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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darken Rahl (ranked 423 p4p, 766 weight class) and Flo Holl (ranked 40 p4p, 71 weight class). Flo Holl has the eye of the tiger tonight.
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| 168 cm
38
146
21 - 14 - 1 |
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178 cm
26
145
10 - 5 - 0 |
Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Darken Rahl!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Flo Holl!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Holl keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holl uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rahl.
Holl fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rahl.
Holl slips under a jab.
Rahl backing away here, and Holl unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Holl throws a chopping leg kick but Rahl manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Holl lands a head kick!
Holl pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rahl is out of range and Holl settles back down.
Rahl was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rahl.
Rahl thuds his right hand into Holl's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Holl looks to throw the jab but Rahl is out of range.
Holl misses with a low kick.
A low kick lands for Holl.
Good leg kick by Holl.
Holl throws a sloppy body shot
and Rahl counters with a left and a right that stings Holl.
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!
Rahl throws a looping overhand right but Holl ducks down to avoid it.
Holl scores with a kick to the body.
Rahl waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holl.
Rahl shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've been hearing good reports from Rahl's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl trying to control but Holl is working from the bottom.
Rahl sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rahl is in close to Holl's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Holl looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holl wants to stand and escape but Rahl is having none of it.
Holl working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rahl working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Holl's head.
Holl wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Holl can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rahl controls the pace.
Holl keeping full guard, as Rahl tries to pass.
Holl being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rahl misses with a low kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Rahl.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holl looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An attempted straight right counter from Rahl misses the target.
Holl lands with a thumping leg kick.
Holl takes the fight into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holl.
Holl lands a nice elbow.
Rahl blocks a body shot from Holl.
Rahl throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rahl is struggling to control the position.
Holl lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rahl blocks a body shot from Holl.
Holl lands an elbow inside that Rahl shrugs off.
Holl lands a right hand.
Rahl is looking to control Holl's arms but Holl gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rahl has his back to the cage.
Holl misses with an elbow strike.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Holl obliges.
Holl lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Holl.
Holl comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rahl takes an elbow to the temple.
Rahl softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rahl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rahl changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Holl fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rahl looks to land a right hand but Holl moved out of range.
Holl fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rahl.
Flo Holl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rahl checks the leg kick.
Holl misses with a body kick.
Rahl takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rahl is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Holl's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Rahl fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Holl manages to avoid it.
Holl buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Holl finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rahl stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Holl.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Flo Holl dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Holl checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Holl slips under a jab.
Holl slips a straight right by Rahl.
Holl with the inside leg kick.
Rahl thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rahl throws a shot from downtown. Holl moves away and avoids it.
Holl throws out a leg kick but Rahl moves out of range and Holl only half commits.
Holl connects with a leg kick.
Holl staying out of range there.
Crunch! Holl slams his shin into Rahl's torso.
Holl slips a straight right by Rahl.
Holl lands with a thumping leg kick.
Holl scores with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Holl.
Holl moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rahl throws a lazy right hand but Holl sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rahl tries to land a leg kick but Holl saw it coming and moves away.
Rahl has managed to clinch.
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!
Rahl is working Holl over against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Holl gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rahl.
Flo Holl seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rahl.
Rahl lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rahl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rahl tries to circle away but Holl has him pinned against the cage.
Holl lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rahl blocks an uppercut.
Rahl has Holl pressed against the cage.
Rahl is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Holl pushes Rahl back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rahl is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rahl tightens his grip and picks Holl up, before dumping him to the ground. Holl manages to land in guard.
Holl is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl tries to kick Holl off but Holl keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Holl controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rahl wants to get back to his feet.
Holl tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rahl knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl pushes Holl off looking to stand but Holl dives back in and keeps control.
Rahl is not content to let Holl control the position.
Holl stalling.
Rahl tries to kick Holl off but Holl keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rahl manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Holl keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Holl gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holl lands an elbow just above Rahl 's eye.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rahl.
Rahl dodges an elbow strike from Holl.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holl swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rahl lands with a right to the head.
Rahl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rahl tries to score a body lock takedown but Holl shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rahl swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Holl gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rahl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darken Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holl lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holl.
A head punch on the inside from Rahl fails to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rahl is trying to trip Holl. He has hold of a leg but Holl is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rahl persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rahl slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rahl trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Darken Rahl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rahl controls from within his opponent's guard.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Rahl stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Holl.
Flo Holl seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Holl throws a leg kick which misses Rahl's front leg but catches the back leg as Rahl tries to avoid it.
Holl swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rahl throwing a counter right hand but Holl manages to avoid it.
Holl tries a head kick but it misses.
Good exchange - Rahl coming out on top.
Holl tries to clinch but Rahl moves out of range.
Rahl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Holl displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rahl throws out the jab.
Rahl chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Holl can pounce on him.
Rahl throws a good cross that connects.
An inside leg kick lands from Holl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holl moves into range and clinches up with Rahl.
Holl prevents the takedown attempt.
Rahl lands with a short shot to the head.
Holl throws an elbow but it misses.
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!
Rahl tries to stall but Holl uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rahl throws a punch but it's blocked by Holl.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Holl.
Holl has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rahl lands a nice shot to the body.
Holl lands a nice elbow.
Rahl looking to stall.
Rahl tries to score a body lock takedown but Holl shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rahl dodges an elbow strike from Holl.
Holl unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rahl is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Holl comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rahl wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darken Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short left from Rahl.
