PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Holm (ranked 6083 p4p, 425 weight class) and Mat Lloyd (ranked 7230 p4p, 444 weight class). Holm comes to the cage accompanied by Rooster- Alice in Chains. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Holm
vs
Lloyd

172 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Holm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mat Lloyd!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lloyd swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Holm counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Holm.
Lloyd wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Holm manages to pass to side control.

Holm controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lloyd on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Holm thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lloyd is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Holm not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lloyd tries to kick Holm off but Holm keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Holm performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lloyd is trying to escape back to his feet but Holm uses the scramble to pass into side control.
A lull in the action here as Holm stalls from top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lloyd misses with a jab, cross combination.

Holm rushes Lloyd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lloyd dodges an elbow strike from Holm.
Lloyd wants to get back to striking at distance but Holm won't allow it.

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.

Holm turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on Lloyd's face as Holm controls the position.
Lloyd taking a bit of punishment here - Holm scoring with strikes.
Lloyd is trying to escape the position but Holm is controlling the position.
Holm advances nicely into full mount.
Lloyd really wants to buck Holm off and get back to his feet.
Holm tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Holm 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.

Holm throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Holm. Those never looked like landing.
A combination from Lloyd does no damage.
Lloyd misses with the combination.
Holm slips a jab and a cross from Lloyd.
Holm on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Holm misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lloyd.
Holm throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lloyd.
Holm takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holm takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lloyd throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice defenses there by Lloyd.
Lloyd feints the counter takedown.
Holm dodges the punch combination from Lloyd.
Holm has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lloyd misses with a two punch combination.

Holm has Lloyd up against the cage in a clinch.
Lloyd working hard to break the clinch.
Lloyd wants to break free but Holm has control.

Holm decides to pull guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Holm lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Holm slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lloyd is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holm advances to half guard.
Well, if Holm 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.
Holm prevents Lloyd from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holm passes to full mount!
Holm landing strikes from the mount and Lloyd is in trouble!
Holm controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Holm dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Holm tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lloyd was well out of range. Poor timing from Holm.
Holm misses with a two punch combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Lloyd scores with a four punch combination!
A combination from Lloyd does no damage.
Holm attempts a counter takedown but Lloyd avoids it well and moves away.
Holm misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lloyd lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lloyd.
Holm avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lloyd throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Holm counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Holm seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lloyd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Holm has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holm continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lloyd throws a nice looking combination but Holm bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Holm throws a nice looking combination but Lloyd bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tyler Holm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lloyd throws a right hand that Holm ducks under and follows up with a left that Holm also avoids with ease.
Lloyd throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Holm throws a series of punches but Lloyd moves out of range.
Holm swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holm misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Lloyd does no damage.
Holm wants to slow Lloyd down by chopping away at his legs.
Holm throws a low kick, looking for Lloyd's leg but Lloyd calmly moves out of range.
Holm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holm. Lloyd does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holm throws a combination that misses
and Lloyd counters with a one-two to the body.
Lloyd slips a jab and a cross from Holm.
Lloyd looks to land a combination but Holm avoids it well.

Holm instigates a clinch.

Holm breaks the clinch.
Holm misses with a hook. Lloyd ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lloyd avoids a punch combination nicely.
A nice combination there by Holm.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holm throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lloyd.
Lloyd falls off balance throwing a combination

and Holm holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lloyd tries to break the clinch but Holm is controlling the position.

Holm has picked Lloyd up - he's going for a ride! Holm dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Holm uses his free foot to push down on Lloyd's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lloyd.
Mat Lloyd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tyler Holm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holm looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tyler Holm.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holm, 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Holm!
During a confident post fight interview, Tyler Holm thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.