PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Holk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes to the cage accompanied by a great song. The key to victory for Nathan James has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

James
vs
Holk

200 cm
22
250 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

194 cm
19
240 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Holk!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Holk.
An elbow from Holk crashes against the mat.
Holk is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Holk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, James has escaped the position, nice work there.

Holk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Holk goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, James rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Holk's guard! Nice work there by James!

Holk keeping busy on the bottom but James has passed one foot through into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holk trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.
Holk looks gassed!

Holk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Holk is looking to improve his position.
Holk has a hand on James's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. James takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Holk is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two 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.
Holk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Holk bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Holk tries to stand but James is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holk slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Holk is trying to move to mount but James reverses beautifully and ends up in Holk's guard.
Holk working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holk looking for submissions from the bottom but instead James passes into half guard.

Holk manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Holk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Holk off to one side.

Holk shoots in and bounces James off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Holk slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Holk wants to work for an arm triangle but James is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Holk wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
Holk is pressing down on James's thigh, looking to free his foot. James is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Holk dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Holk tries a head kick but it misses.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Holk manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Holk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Holk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Holk working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holk is controlling James's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James gets to his feet. Holk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

James fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Holk, pushing him back against the cage.
Holk tries to break the clinch but James is controlling the position.

Holk has dropped down and is working for a takedown. James is trying to keep an underhook but Holk manages to get the takedown into half guard.
James is staying active underneath Holk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Holk trying to mount his opponent but James defends it.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Holk sits in half guard.
Holk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holk is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Holk scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Holk slows the pace down in half guard.
Holk works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holk stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Holk is trying to get back to full guard.

Holk actively working from the bottom here.
Holk is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of James's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take James's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holk working for the choke.
James tries to escape but Holk has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Holk patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Holk is looking for a choke. James gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. James manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

Holk throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

James drops back looking for a leg! Holk is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Holk manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Holk's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Holk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Holk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Holk is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Holk!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). John Holk!