PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Holly (ranked 4500 p4p, 498 weight class) and xu Chen (ranked 25015 p4p, 641 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Holly
vs
Chen

195 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
208 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roger Holly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, xu Chen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holly keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Holly misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Holly looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chen is fending him off so far but Holly persists. Nope, Chen circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Holly pulls guard effortlessly.
Chen sitting in guard here, content to control.

Holly is looking for a triangle but Chen pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chen postures up.

Chen stands up and waves to Holly to follow him.
Holly goes for a double leg but Chen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Chen continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Holly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holly throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Chen's waist but Chen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Holly off to one side.
Holly rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chen.
It looked like Holly was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Chen is looking to clinch but Holly is avoiding it.
Chen slaps away a takedown attempt from Holly, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Chen clinches up against the cage.
Chen jumps guard but Holly stands there with Chen around his waist. Chen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Chen tries a body shot but Holly blocks it.

Chen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Chen manages to end up in side control.
Chen is looking to take a break and control but Holly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Holly's shoulder. That is not cool.
Holly wants to control but Chen postures up.
Holly sneaks back into half guard.

Holly looking for submissions off his back.
Chen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Holly. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Chen is keen to just control but Holly is a slippery customer.

Chen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Holly is just riding it out for now. Chen eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Chen controlling the action here.
It looks like Chen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Chen is looking to advance position but Holly won't allow it.
Holly is refusing to be controlled, as Chen sits in half guard.

Chen decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Chen tries to clinch but Holly moves out of range.
Holly fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Chen avoids it really well and circles away.
Holly's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Holly duly obliges.
Holly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Chen defends it nicely.
Chen tries to counter by closing the distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chen avoids a kick to the body.
Chen shoots in but no luck this time.
Holly misses with a head kick.
Despite the aggression on Chen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but xu Chen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Holly moves into the clinch.
Chen is trying to pull guard but Holly turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Chen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Holly to keep the fight standing.
Chen wants a takedown.
Roger Holly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of xu Chen.
Chen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Holly's elbow.
Chen is pressed up against the cage. Holly has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Chen down to the mat. Chen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A head kick misses from Chen.
Chen tries to clinch but Holly moves out of range.
Chen has his takedown stuffed
and Holly counters with a left and a right that stings Chen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Holly drives through and clinches with Chen against the cage.
Holly lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Holly looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Chen has Holly pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Holly manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Holly effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holly is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Holly tries to score a body lock takedown but Chen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Chen fails to pull guard.
Chen tries for a takedown but Holly manages to get underhooks.
Chen is breathing heavily.

Holly jumps into guard, dragging Chen to the mat.
Holly is trying to control the position but Chen postures up.
Chen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holly swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Chen stopping the sweep attempt from Holly.
Holly is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Holly wants to stand up but Chen is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holly looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Chen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Holly is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Chen closes the distance and pushes Holly back into the cage.
Chen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Holly pulls Chen into guard.
Holly is trying to control the position but Chen postures up.
Chen tries to free his leg and advance position but Holly is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holly not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Holly is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Chen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Chen won't allow Holly to get back to his feet.
Chen looking to sit in guard and control but Holly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Holly trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.

Chen is working an open guard so Holly takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Chen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Holly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holly goes for a double leg but Chen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Chen continues to drive forward.
Chen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Holly seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Holly goes for a double leg but Chen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Chen continues to drive forward.
Chen raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Chen.
Holly half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Holly gets caught napping as Chen dives in and scores a takedown. Holly manages to retain guard.
Holly can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Chen controls the pace.
Chen wants to stand but Holly has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Chen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Holly's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Chen stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Chen clinches up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holly is pressed up against the cage. Chen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Holly down to the mat. Holly avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Holly dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Chen shoots in looking for a takedown but Holly manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Chen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holly dives in for a single leg takedown but Chen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Chen has his takedown stuffed
and Chen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Holly misses with a takedown attempt - Chen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Chen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Chen moves into the clinch.
Holly on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chen manages to break the clinch.
Roger Holly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chen looks for a takedown but Holly sprawls well.
Roger Holly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of xu Chen.
Holly tries to score with a low kick but Chen moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen moves out of range of the body kick from Holly.
Chen stuffs the takedown.
Holly digs a good body shot into Chen's ribs.
Chen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Chen avoids the head kick by Holly.
Holly is looking to clinch.
Chen circles away from the clinch attempt.

Chen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Holly can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Chen controls the pace.
Chen trying to control but Holly is working from the bottom.
Chen with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Chen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Holly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Chen tries to free his leg and advance position but Holly is retaining full guard.
Chen won't allow Holly to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Chen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Holly paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Holly shoots in for a takedown but Chen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chen shoots in but Holly avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Holly throws a quick counter head kick but Chen was just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Holly counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Holly throws a head kick but Chen moves out of range.
Holly misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Holly shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Chen as he avoids it easily.
Chen throws a head kick that misses.
Holly slaps away a takedown attempt from Chen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chen shoots in looking for a takedown. Holly tries to sprawl out of it but Chen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Holly manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Chen tries to keep at a distance but Holly has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Holly's elbow.
Chen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Chen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Holly walks away with a smile on his face. Chen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Holly gets a clinch.
Holly gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Chen.
Holly has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Chen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holly is trying to break free.

Holly pulls guard successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Holly showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Holly has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Holly!