PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Masaki Sumitani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frans Hougard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frans Hougard acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sumitani
vs
Hougard

185 cm
25
195 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

170 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masaki Sumitani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frans Hougard!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sumitani rushes Hougard and presses him up against the cage.
Hougard landing knees to the head.
Hougard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sumitani has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hougard after a bit of a struggle.
Sumitani keeps control of Hougard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Sumitani manages to break the clinch.
Hougard darts in trying to clinch
and Sumitani counters with a series of strikes. Hougard will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hougard avoids the head kick by Sumitani.
Sumitani scores with a one two! Hougard had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sumitani fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sumitani closes the distance and clinches.
Hougard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sumitani avoids it.
Hougard tries to land a knee to the head but Sumitani blocks with his arms.
Sumitani drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hougard pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hougard instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hougard scores a nice knee to the body.
Sumitani on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hougard scores with a knee to the head.
Sumitani misses with some punches.
Sumitani tries for a takedown but Hougard manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masaki Sumitani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sumitani has Hougard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hougard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sumitani has Hougard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hougard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hougard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Masaki Sumitani has been cut.
Sumitani is breathing heavily.
Stalling in the clinch from Hougard.
Hougard looking to throw knees to the head but Sumitani is blocking nicely.
Sumitani takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hougard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sumitani has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sumitani tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sumitani tries for a takedown but Hougard manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hougard lands a nice knee to the body.
Hougard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hougard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sumitani is defending well for now.
Hougard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sumitani blocks it with crossed arms.
Hougard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sumitani is defending well for now.
Sumitani wants to take the fight to the mat but Hougard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sumitani wants to stall.
A nice left hand lands by Sumitani.
Hougard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hougard connects with a knee to the head.
Sumitani drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sumitani fails to pull guard.
Hougard looking to throw knees to the head but Sumitani is blocking nicely.
Hougard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sumitani has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hougard crunches a lovely knee into Sumitani's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hougard obliges.

Sumitani turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sumitani manages to end up in side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hougard is looking to reverse the position.
Sumitani working the ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sumitani lands an elbow.
Sumitani throws an elbow but Hougard slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hougard wants to control but Sumitani postures up.
Hougard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sumitani's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hougard works his way to full guard. Good work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hougard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sumitani being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sumitani preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hougard holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frans Hougard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A right-left combo lands from Sumitani.
Hougard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sumitani throws a chopping leg kick but Hougard manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Frans Hougard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sumitani lands a right hook to the body.

Sumitani closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Sumitani breaks the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sumitani lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hougard has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hougard and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Sumitani shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frans Hougard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Masaki Sumitani's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hougard takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sumitani finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sumitani misses with a wild body shot.
Sumitani will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sumitani throws a head kick but Hougard moves out of range.

Sumitani clinches.
Sumitani looking for a takedown.
Hougard tries to land a knee to the head but Sumitani blocks with his arms.
Hougard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sumitani blocks it with crossed arms.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hougard as Sumitani tries to tie him up.
Hougard misses with a knee to the head.
Hougard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hougard trying to land knees to the body.
Sumitani tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masaki Sumitani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sumitani wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A knee to the head by Hougard.
Sumitani can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hougard throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sumitani goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hougard prevents it.
Frans Hougard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hougard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sumitani avoids it.
Hougard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sumitani misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hougard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hougard misses with a knee to the head.
Sumitani is trying to drag Hougard to the mat but Hougard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sumitani tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sumitani has picked Hougard up - he's going for a ride! Sumitani dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hougard wants to control but Sumitani is keeping busy.
Hougard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hougard controls Sumitani momentarily but Sumitani frees himself.

Sumitani drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sumitani jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sumitani trying to control the position from guard on top but Hougard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sumitani cracks Hougard with a solid left hand.
Sumitani throws a big right hand that misses.
Sumitani throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hougard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hougard is trying to keep Sumitani in close.
Hougard looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Masaki Sumitani overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hougard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Frans Hougard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hougard on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sumitani has his takedown stuffed

and Hougard moves into the clinch.
Sumitani avoiding damage as Hougard throws knees to the body.
Sumitani swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hougard misses with a knee strike.

Hougard breaks the clinch.
Sumitani lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A jab from Sumitani misses.
Hougard tries to clinch but Sumitani is having none of it.
Sumitani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sumitani fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hougard checks the leg kick.
Sumitani just misses with a punch to the body.
Sumitani swings for the body but Hougard moves out of range.
Masaki Sumitani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sumitani.
Hougard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sumitani's calf.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hougard wants to clinch up but Sumitani keeps it at a distance.
Hougard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hougard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sumitani misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Masaki Sumitani is winning the standup battle so far.

Hougard has closed the distance and engaged Sumitani in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Masaki Sumitani will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Masaki Sumitani's cut.
That's time! Sumitani's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sumitani just misses with a punch to the body.
Hougard checks a leg kick.
Sumitani just misses with a punch to the body.
Masaki Sumitani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sumitani swats away the attempt to clinch by Hougard.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hougard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hougard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sumitani works Hougard's body with a nice hook.
Horrible takedown by Sumitani or perhaps it was just good defense by Hougard which made him look bad.
Sumitani misses with the combination.
Sumitani is looking to wear down Hougard with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hougard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Hougard forces Sumitani back against the cage and clinches.
Hougard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sumitani has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sumitani is trying to stall.

Sumitani gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hougard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hougard is adopting a defensive guard.
Sumitani postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sumitani with a nice head shot there.
Hougard is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hougard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Frans Hougard wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sumitani throws a lazy body kick
and Hougard counters with an inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Sumitani misses.
Sumitani throws a nice looking combination but Hougard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sumitani closes the distance and clinches.
Sumitani tries for a takedown but Hougard manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masaki Sumitani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sumitani.
Sumitani changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hougard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hougard tries to close the distance and clinch but Sumitani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hougard takes the fight into the clinch.
Sumitani is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hougard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hougard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sumitani blocks it with crossed arms.
Hougard landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sumitani on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hougard misses with a knee to the head.
Hougard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sumitani.
Knees to the body from Hougard.
Hougard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sumitani lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hougard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hougard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hougard misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hougard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sumitani is defending well for now.
Hougard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sumitani is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hougard tries a knee to the head but Sumitani blocks it.
Hougard is pushing Sumitani up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hougard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sumitani avoids it.
Sumitani is trying to drag Hougard to the mat but Hougard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hougard as Sumitani tries to tie him up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sumitani is struggling to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frans Hougard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hougard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Frans Hougard!