PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Holyfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grappler Striking (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.

Holyfield
vs
Striking

181 cm
31
169 lbs
26 - 19 - 0

174 cm
31
163 lbs
22 - 11 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nate Holyfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grappler Striking!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Striking scores with a crisp jab that stopped Holyfield in his tracks.
Holyfield ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Holyfield misses with an uppercut. Striking saw that one coming.
Striking works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Striking scores with a jab.
Holyfield tried to score with a low kick but Striking checks it.
Holyfield misses with an attempted mid kick.
Striking defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Holyfield.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holyfield misses with a takedown
and Striking counters with a leg kick.
Holyfield throws a hook but Striking avoids it easily.
Holyfield throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Striking staying out of range there.
Holyfield motions for Striking to come forward. Holyfield throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Holyfield tries to move into range but Striking moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Holyfield attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holyfield lands a head kick!
Holyfield bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Striking's head.
Striking throws a leg kick which misses Holyfield's front leg but catches the back leg as Holyfield tries to avoid it.
Striking scores with a hook.
Holyfield motions for Striking to come forward. Holyfield throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Holyfield misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Striking.
Striking misses with a double jab.
Nice cross by Holyfield.
Holyfield blocks a jab.
Striking attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Holyfield cracks Striking with a right hand to the side of the head.
Holyfield throws a leg kick but Striking sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Striking buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Striking throws a hook but Holyfield blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striking scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holyfield keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holyfield misses with a hook. Striking ducked under it nicely.
Holyfield shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Striking defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Holyfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good exchange - Holyfield coming out on top.
No luck for Holyfield with that takedown attempt.
Striking looks to land a left hand but Holyfield moved out of range nicely.
Holyfield bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Striking's head.
Nate Holyfield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holyfield fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Striking manages to avoid it.
Holyfield throws out a leg kick but Striking moves out of range and Holyfield only half commits.
Striking ducks under a wild hook from Holyfield.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Striking throws an overhand right that lands on Holyfield's shoulder, as Holyfield tries to avoid the shot.
Holyfield slips a straight right by Striking.
Holyfield scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Holyfield cracks Striking with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A decent looking cross lands there for Holyfield.
Striking fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Holyfield scores with a nice head shot.
Holyfield cracks Striking with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Holyfield thows a body shot but no joy.
Holyfield lands a leg kick that knocks Striking off balance momentarily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Holyfield enables Striking to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Holyfield manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Holyfield is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Striking defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Striking got a little sloppy there for a moment and Holyfield has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Striking has managed to get both his arms back between Holyfield's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield being controlled here, momentarily.
Striking working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Holyfield wants to sweep here but Striking controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Striking trying to control but Holyfield is working from the bottom.
Striking controls from within his opponent's guard.
Holyfield wants to hit a switch here but Striking passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Holyfield there!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Striking working Holyfield over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grappler Striking dominated that 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.

Striking looks to throw the jab but Holyfield is out of range.
Holyfield fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Striking has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Holyfield shoots in and drives through. Striking sprawls well.
Holyfield throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Striking sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Holyfield wants to land a leg kick but Striking is out of range.
Grappler Striking seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Holyfield misses the jab.
Striking cracks Holyfield with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Striking misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holyfield.
Nice body punch from Holyfield.
Holyfield connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd cheers as Holyfield lands an impressive looking overhand right. Striking doesn't seem phased though.
Holyfield closes the distance and clinches up with Striking, looking for a takedown. Holyfield pushes Striking against the cage but Striking circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Striking needs to keep his hands up - Holyfield had a free shot at his head there.
Striking scores with a crisp jab that stopped Holyfield in his tracks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Holyfield closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Striking's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Holyfield misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Holyfield tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Striking stops Holyfield from passing to mount.
Striking is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Holyfield's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holyfield is working for a submission of some sort.

Holyfield is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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

Holyfield is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield throwing shots but Striking is blocking nicely.
Holyfield trying to control from half guard but Striking is working away.

Holyfield is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Striking sees it coming and defends easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Striking does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Holyfield stalling away here and it's allowed Striking to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Striking has Holyfield pulled in close to control his posture.
Nate Holyfield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holyfield trying to move into half guard but instead Striking has managed to sweep!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holyfield is trying to keep Striking in close.
Holyfield keeping moving, preventing Striking from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Holyfield dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Holyfield moves out of range as Striking strikes.
Holyfield with a poor takedown

and Striking decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Holyfield's guard.
Striking passes Holyfield's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Holyfield is not content to let Striking control the position.

Holyfield actively working from the bottom here.
Holyfield is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Striking trying to control the pace.
Striking moves into full mount! Holyfield won't be happy about that!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Striking takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striking tries to control but Holyfield wriggling away.
Holyfield regains half guard.
Holyfield regains full guard. Nicely done.
Striking pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holyfield is keeping the position for now.
Holyfield controls Striking momentarily but Striking frees himself.

Holyfield is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Striking is aware though and is defending well.
Striking is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Striking stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holyfield swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holyfield isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Striking stacks Holyfield on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Striking!
Striking content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Holyfield is looking for a sweep.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Striking is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Holyfield will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Holyfield sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Striking is looking to advance position but Holyfield won't allow it.
Striking looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Holyfield wants to get back to full guard.
Striking takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Striking working the head and body with strikes.
Striking trying to control the pace.
Holyfield tries to roll over but Striking keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striking is pressing down on Holyfield's thigh, looking to free his foot. Holyfield is holding on for now.
Striking trying to control the pace.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Striking lands a nice short elbow.
Holyfield wants to control but Striking is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Holyfield is in trouble now - Striking has advanced to mount!
Striking fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Striking controlling from mount.
Holyfield can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grappler Striking comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Striking has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grappler Striking!
Grappler Striking thanked the fans post fight for their support.