PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luke Holder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Idrissa Diakhate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Holder
vs
Diakhate

185 cm
18
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Syndicate Drugs
Rubber Guard Fight Gear [ACME]

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 New York, Luke Holder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Idrissa Diakhate!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holder lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Diakhate ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holder moves away.
Diakhate fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Diakhate, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Holder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diakhate.
Diakhate throws a right and a left that both miss.
Holder lands a front kick.
Holder closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Diakhate misses with a jab, cross combination.
Holder scores with a kick to the midsection.

Holder gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Holder lands an elbow inside.
Diakhate is trying to maintain a safe position but Holder gets an underhook and turns Diakhate into the cage.
The referee calls for Holder to work.
Holder looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Holder pushes off an throws an elbow but Diakhate leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Diakhate wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holder slowing the pace effectively.
Holder looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holder manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Diakhate misses.
Holder blocks a head kick by Diakhate.
Holder moves away from the strike by Diakhate.
Diakhate misses with a wild combination.

Holder rushes Diakhate and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diakhate avoids the elbow strike from Holder, against the cage.
Diakhate tries to break free but Holder pushes him back against the cage.
Holder comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Holder gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Diakhate blocks an elbow strike from Holder.
Diakhate wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holder is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Diakhate is defending well for now.
Diakhate is trying to break the clinch but Holder has him pressed against the cage.
Diakhate taking a breather.
The referee calls for Holder to work.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Diakhate as Holder tries to tie him up.

That's two 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.
Holder creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Diakhate has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Holder tries to stall but Diakhate uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Diakhate wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holder stalls.

Holder breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diakhate tests Holder's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Diakhate blocks a head kick by Holder.
Diakhate steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Holder. That one must have hurt.
Diakhate tests Holder's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Holder chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holder throws a head kick but Diakhate moves out of range.
A head kick from Holder lands but Diakhate takes it in his stride.
Diakhate takes a kick to the side of the head.
Good leg kick by Holder there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Diakhate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Holder.
Holder scores with a leg kick.
Diakhate looks gassed!
Diakhate throws a lazy head kick
and Holder counters with a solid body kick.
Holder throws a head kick that half lands.
Holder with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice leg kick lands there from Holder.
Holder misses with a straight left.
Holder throws a nice head kick!
Holder lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Diakhate is rocked!
Luke Holder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holder dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diakhate. That did some damage!
Diakhate is still on wobbly legs! Can Holder finish him?
A nice inside leg kick there by Holder. That's going to slow Diakhate down.
Diakhate seems to have recovered his senses.
Holder dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diakhate. That did some damage!
Diakhate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diakhate takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Diakhate, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Holder is looking to slow Diakhate down with leg kicks.
Holder feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Diakhate's calf.
A big left from Diakhate misses.
Holder swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Holder is looking to clinch.
Holder lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A good leg kick by Holder.

Holder darts in and clinches Diakhate up against the cage.
Diakhate tries to circle away but Holder has him pinned against the cage.
Holder lands an elbow that stopped Diakhate in his tracks for a moment.
Diakhate takes an elbow to the forehead.
Diakhate takes an elbow to the forehead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diakhate wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holder creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Diakhate's defenses.
Holder lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holder throws a head kick that half lands.
Holder lets loose with a powerful body kick. Diakhate will feel that in the morning.
A solid body kick from Holder.
Holder throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nice body kick there by Holder.
Holder misses with a double jab.
Holder just misses with a punch to the body.
Diakhate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A nice leg kick lands there from Holder.
Diakhate keeps the fight on the outside.
Diakhate looks to land a combination but Holder avoids it well.
Holder misses with a few strikes there.
Holder throws a nice inside leg kick.
Holder scoring well with a low kick there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fight stays on the outside here - Holder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diakhate takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Luke Holder is winning the standup battle so far.
Diakhate is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holder throws a nice looking combination but Diakhate bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Holder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diakhate can do to turn this around?
Holder doesn't manage to clinch there - Diakhate circles away.
Diakhate fails with a takedown attempt.
Holder scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Holder clinches with his opponent.
Holder avoiding damage.
A frustrated look appears on Diakhate's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Diakhate blocks an elbow strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Holder looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Holder leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diakhate wants to break free but Holder has control.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Holder lands an elbow just above Diakhate 's eye.
Diakhate has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Holder.
Holder lands a nice elbow.
Holder dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Diakhate keeps control of Holder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diakhate dodges an elbow strike from Holder.
Holder wants to get back to striking at distance but Diakhate won't allow it.
Holder tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Diakhate avoids it.
Holder throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Holder.
Holder lands a nice elbow.

