PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mo Ganozri (ranked 25002 p4p, 4515 weight class) and Calidale Holiday (ranked 558 p4p, 479 weight class). Holiday comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Stranger Things Theme Song kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Calidale Holiday will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ganozri
vs
Holiday

182 cm
19
185
4 - 4 - 0

195 cm
29
185
5 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mo Ganozri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Calidale Holiday!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holiday doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ganozri counters with a shoot takedown. Holiday fights it but they end up in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Holiday holds on and takes a little breather.
Ganozri throwing strikes but missing.
Ganozri definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ganozri throws a big right hand that misses.
Ganozri in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ganozri throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holiday bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ganozri's guard.

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Holiday working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Holiday throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ganozri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Holiday is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ganozri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Holiday not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ganozri avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holiday trying to control but Ganozri is working from the bottom.
Holiday won't allow Ganozri to sweep him here.
Holiday with a nice head shot there.
Holiday makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Holiday trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Holiday trying to control but Ganozri is working from the bottom.
Holiday in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ganozri might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Holiday postures up in Ganozri's guard and throws a big left but Ganozri blocks it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ganozri has Holiday pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ganozri fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Holiday fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ganozri sprawls well initially but Holiday persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Holiday sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ganozri defending well though.
Holiday is nestled in close to Ganozri, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ganozri trying to control but Holiday postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holiday scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Holiday tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ganozri.
Holiday thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganozri is looking for a sweep. Holiday is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holiday scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Holiday throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ganozri blocking the ground and pound attempt from Holiday.
Holiday not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nice strikes from Holiday there.
Holiday thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Holiday has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Holiday lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ganozri is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holiday missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Holiday looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Holiday is thwarting Ganozri's attempts to control the position.
Ganozri is looking for a sweep. Holiday is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holiday thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Holiday shoots in looking for a takedown. Ganozri tries to sprawl out of it but Holiday keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ganozri manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holiday stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Holiday wants it to stay on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calidale Holiday dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ganozri.
Holiday changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ganozri tries to avoid it but Holiday manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ganozri to the ground. Ganozri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Ganozri as Holiday shoots in.
Calidale Holiday seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ganozri manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Holiday on his heels. He'll look to pass Holiday's guard now, I'm sure.
Ganozri has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Holiday seems keen to control Ganozri's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ganozri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Holiday works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ganozri throws a big right hand that misses.
Ganozri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holiday working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ganozri.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holiday pushes Ganozri off and gets back to his feet.

Holiday gets a clinch.
Holiday has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ganozri has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Holiday is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Holiday pulls Ganozri into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Holiday can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ganozri throwing strikes from guard but Holiday blocks nicely.
Calidale Holiday has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ganozri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Holiday holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holiday wants to stand and escape but Ganozri is having none of it.
Ganozri landing with the ground and pound.
Holiday preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ganozri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ganozri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holiday controlling the position.
Holiday is continuing to stall.
Ganozri is in close to Holiday's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Holiday is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ganozri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganozri chips away with some ground and pound.
Ganozri stops Holiday from standing up.
Ganozri throws a big right hand that misses.
Holiday utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ganozri in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Holiday looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ganozri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Holiday avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ganozri throwing strikes but missing.
Ganozri in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ganozri is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Holiday wants to stand and escape but Ganozri is having none of it.
Holiday looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ganozri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ganozri won't allow Holiday to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Holiday leaves Ganozri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Ganozri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ganozri tries for a takedown but Holiday sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Holiday throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mo Ganozri will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other 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.

Holiday tries for a takedown but Ganozri circles away easily

and Ganozri decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Holiday's guard.
Ganozri throws a big right hand that misses.
Ganozri in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ganozri stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Holiday has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Ganozri manages to get his head free but now Holiday has transitioned to an armbar! Ganozri grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Holiday! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Calidale Holiday!
Calidale Holiday seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.