PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Damato (ranked 3924 p4p, 6154 weight class) and Max Holloway (ranked 340 p4p, 434 weight class). Damato comes to the cage accompanied by Thunderstruck. Holloway has chosen Face the Pain as his entrance music. Rocco Damato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Damato
vs
Holloway

170 cm
23
150
6 - 11 - 0

180 cm
19
150
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Altitude Clothing

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

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 6 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocco Damato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Holloway!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Damato closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Holloway quickly recovers to half guard.

Damato is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Damato is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Damato is working for a kimura but Holloway is defending it quite comfortably.
Damato trying to control the action but Holloway is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Damato is working for a kimura but Holloway is defending it quite comfortably.
Damato is keen to just control but Holloway is a slippery customer.

Damato 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.
Damato drops an elbow to the side of Holloway's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Damato is pressing down on Holloway's thigh, looking to free his foot. Holloway is holding on for now.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato throwing shots but Holloway is blocking nicely.

Damato is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Damato looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Damato wants to pass the guard but Holloway is defending well.
Holloway has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Irish Collar & Elbow Academy (ICE). Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Damato wants to work for an arm triangle but Holloway is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Damato wants to work for an arm triangle but Holloway is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Holloway really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Damato. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four 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.
Damato with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Damato not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Damato is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Damato is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Holloway sees it coming and defends easily.
Damato slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Damato seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Damato dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Holloway tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Damato went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rocco Damato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Damato throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Holloway tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Damato is in Holloway's guard.
Damato passes into half guard.

Damato stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Holloway to get to his feet.
Damato is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holloway can do to turn this around?
Holloway scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Damato shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Holloway kicks off Damato and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Damato shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Holloway is trying to defend but Damato finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Damato trying to control the action but Holloway is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Holloway keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Damato misses with a head shot. Holloway uses the momentum to regain guard.

Damato drops back looking for a leg! Holloway is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Holloway manages to kick Damato off! Damato jumps back into Holloway's guard.
Damato controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Damato stands and throws Holloway's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Damato is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holloway knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Damato is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holloway knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Damato stands up.
Damato chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Holloway can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Damato darts in and clinches Holloway up against the cage.
Holloway letting Damato take a breather here.
Holloway tries to break the clinch but Damato is controlling the position.

Damato ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Damato no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Holloway wants to stand but Damato has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Damato managing to control the position.
Holloway wants to stand but Damato is controlling his posture from full guard.
Holloway is fighting to break Damato's control of his arms but Damato is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Damato working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holloway doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Damato is tightening it up a little... Holloway has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Holloway reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Holloway taps out! Nice BJJ there by Damato!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rocco Damato!
A victorious Rocco Damato thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Max Holloway had this to say: 'I'm not going to get mad over something that I have no control over'.