PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maek Houzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Bower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bower comes into a darkened arena with his song building. When I'm With You kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Houzo
vs
Bower

177 cm
31
192 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

175 cm
26
192 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

:: Happy Pills ::
"PWNAGE - over 100 designs under $20"

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 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maek Houzo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dave Bower!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bower gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Houzo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bower!
Bower is working to get back to half guard.
Houzo looking to control but Bower is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Houzo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bower is trying desperately to improve position.
Houzo controlling his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
BOOM! Houzo connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houzo unloading with bombs!
Houzo with good strikes from the mount here!
Houzo lands a big elbow.

Bower is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bower holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Houzo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Bower is still in real trouble! Can Houzo finish him?
Houzo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Bower seems to have recovered his senses.
Houzo with shots to the head and body - Bower looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bower wants to hold on but Houzo pushes him away.
Houzo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Houzo wants to control the pace but Bower is squirming around nicely.
The referee warns Bower that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bower is squirming around, avoiding Houzo's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Houzo throwing shots but Bower is blocking nicely.
Houzo with the ground and pound but Bower uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Houzo cracks Bower with a solid left hand.
Houzo's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Houzo wants to control from the top but Bower keeps moving.
Houzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bower swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Houzo wants to pass the guard but Bower is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Maek Houzo just wasn't active enough.
Bower tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Houzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Bower.
Bower misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Houzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bower fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Houzo is out of range.
Maek Houzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bower throws a solid leg kick but Houzo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bower.
Bower wants to clinch up but Houzo keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houzo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bower looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bower tries to clinch but Houzo is having none of it.
Houzo thows a body shot but no joy.
Houzo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Houzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice sprawl there from Houzo as Bower shoots in.
Maek Houzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Bower.
Bower closes the distance and clinches up with Houzo, looking for a takedown. Bower pushes Houzo against the cage but Houzo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Houzo missing with a left hand there. Bower was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Houzo swings for the body but Bower moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Houzo sizes up Bower with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bower gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bower takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bower has his takedown stuffed

and Houzo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bower won't be happy with that.
Check out the look on Houzo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Houzo throws a strike aimed at the side of Bower's head but Bower avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houzo is putting a hurting on Bower here, landing some big shots from side control.
Bower is looking for a sweep.
Houzo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Houzo fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Houzo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Houzo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bower is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
You can see the frustration on Bower's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bower on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Houzo trying to control the position but Bower is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Houzo throwing strikes but Bower manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Bower trying to control the action but Houzo is working from the bottom.
Houzo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Houzo isn't going anywhere.
Maek Houzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Houzo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bower not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bower is trying to control the action in half guard but Houzo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Houzo is trying to get back to full guard.
Bower thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bower 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.
Houzo won't allow Bower to pass to mount.
Houzo manages to get to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bower is one step ahead there.
Houzo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houzo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Houzo keeping full guard, as Bower tries to pass.
Bower controls from within his opponent's guard.
Houzo keeping moving, preventing Bower from controlling successfully.
Bower being controlled here momentarily.
Bower looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houzo controls Bower momentarily but Bower frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Maek Houzo.
Bower tries to score with a low kick but Houzo moves his leg out of the way.
Bower throws a leg kick but Houzo moved away.
Bower tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Houzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Bower.
Bower tries to clinch but Houzo is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bower avoids the body shot from Houzo.
Bower tries to close the distance and clinch but Houzo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bower on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maek Houzo dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bower is looking to chop away at Houzo's legs.
Bower swings for the body but Houzo moves out of range.
Houzo slips a straight right by Bower.
Bower bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Houzo has closed the distance and engaged Bower in a clinch.

Houzo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bower uses from the top position.

