PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Holzken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raoul Clavette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holzken comes to the cage accompanied by Justin Bieber ft. Ariana Grande - Let Me Think Bout You. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Holzken
vs
Clavette

179 cm
28
157 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

179 cm
29
150 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
House of Valor

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodney Holzken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raoul Clavette!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Paul Tew and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Clavette gets caught napping as Holzken dives in and scores a takedown. Clavette manages to retain guard.
Holzken prevents Clavette from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holzken wants to pass the guard but Clavette is keeping the position.

Clavette is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Holzken presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Holzken pulls Clavette into guard.
Holzken is pulling down on Clavette's head to control his posture.
Holzken has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Clavette trying to control but Holzken is working from the bottom.
Holzken has his hands on Clavette's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clavette slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clavette pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holzken is keeping the position for now.
Clavette sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Holzken has Clavette pulled in close to control his posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Clavette throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Holzken throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Clavette was covering up waiting for the punch and Holzken finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Holzken trying to control but Clavette is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holzken advances to half guard.
Clavette pushes Holzken off looking to stand but Holzken dives back in and keeps control.

Clavette kicks off Holzken and gets to his feet.
Clavette misses with a series of wild punches.
Holzken takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Holzken looks for a takedown but Clavette sprawls well.
Holzken will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Clavette walks into a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holzken fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Holzken. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Holzken.

Holzken closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Clavette to the mat! Clavette manages to get full guard.
Holzken trying to control the position from guard on top but Clavette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holzken is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Clavette is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Clavette wants to get back to his feet but Holzken is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Clavette pushes Holzken off and gets back to his feet.
Clavette tries a low kick but Holzken avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holzken shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Clavette napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Holzken wants to control for a moment but Clavette uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holzken is working for a kimura but Clavette is defending it quite comfortably.

Holzken is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Clavette doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holzken.

Holzken is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raoul Clavette 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.

Holzken shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Clavette is trying to stand back up but Holzken is controlling him

Holzken is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Clavette is just riding it out for now. Holzken eventually gives up the hold.
Clavette is trying to stand back up but Holzken is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Holzken is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Holzken is working for a kimura but Clavette is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holzken seems to be looking for submissions.

Holzken is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Holzken is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Holzken seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Clavette has recovered full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Holzken pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clavette is keeping the position for now.
Clavette wants to stand up but Holzken is controlling him.
Rodney Holzken overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holzken is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Holzken trying to control the position from guard on top but Clavette is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Holzken fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Holzken shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Holzken showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holzken is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Holzken is looking to advance position but Clavette won't allow it.
Clavette wants to get back to his feet.

Holzken is trying to work for a kimura but Clavette is defending well.
Clavette is trying to stand back up but Holzken is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Holzken is looking for a kimura here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Clavette is staying active underneath Holzken, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Holzken is looking for a kimura but Clavette is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Holzken to get the leverage.
Clavette pushes Holzken off looking to stand but Holzken dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holzken tries to score a power double leg takedown but Clavette sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holzken somewhat.
Clavette keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Holzken dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Holzken shoots in looking for a takedown. Clavette tries to sprawl out of it but Holzken keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Clavette manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Holzken with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Clavette to score with a decent uppercut.

Clavette closes the distance and pushes Holzken back into the cage.

Holzken turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Clavette is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Holzken tries to advance to mount but Clavette denies him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clavette is pushing Holzken's head away, looking to escape. Holzken manages to hold on to the position though.

Holzken thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Holzken looking to control but instead Clavette has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holzken wants to work for an arm triangle but Clavette is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Holzken trying to mount his opponent but Clavette defends it.

Holzken looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Clavette tries to kick Holzken off in order to stand up. Holzken Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Holzken swings around for an armbar but Clavette sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Holzken's guard.
Clavette controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Clavette throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holzken can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Clavette controls the pace.
Clavette must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clavette pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holzken is keeping the position for now.
Clavette stays in close to Holzken's body and controls the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Clavette looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Holzken tries to counter by clinching up but Clavette breaks away and moves out of range.
Clavette lands an overhand right.
Holzken bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Clavette throws the left hand but Holzken avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clavette looks to land a right hand but Holzken moved out of range.

Holzken darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Clavette tries to kick Holzken off but Holzken keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Clavette has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Holzken is on him like a limpet, forcing Clavette back against the cage.
Clavette is trying to pull guard but Holzken turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Holzken tries for a takedown but Clavette manages to get underhooks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Holzken lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Clavette wants to get back to his feet.

Clavette has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Holzken is on him like a limpet, forcing Clavette back against the cage.

Clavette has hold of one of Holzken's legs. Holzken is fighting the takedown attempt but Clavette gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Clavette looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raoul Clavette comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Clavette 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raoul Clavette!