PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darren Holloway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marius Stoica (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Holloway
vs
Stoica

200 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
24
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Holloway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marius Stoica!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stoica fails to land the takedown.
As Stoica looks to move away, Holloway throws a big counter combo bu Stoica just gets out of the way.
Stoica moves in looking to clinch but Holloway pushes him off.
Holloway feinted with a counter takedown.
Marius Stoica seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Holloway. No joy for Stoica on that attempt.
Holloway really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stoica misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Holloway feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Darren Holloway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marius Stoica.
Stoica shoots in for a double leg but Holloway sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stoica misses with a takedown attempt - Holloway sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stoica shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Holloway but Holloway pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holloway shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stoica defends it nicely.
Stoica tries to clinch up but Holloway circles away and keeps his distance.

Stoica moves into the clinch successfully.
Holloway tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stoica just stands there and leans against the cage.

Stoica turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Holloway wants to control but Stoica postures up.
Holloway is trying to improve his position.
Holloway is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stoica asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Stoica decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holloway blocks the body kick.
Holloway feinted with a counter takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stoica or perhaps it was just good defense by Holloway, which made it look bad.
Stoica wants to clinch.
Holloway half committed to a counter leg kick.

Stoica has Holloway up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoica content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Holloway looking to stall.

Stoica manages to pull guard.
Holloway missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Stoica isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Holloway stacks Stoica 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 Holloway!
Holloway is trying to ground and pound but Stoica uses the momentary lack of control by Holloway to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoica is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Holloway postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Stoica to stand up.
Stoica tries a head kick but it misses.
Stoica dives in for a single leg takedown but Holloway sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And Holloway counters with a quick kick to the body but Stoica blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice sprawl there from Holloway as Stoica shoots in.
Stoica will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marius Stoica dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stoica misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Holloway throws a quick counter head kick but Stoica was just out of range.
Stoica avoids the head kick by Holloway.
Holloway leaves Stoica with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stoica works the jab nicely.
Stoica should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stoica moves into the clinch successfully.
Stoica is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Darren Holloway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marius Stoica.
Holloway jumps guard but Stoica stands there with Holloway around his waist. Holloway gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Holloway tries to pull guard but Stoica won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holloway jumps guard but Stoica turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Holloway tries to pull guard but Stoica forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Stoica successfully pulls guard.
Stoica lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Holloway is pulling down on Stoica's head to control his posture.
Holloway bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stoica's guard.

Marius Stoica has got the better of the ground game so far.

Holloway drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Holloway jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stoica wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stoica is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Holloway presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Holloway fails to pull guard.
Stoica is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holloway pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Stoica breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Holloway misses with a takedown attempt - Stoica sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Holloway slips a jab from Stoica.
Darren Holloway is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stoica looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holloway is fending him off so far but Stoica persists. Nope, Holloway circles away and we're back to standing.
Holloway swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stoica is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stoica tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holloway tries to counter with a takedown but Stoica is quick to defend against it.
Stoica tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stoica has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stoica has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stoica looking to slow down the pace here.
Holloway tries for a takedown. No joy.

Stoica breaks from the clinch.

Stoica has managed to clinch.
Holloway changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stoica fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Holloway has a takedown stuffed.

Stoica instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoica is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stoica blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Stoica breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stoica changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holloway tries to avoid it but Stoica manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holloway to the ground. Holloway escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Holloway or perhaps it was just good defense by Stoica, which made it look bad.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stoica darts in looking for a takedown but Holloway gets double underhooks and turns Stoica into the cage.
Stoica looks to land a left hand but Holloway moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marius Stoica showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Stoica looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holloway is fending him off so far but Stoica persists. Nope, Holloway circles away and we're back to standing.

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

Stoica looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Holloway has picked Stoica up and slammed him! Stoica can't keep hold of the triangle and Holloway manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holloway throws a strike aimed at the side of Stoica's head but Stoica avoids it well.
Stoica is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Holloway off and has taken his back!
Holloway is really stuck here.
Holloway manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stoica's guard. Nice work there by Holloway.
Holloway won't allow Stoica to get back to his feet.
Stoica trying to keep a closed guard but Holloway is proving a slippery customer.
Stoica takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holloway scoring with some ground and pound.
Stoica bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holloway's guard.

Stoica throws a big right hand that misses.
Holloway is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stoica is controlling him.

Holloway has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stoica can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stoica prevents Holloway from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Stoica decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stoica looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holloway is fending him off so far but Stoica persists. Nope, Holloway circles away and we're back to standing.
Holloway throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stoica avoids it.
Stoica fails with a takedown attempt.
Darren Holloway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marius Stoica.
Holloway shoots in for a takedown but Stoica shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stoica shoots in for a takedown but Holloway shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stoica looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Holloway feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stoica gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Holloway working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Holloway is working Stoica over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Holloway preventing the sweep.
Holloway is looking to stand up but Stoica won't let him.
Stoica avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoica wants to improve his position but instead Holloway has moved into half guard.
Stoica keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Holloway looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stoica punching from the bottom.
Holloway throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holloway leaves Stoica with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Holloway tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren Holloway showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stoica 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marius Stoica!