Houzo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bower can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bower looking to sit in guard and control but Houzo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Houzo throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Houzo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bower works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bower trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Houzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Houzo throws and elbow that misses. Bower uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Houzo's guard. Nice move by Bower!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bower got a little sloppy there for a moment and Houzo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bower has managed to get both his arms back between Houzo's legs - danger averted.
Houzo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bower is in close to Houzo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houzo trying to control the position.
Bower pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houzo is keeping the position for now.
Houzo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Houzo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bower doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bower manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bower stays in close to Houzo's body and controls the position.
Bower preventing the sweep.
Houzo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bower's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Houzo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bower not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Houzo throwing strikes but missing.
Houzo trying to control but Bower is working from the bottom.
Bower looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Houzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Bower has wrist control.
Houzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bower swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Houzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower keeping moving, preventing Houzo from controlling successfully.
Bower is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bower throws a looping overhand right but Houzo ducks down to avoid it.
Bower is trying hard to land a takedown here. Houzo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bower shoots for a takedown but Houzo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck for Bower with that takedown attempt.
Maek Houzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Bower.
Bower takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bower tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Houzo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Houzo checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maek Houzo clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Houzo.
Bower moves out of range of the strikes.
Bower is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bower avoids the body shot from Houzo.
Houzo tries for a takedown but Bower sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bower slips a jab from Houzo.
A big right from Houzo misses.

Houzo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bower's half guard.
Bower is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Houzo scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bower wants to get back to full guard.
Houzo working Bower over with strikes.
Houzo is looking to advance position but Bower won't allow it.

Houzo is working for a submission of some sort.
Bower is pressing down on Houzo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Houzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Houzo's guard.
Bower must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bower is looking to work some ground and pound but Houzo has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bower's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Houzo wants to improve his position but instead Bower has moved into half guard.
Bower throwing shots but Houzo is blocking nicely.
Bower stalling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houzo is trying to maintain the position but Bower is very close to passing his half guard.
Bower is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houzo regains half guard.
Bower tries to stand and escape but Houzo is controlling the position.
Houzo is looking to control Bower's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Houzo avoid being mounted?
Houzo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bower can do to turn this around?
Houzo works his way to full guard. Good work.

Houzo working for a triangle but Bower defends it easily.
Bower content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bower loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower stopping the sweep attempt from Houzo.
Houzo keeping full guard, as Bower tries to pass.
Bower throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Houzo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bower tries to free his leg and advance position but Houzo is retaining full guard.
Houzo keeping moving, preventing Bower from controlling successfully.
Houzo wants to stand up but Bower is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houzo pulls Bower in close to his closed guard and prevents Bower from doing any damage or advancing position.
Houzo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Maek Houzo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bower gets caught napping as Houzo dives in and scores a takedown. Bower manages to retain guard.
Houzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Bower is retaining full guard.

Houzo has gone for a leg lock! Bower slips out almost immediately though and dives into Houzo's guard.
Bower trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bower working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bower won't allow Houzo to sweep him here.
Bower is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bower tries to free his leg and advance position but Houzo is retaining full guard.

Houzo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bower is aware though and is defending well.
Houzo keeping full guard, as Bower tries to pass.
Bower working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bower keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Houzo's head.
Houzo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Houzo is trying to hold Bower in close to prevent damage but Bower has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower wants to control but Houzo is keeping him busy.
Houzo is looking to improve his position.
Houzo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bower.
Bower wants to control but Houzo is keeping him busy.
Bower lands with a punch from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ground and pound from Bower.
Houzo is trying to control but can't.
Bower throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bower not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dave Bower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bower wants to lay and pray for a moment but Houzo keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Houzo's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Houzo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Houzo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bower!
Bower regains half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Bower wants to improve his position but Houzo is controlling well.
Houzo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Houzo trying to control from half guard but Bower is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houzo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Houzo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Houzo in particular looking to stall.
Houzo with the ground and pound but Bower uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bower has his hands on Houzo's head, controlling the position.
Houzo distracts Bower with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houzo chips away with some ground and pound.
Bower trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dave Bower.
Well Houzo 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 50:46
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 49:46
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maek Houzo!
Maek Houzo retains his middleweight title!