PBP Commentary

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

Houk
vs
McGrady

195 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zak Houk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Owen McGrady!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houk throws a right and a left that McGrady avoids nicely.
McGrady is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Houk looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McGrady keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.
Houk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McGrady pushes Houk off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McGrady doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Houk counters with a nice low kick that buckles McGrady's knee momentarily.

Houk moves into the clinch.
McGrady fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McGrady is trying to push Houk away but Houk has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Houk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGrady misses the body punch

and Houk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McGrady's guard now.
McGrady can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Houk controls the pace.
McGrady wants to get back to his feet but Houk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McGrady is on top in guard.
Houk is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
McGrady wants to stand but Houk is controlling his posture from full guard.

McGrady stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Houk closes the distance and pushes McGrady back into the cage.

McGrady breaks from the clinch.
McGrady circles away from the clinch attempt.
Houk fails in his attempt to clinch.

McGrady gets caught flat footed, as Houk shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McGrady keeping full guard, as Houk tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houk with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McGrady is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Houk is controlling him.
McGrady looks gassed!
Houk looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Houk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McGrady swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McGrady working a defensive guard but Houk manages to pass into side control anyway.
Houk trying to control the action but McGrady is working from the bottom.
Houk staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houk is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McGrady knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Houk trying to control the action but McGrady is working from the bottom.

Houk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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 goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, McGrady has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Houk but great work by McGrady.
McGrady creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Houk sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
McGrady tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
McGrady with the ground and pound but Houk regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
McGrady wants to pass to mount but Houk is defending the position.
McGrady sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Houk defending well though.
Houk tries to get to full guard but McGrady has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McGrady misses with a double jab
and Houk counters with a two punch combo.
Houk scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Houk looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Houk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
McGrady is looking to stand back up but Houk counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by McGrady.
McGrady wants to get back to his feet.

McGrady kicks Houk off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Houk closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McGrady quickly recovers to half guard.

Houk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houk controlling the action here.
Houk 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 controlling the action here.
Houk wants to control but McGrady is keeping him busy.
Houk is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McGrady is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Houk prevents McGrady from standing back up.

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 referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zak Houk wasn't doing enough on the ground.
McGrady closes the distance but Houk moves to the side

and Houk counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Houk.
McGrady is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Houk controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McGrady pulls Houk in close to prevent any damage.

McGrady wriggles free and stands up.
McGrady misses with a combination

and Houk moves into the clinch.
McGrady is trying to push Houk away but Houk has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk blocks an uppercut.
Houk lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McGrady backwards.
McGrady tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
McGrady prevents the takedown attempt.
Houk makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Houk jumps guard.
McGrady wants to stand and escape but instead Houk has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Houk pushes down on McGrady's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Houk wants to take a breather but McGrady is having none of it.
McGrady is looking to escape.
Houk trying to control from half guard but McGrady is working away.

McGrady looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houk is trying to control. McGrady wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McGrady looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houk not doing much here.
Houk is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
McGrady is trying to stand.

Houk is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McGrady doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Houk.
Houk is trying to control. McGrady wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Houk dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

McGrady shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

McGrady breaks the clinch.
McGrady misses with a right hand

and Houk counters by clinching up.

Houk lands a takedown into guard.
Houk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Houk seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McGrady for as long as he can get away with.
Zak Houk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Houk working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Houk trying to control the position from guard on top but McGrady is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zak Houk wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Houk has closed the distance and engaged McGrady in a clinch.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Houk.
McGrady fails to pull guard.

McGrady breaks from the clinch.

Houk clinches up with McGrady and pushes him back against the cage.
Houk lands with a right to the head.

McGrady pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Houk gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McGrady fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zak Houk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen McGrady.

Houk pulls guard.
Houk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McGrady.

Houk wriggles free and stands up.
McGrady shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Houk counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

McGrady pushes Houk off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGrady throws a left and a right that both miss
and Houk counters with a head kick.
McGrady throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Houk counters with a shoot takedown. McGrady fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGrady keeping moving, preventing Houk from controlling successfully.
McGrady is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Houk is controlling him.
McGrady can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Houk controls the pace.

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

Houk gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Houk pulls guard successfully.
McGrady throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Houk works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McGrady tries to stand but Houk is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houk wants to get back to his feet but McGrady is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Houk utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Houk controlling the position.

McGrady gets to his feet. Houk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Houk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McGrady.
McGrady shoots and misses

and Houk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McGrady wants to stand and escape but Houk is having none of it.
McGrady preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGrady is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrady looking to control.
McGrady is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McGrady managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Owen McGrady was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Houk instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Houk creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McGrady tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Houk just stands there and leans against the cage.

Houk lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Houk stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGrady cracks Houk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Owen McGrady has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zak Houk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McGrady throws a left and a right that both miss
and Houk counters with a good, hard body kick but McGrady shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zak Houk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Houk 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 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zak Houk!