PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cody Evans (ranked 1114 p4p, 1441 weight class) and Flo Holl (ranked 115 p4p, 162 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Flo Holl enters the cage!

Evans
vs
Holl

171 cm
24
152
6 - 3 - 0

178 cm
24
145
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Powerful

Arcticus University: London

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cody Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Flo Holl!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holl pivots, looking for a leg kick but Evans is out of range and Holl settles back down.
Holl throws a shot to the body.
Holl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holl connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Holl tries to clinch but Evans moves away
and Evans counters with a straight right hand.
Holl throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Evans counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've been hearing reports that Evans has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Holl tries to close the distance and clinch up but Evans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Evans misses with a double jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Holl.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Holl with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Evans scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Holl doesn't seem bothered though.
Holl has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Holl throws a leg kick
and Evans cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holl scores with a nice right hand.
Holl throws a leg kick

and Evans counters with a single leg into guard. Holl didn't expect that.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Holl works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Holl is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Holl looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Holl's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Evans seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two 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.
Holl is trying to control the position but Evans postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Evans misses with a low kick as Holl jumps back.
A little jabbing left from Holl on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Holl scores with a nice strike.
Evans throws a lazy uppercut
and Holl counters with a leg kick.
Flo Holl is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Evans on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Evans sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Holl slips under a jab from Evans.
Holl connects with an inside leg kick.
Holl bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Holl scoring well with a low kick there.
Holl lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Evans checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Evans tried to counter with a leg kick but Holl avoided it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Holl darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Holl throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holl lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Evans misses with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Holl.
Holl throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Evans cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Holl takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Holl fakes the leg kick and cracks Evans in the body.
Holl throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Evans's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Holl connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Evans scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd cheers as Evans lands an impressive looking overhand right. Holl doesn't seem phased though.
Evans throws a hook to the side of Holl's head but Holl sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Evans throws out a loose jab but Holl uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holl scores with a sloppy right hand. Evans should have avoided that one.
Holl tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Evans misses the target.
Evans punishes Holl's body with a nice straight punch.
Holl lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Holl moves into the clinch.
Evans throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Evans takes an elbow to the temple.
Holl throws an elbow that misses.
Evans drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Holl throws an elbow but it misses.
Evans blocks an elbow strike.
Evans drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holl pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Flo Holl 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.

Holl tries a head kick but it misses.
Evans throwing a counter right hand but Holl manages to avoid it.
Evans avoids the body shot from Holl.
Holl scores with a jab. Evans acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holl looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Evans scores with a decent looking hook.
Holl throws a nice inside leg kick.
Holl has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Evans thows a left - swing and a miss!
Holl misses with a shot to the body
and Evans counters with a straight right hand.
Evans takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holl ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Evans moves away.
Evans steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Holl. That one must have hurt.
Holl throws a head kick that misses.
Evans is looking to counter punch.
Holl scores with a jab. Evans acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Evans checks a low kick from Holl.
Holl has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Holl wants to slow Evans down by chopping away at his legs.
Holl throws a nice outside leg kick.
Holl punishes Evans's body with a nice straight punch.
Evans throws a right hand that misses
and Holl counters with a left and a right that stings Evans.
Evans takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A low kick from Holl is predictable there
enabling Evans to counter with a crisp jab.
Evans misses with a left hand
and Holl counters with a good low kick that Evans was not able to check.
Holl takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Holl throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holl with a nice calf kick.
Flo Holl seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Evans throws a right hand that Holl ducks under and follows up with a left that Holl also avoids with ease.
Evans throws a hook but Holl avoids it easily.
Evans on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holl moves into range and connects with a jab.
Holl misses with a leg kick

so Evans counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Holl has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Holl is wriggling around but Evans manages to pass to half guard.
Holl is trying to stand back up but Evans is controlling him
Holl is trying to control but can't.
Holl is looking to get back to is feet but Evans passes into side control.
Holl tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Evans wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Holl is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Evans asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The strikes coming from Evans are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Holl tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Holl is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Evans working away.
Evans controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Holl's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Evans trying to control the position but Holl is working away.
Holl tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Evans wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Evans landing a few strikes.
Evans is working Holl over with some ground and pound from side control.
Evans misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Flo Holl will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Evans throws a hook but Holl blocks it.
Flo Holl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holl connects with a leg kick.
Evans misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And Holl responds with a good body kick, but Evans manages to step out the way in time.
Evans is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A clash of legs there as Evans blocks the low kick.
Evans appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Holl throws a leg kick
and Evans counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice leg kick lands there from Holl.

Holl has taken the fight to the clinch.
Holl is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Evans is defending well for now.
Evans lands a hook that snaps the head of Holl backwards.
Holl pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holl gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holl lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Evans backwards.

Evans breaks from the clinch.
Evans takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holl misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans throws a poor cross that misses
and Holl counters with a nice kick to the body.
Holl throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Evans counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Holl fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Evans, pushing him back against the cage.
Holl misses with a hook from the clinch.
Holl working aggressively here.
A right hand to the body from Holl.
Evans has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Holl after a bit of a struggle.
Holl throws a punch but it's blocked by Evans.
Holl lands a hook that snaps the head of Evans backwards.
Evans goes for a takedown attempt but Holl pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A good leg kick by Holl.
Holl scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Evans misses the target.
No joy there for Evans, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Evans on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holl throws a wild body kick that Evans sees coming a mile off.
Evans closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Holl tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Evans manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Evans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Evans will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Evans shoots in but Holl avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cody Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans throws a right and a left that Holl avoids nicely.
Holl is looking to clinch.
Evans fires out a quick counter leg kick but Holl just manages to avoid it.
Holl delivers a nice body kick.
Holl lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Evans takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Flo Holl is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holl throws a leg kick

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Evans thows a huge punch but Holl dodges it nicely.
Holl is controlling Evans's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Holl is trying to stand up here but Evans is controlling him well.
Cody Evans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holl is looking to control Evans's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Holl avoid being mounted?
Holl keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Evans thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holl's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans throwing shots but Holl is blocking nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Evans fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Holl on the side of the head.

Holl gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Evans lands a body punch.
Evans misses with some punches.
Evans tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Evans scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holl.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Evans throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flo Holl comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Holl winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

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