PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reid Holden (ranked 5516 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Bugbee (ranked 8478 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Bugbee will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Holden
vs
Bugbee

163 cm
21
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Reid Holden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Bugbee!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bugbee throws a left and a right that both miss

and Holden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bugbee's guard.
Bugbee is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Holden dives into side control.

Bugbee is working to avoid the ground and pound but Holden connects with a decent elbow.
Bugbee is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Holden stands up.
Bugbee misses with the combination.
Bugbee has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Holden is landing a low percentage of strikes.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bugbee!
Holden misses with a left hand
and Bugbee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Holden shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bugbee is trying to defend but Holden finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bugbee has hold of Holden's hands but Holden slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bugbee tries to kick Holden off but Holden keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Holden with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Holden is nestled in close to Bugbee, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Holden could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice strikes from Holden there.
Holden looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nice strikes from Holden there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Holden in particular looking to stall.
Holden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Holden working Bugbee over with strikes.
Holden working over Bugbee with some ground and pound. Bugbee looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holden working the head and body with strikes.
Holden controlling the action here.

Holden stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Holden looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Holden working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Holden landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Holden connects with a nice short shot to Bugbee's temple.
Holden is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Holden is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nice strikes from Holden there.
Holden sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bugbee tries to kick Holden off but Holden keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Holden working Bugbee over with strikes.
Holden is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bugbee really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Holden. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holden has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holden winds up and cracks Bugbee with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Holden working over Bugbee with some ground and pound. Bugbee looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Holden working Bugbee over with strikes.
Holden scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Well, if Holden is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ground and pound from Holden.
Bugbee looks winded!
Holden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Holden not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reid Holden dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bugbee defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Holden.
Bugbee throws a counter combo.
Holden avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bugbee fails to land with a series of punches.
Holden tries for a takedown but Bugbee circles away easily
and Bugbee counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Holden thinking.

Holden changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bugbee looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holden lands some shots froms side control.
Bugbee takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Holden is putting a hurting on Bugbee here, landing some big shots from side control.
Bugbee takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holden controlling from side mount.
Holden in side control lands a decent elbow.
The referee asks Holden politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Holden prefers to stall for the moment though.
Bugbee takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Holden looks up at the clock and then as Bugbee takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Holden smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Holden cracks Bugbee with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Holden stands up.
Holden shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reid Holden. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holden with a poor takedown
and Holden takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Holden tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bugbee paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Holden throws a sloppy head kick and Bugbee moves out of range easily.
Holden takes a head kick and keeps coming.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bugbee enables Holden to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bugbee manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holden stops Bugbee from standing up.
Bugbee is breathing heavily.
Holden connects with a couple of short punches.
Holden lands a couple of digs.
Holden keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bugbee's head.
Holden not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Holden makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Holden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bugbee can do to turn this around?
Holden connects with a couple of short punches.
Holden is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Holden working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bugbee's head.
Holden connects with a couple of short punches.
Holden forces his way into half guard.

Holden decides to stand up.
Holden darts in looking for a takedown but Bugbee gets double underhooks and turns Holden into the cage.
Bugbee unleashes a big counter combination but Holden bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Holden misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bugbee tries to keep at a distance but Holden has taken the fight into the clinch.

Holden breaks from the clinch.
Bugbee takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Holden throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bugbee tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Holden is in Bugbee's guard.
Holden postures up and lands a big shot to Bugbee's brow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Holden landing with the ground and pound.

Holden decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reid Holden dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Holden gets a clinch.
Bugbee tries to circle away but Holden has him pinned against the cage.

Holden breaks from the clinch.
Bugbee throws a nice looking combination but Holden bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Holden.

Bugbee sneaks out the side door and pushes Holden away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chris Bugbee seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bugbee misses with a body shot

and Holden counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holden is taking a breather. Bugbee says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bugbee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Holden scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Holden looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Holden 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.
Holden with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bugbee is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Holden scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holden decides to stand and escape the position.
Holden darts in trying to clinch
and Bugbee counters with a left and a right that stings Holden.
Holden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Holden with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bugbee counters with a left and a right that stings Holden.
A low kick from Bugbee is predictable there

and Holden counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bugbee wants to stand up but Holden is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden sitting in guard here, content to control.

Holden decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Holden feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Holden makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bugbee is working an open guard so Holden takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Holden shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Holden looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Holden winds up and cracks Bugbee with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Holden is controlling the pace.
Holden winds up and cracks Bugbee with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Chris Bugbee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reid Holden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holden takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reid Holden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holden, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reid Holden!