Holl lands an elbow just above Rahl 's eye.
Holl lands a nice elbow.
Holl can't find room to land a body shot as Rahl controls the action.
Rahl has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Holl landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holl is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holl crunches a lovely knee into Rahl's ribcage.
Holl is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rahl is defending well for now.
Holl misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Holl blocking some punches.
Holl lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rahl or not.
Holl lands with a left to the head.
Holl lands a body shot in the clinch.
Holl lands with a light punch inside.
Rahl blocks a body shot from Holl.
Holl connects with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Holl scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rahl misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Holl is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Holl tries to work over Rahl's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Holl lands a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Holl scores with a nice short uppercut.
Holl is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rahl misses with a short punch on the inside.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl wants to take the fight to the mat but Holl manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Holl lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rahl has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Holl after a bit of a struggle.
Holl lands a shoulder strike.
Holl gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holl makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Holl lands a knee to the body.
Holl lands a nice uppercut.
Rahl has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right from Holl.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Holl.
Holl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rahl is looking for a takedown.
Rahl misses with a hook from the clinch.
Holl lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!
Rahl wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holl lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holl lands a shoulder strike.
Rahl tries to break free but Holl pushes him back against the cage.
Holl tries to work over Rahl's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rahl takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rahl is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Holl misses with an elbow over the top.
Rahl has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Holl lands an elbow inside.
Holl with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Holl.
Holl lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Holl putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rahl in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Holl lands a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice left hand lands by Holl.
Holl lands a damaging elbow.
Holl working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rahl tries a body shot but Holl blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Flo Holl really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Holl. Rahl shrugs it off though.
Holl misses with a leg kick
and Rahl counters with a right hand to the body.
Rahl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Holl displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rahl throws out the jab.
Rahl takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It looked like Rahl was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Holl.
A big right from Rahl misses.
Holl throws a low kick, looking for Rahl's leg but Rahl calmly moves out of range.
Holl lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rahl takes a step back to recover.
Holl closes the distance and clinches.
Rahl has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Holl avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rahl has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Holl after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holl tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rahl avoids it.
Holl looks to throw an elbow but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holl.
Rahl struggles to land a body shot inside as Holl controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Holl creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rahl is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl takes an elbow to the forehead.
Holl working Rahl over with knees to the body.
Holl working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Holl pushes Rahl back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rahl wants to break free but Holl has control.
Holl missing with knees to the body.
Rahl looking to slow down the pace here.
Holl prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darken Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Holl tries to work over Rahl's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Holl misses with an elbow strike.
Holl lands a left hand.
Holl lands a right hand.
Rahl misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rahl can't find room to land a body shot as Holl controls the action.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Holl.
Rahl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl struggles to land a body shot inside as Holl controls his hands.
Holl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rahl lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice elbow from Holl.
Holl misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Holl.
Holl lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holl.
Rahl throws a head punch that misses.
Holl utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Holl scores with a nice short uppercut.
Holl lands a nice elbow.
Rahl can't get the takedown.
A frustrated look appears on Rahl's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rahl has had enough of the clinch but Holl keeps him there for the moment.
Holl scores with a nice hook to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The referee calls for Rahl to work.
Holl lands a hook to the side of the head.
Holl tries to land knees in the clinch but Rahl avoids the damage to the body.
Holl is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Holl lands a nice elbow.
Holl lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rahl backwards.
Holl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rahl tries to score a body lock takedown but Holl shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A knee to the head by Holl.
Rahl is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Holl lands an elbow inside that Rahl shrugs off.
Holl lands a left hand.
Holl lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl wants to stall.
Rahl wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rahl is trying to maintain a safe position but Holl gets an underhook and turns Rahl into the cage.
Holl lands an elbow inside that Rahl shrugs off.
Holl lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rahl is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Holl lands an elbow that stopped Rahl in his tracks for a moment.
Holl doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rahl blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Holl.
Rahl will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rahl lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rahl pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holl fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Holl connects with a right hand. Rahl shakes it off.
Holl paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rahl chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Holl can pounce on him.
An inside leg kick from Holl misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Flo Holl dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Rahl closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Holl quickly recovers to half guard.
Holl trying to control but Rahl postures up.
Holl regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rahl is looking to work some ground and pound but Holl has wrist control.
Holl has Rahl pulled in close to control his posture.
Holl not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahl trying to control the position from guard on top but Holl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holl gets a clinch.
Rahl wants a takedown.
Rahl tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Holl missing with knees to the body.
Holl misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rahl has clasped his hands together around Holl's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rahl is looking to take a break and control but Holl is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rahl working away.
Rahl is looking to take a break and control but Holl is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Darken Rahl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holl manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rahl's best efforts.
Rahl slows the pace down in half guard.
Rahl's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Flo Holl is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Holl is trying to get back to full guard.
Holl pushes Rahl off looking to stand but Rahl dives back in and keeps control.
Rahl not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holl tries to get to full guard but Rahl has control of the leg.
Holl won't allow Rahl to pass to mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ground and pound from Rahl.
Holl is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rahl's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rahl's back!
Rahl wants to get back to his feet.
Rahl prevents Holl from getting a body triangle.
Rahl trying to get back to his feet but Holl is in full control for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holl trying to control momentarily.
Holl is controlling the position but Rahl somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Holl wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rahl keeps working.
Holl not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holl's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Flo Holl.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 45:50
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flo Holl!
Flo Holl is the new featherweight champion!
After winning the bout, Flo Holl thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
62% |
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