound. Staples looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Houzo passes to side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Houzo has hold of Staples's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Staples tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Houzo cranks the arm and Staples screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Staples, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Maek Houzo!