PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frances Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hedd Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Holt
vs
Williams

150 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frances Holt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hedd Williams!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams darts in looking for a takedown but Holt gets double underhooks and turns Williams into the cage.

Williams fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Holt, pushing him back against the cage.
Holt working hard to break the clinch.
Holt is trying to pull guard but Williams has him pressed against the cage.
Holt tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Williams smiles and moves away.
Williams shoots for a double leg takedown but Holt sprawls well. He's pushed Williams's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Williams misses with a body shot.

Williams rushes Holt and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Holt ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Holt no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Holt seems keen to control Williams's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Williams looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Holt is trying hard to land a takedown here. Williams sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frances Holt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Holt's head.
Williams stuffs the takedown attempt from Holt. Holt gets slowly back to his feet.

Williams clinches up with Holt and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to pull guard but Holt has him pressed against the cage.

Holt jumps guard and drags Williams to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Williams is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Williams is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Williams stands and steps away. Holt gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Williams moves into the clinch.
Holt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Williams to keep the fight standing.
Williams drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Holt gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Williams has Holt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Holt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Holt tries to pull guard but Williams won't allow it.
Holt jumps guard but Williams turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams keeps control of Holt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Holt wants to get back to striking at distance but Williams won't allow it.
Holt tries to pull guard but Williams holds him up against the cage and eventually Holt drops back down to his feet.
Holt could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Williams is trying to pull guard but Holt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Williams gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holt is trying to break free.
Holt can't break the clinch.
Williams tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Holt smiles and moves away.
Holt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Williams shoots in looking for a takedown but Holt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Williams's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holt keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt misses with a takedown attempt - Williams sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Williams closes this distance looking for a takedown but Holt circles away.
Holt seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Williams lands a leg kick that knocks Holt off balance momentarily.
Holt avoids the body shot from Williams.
Holt is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Williams.

Williams closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
Williams lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hedd Williams dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Holt keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Williams goes for a double leg but Holt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Holt continues to drive forward.
Holt attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Williams lands a head kick!
Holt fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams goes for a double leg but Holt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Holt continues to drive forward.
Holt wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Frances Holt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hedd Williams.
Williams avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams avoids a punch combination nicely.

Williams gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Williams manages to pull guard.
Holt postures up.
Holt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Williams pushes Holt off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Horrible takedown attempt by Williams or perhaps it was just good defense by Holt, which made it look bad.
Williams is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Holt dives in for a single leg takedown but Williams sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Williams darts in looking for a takedown but Holt gets double underhooks and turns Williams into the cage.
Holt tries to counter by clinching up but Williams breaks away and moves out of range.

Williams rushes Holt and presses him up against the cage.

Williams pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Holt tries to keep at a distance but Williams has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Williams jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Williams looking to control.

Holt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Williams wants to sweep here but Holt controlling him for the moment.
Williams keeps trying to improve his position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four 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.
Holt with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Williams rushes Holt and presses him up against the cage.
Williams drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holt pulls his leg out and moves away.

Williams closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hedd Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Williams closes the distance and clinches.
Williams is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holt gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Holt tries to pull guard but Williams forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Williams drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holt pulls his leg out and moves away.
Holt closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Williams goes for a double leg but Holt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Holt continues to drive forward.
As Williams tries to get set, Holt tries to push him back and clinch up but Williams manages to avoid the attempt.
Frances Holt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hedd Williams.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Holt.
Williams shoots in and drives through. Holt sprawls well.
Hedd Williams is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Williams misses.
Holt seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Holt closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Holt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holt throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Williams wants to control but Holt is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Williams regains full guard. Nicely done.
Holt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Williams's head.
Holt with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holt stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Williams shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Holt as he jumps to the side.
Holt is looking to counter the offense by Williams and move into the clinch.
Williams stuffs the takedown.
Williams shoots in but no luck this time.
Holt wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
No joy there for Holt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Williams is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Williams has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt throws out a loose jab but Williams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hedd Williams seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Williams moves into range and clinches up with Holt.
Holt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Williams to keep the fight standing.

Williams has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Holt uses from the top position.
Holt throws a strike but Williams rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Holt wants to stand up but Williams is controlling him.
Holt is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Holt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Holt is trying to keep Williams in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hedd Williams has got the better of the ground game so far.
Williams wants to pass the guard but Holt is keeping the position.
Holt is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Williams has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams throws a big right hand that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Frances Holt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hedd Williams is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Williams will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Holt tries to counter with a takedown but Williams is quick to defend against it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Frances Holt.
Well Williams has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hedd Williams!
Our winner, Hedd Williams, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.