PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Randy Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Houk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Savage
vs
Houk

188 cm
25
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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, Randy Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zak Houk!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Savage misses
and Houk counters with a nice uppercut.
Houk looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Savage drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Savage looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Savage cracks Houk with a solid left hand.
Savage thows a big elbow that misses.
Savage stays in close to Houk's body and controls the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Savage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Houk for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randy Savage.

Savage shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Savage showed some decent athleticism there.
Savage throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Savage wants to stand up but Houk is controlling the position.
Savage controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage working over Houk with some ground and pound. Houk looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Savage looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Houk with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Savage seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savage slows the pace down in half guard.
Savage passes into side control, despite Houk's attempt to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Savage lands a few punches from side control.
Houk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Savage controls the position from side control.
Savage's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Houk taking a bit of punishment here - Savage scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savage stands up and beckons Houk to his feet.

Savage shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Houk napping and manages to drive through into side control!
You can see the frustration on Houk's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Savage scoring with punches and elbows.
Savage controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Savage dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Savage shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Savage showed some decent athleticism there.
Well, if Savage is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Randy Savage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ground and pound from Savage.
Houk is breathing heavily.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Houk is defending well.
Savage lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage not doing much here.
Houk on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Savage looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Savage seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Houk is defending well.
Savage controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage tries to pass the half guard into mount. Houk knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Savage seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Savage lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Savage slips a nice elbow through Houk's hands, connecting with Houk's forehead.
Well, if Savage is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage passes the guard and advances to mount!
Savage content just to control the position here.
Houk working to try and regain half guard.
Savage sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Houk taking shots to the head.
Savage controlling from mount.
Savage lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Savage tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The referee warns Houk that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Savage dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab-cross combination lands for Savage and sends Houk crashing to the mat! Savage follows him down to the mat - Houk regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Savage not doing much here.
Savage looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Houk with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savage is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Houk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Randy Savage just wasn't active enough.
Savage misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Savage. Those never looked like landing.
Savage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Houk can do to turn this around?
Savage misses with a wild combination.

Savage scores with a takedown into Houk's guard.
Savage tries to free his leg and advance position but Houk is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage controls from within his opponent's guard.
Savage lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Savage wants to stand but Houk is controlling his posture from full guard.
Savage controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Randy Savage wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Houk tries for a takedown but Savage circles away easily

and Savage counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Savage.
Savage lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houk keeping full guard, as Savage tries to pass.
Savage lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Savage stays in close to Houk's body and controls the position.
Savage looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk trying to keep a closed guard but Savage is proving a slippery customer.
Savage sitting in guard here, content to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

Savage gets a takedown into half guard.
Randy Savage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Savage looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Savage showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Savage has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:24
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:24
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Savage!