Holder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diakhate swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Holder counters with a body kick that stops Diakhate in his tracks momentarily.
Nice takedown defense from Holder. No joy for Diakhate on that attempt.
Diakhate tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holder swivels and escapes.
Luke Holder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Idrissa Diakhate.
Diakhate throws a nice looking combination but Holder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Diakhate keeps the fight on the outside.
Diakhate keeps the fight on the outside.
Diakhate is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holder sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Holder.
Diakhate misses with an uppercut. Holder saw that one coming.
Holder lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Holder cracks the inside of Diakhate's front leg.
Holder looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Holder goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holder dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diakhate. That did some damage!
Diakhate is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Holder lands a head kick!
Holder with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Holder lands with a thumping leg kick.
Diakhate's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Diakhate takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Diakhate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Holder throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Diakhate's head.
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!
Holder feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Diakhate's calf.
Holder is looking to slow Diakhate down with leg kicks.

Holder pushes Diakhate up against the cage in a clinch.
Diakhate takes an elbow to the temple.
Holder pushes off an throws an elbow but Diakhate leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holder gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holder content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Diakhate takes an elbow to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Holder dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Holder has taken the fight to the clinch.
Holder tries to stall but Diakhate uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Diakhate lands a right hand.
Diakhate is looking to break free of the clinch but Holder has double underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Holder.
Diakhate wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holder looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holder looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Diakhate has had enough of the clinch but Holder keeps him there for the moment.
Diakhate is trying to force a seperation but Holder has the dominant position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Diakhate.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Holder - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Holder misses with an elbow strike.
Diakhate dodges an elbow strike from Holder.

Holder pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diakhate throws a leg kick that is checked
and Holder counters with a low kick, right behind Diakhate 's knee.
Holder is looking to clinch.
Holder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Diakhate swinging wilding here.
Diakhate keeps the fight on the outside.
Holder dodges the punch combination from Diakhate.
Diakhate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Holder moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Holder.
Diakhate stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Holder.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A thudding body kick lands there by Holder!
Holder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holder lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diakhate on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Holder throws a leg kick which misses Diakhate's front leg but catches the back leg as Diakhate tries to avoid it.
Holder feints and then cracks Diakhate's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Diakhate down.
Holder lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Holder lets loose with a powerful body kick. Diakhate will feel that in the morning.
Holder scoring well with a low kick there.
Holder tries to clinch but Diakhate is having none of it.
Holder buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Holder plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Holder cracks the inside of Diakhate's front leg.
Diakhate lands with a nice combination. Holder backs away looking to recover.
Holder throws a nice looking combination but Diakhate bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Idrissa Diakhate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holder throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Holder lands with a nice body kick.

Holder closes the distance and pushes Diakhate back into the cage.
Diakhate blocks an elbow strike from Holder.
Holder lands a nice elbow.
Holder lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Holder throws an elbow but misses.
Holder lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Holder gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holder is stalling here.
Holder creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holder lands an elbow just above Diakhate 's eye.
Diakhate is looking to break free of the clinch but Holder has double underhooks.
Holder throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Holder taking a breather.

Holder manages to break the clinch.
Luke Holder is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holder slips a jab and a cross from Diakhate.
Diakhate misses with a jab, cross combination.
Holder tries to clinch up but Diakhate circles away and keeps his distance.

Holder has Diakhate up against the cage in a clinch.
Diakhate dodges an elbow strike from Holder.
Diakhate wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Diakhate avoids the elbow strike from Holder, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Holder showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Holder 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Holder!