PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manuel La Bor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodney Holzken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). La Bor comes to the cage accompanied by Centuries. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

La Bor
vs
Holzken

179 cm
23
156 lbs
10 - 2 - 2

179 cm
21
157 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

KAISER

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 10 - 2 - 2, fighting out of New York, Manuel La Bor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Holzken!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
La Bor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Holzken closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Holzken lands in his opponent's guard.
Holzken slips nicely into half guard.

Holzken is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. La Bor doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holzken.
Holzken tries to pass to full mount but La Bor defends it.
La Bor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Bor is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holzken's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holzken's back!
Holzken tries to escape but La Bor has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Holzken manages to reverse the position and now he's in La Bor's guard. Nice work there by Holzken.
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!
Holzken tries to free his leg and advance position but La Bor is retaining full guard.
Holzken is still trying to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holzken slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
La Bor is trying to improve his position.

Holzken is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. La Bor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
La Bor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Holzken wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Holzken thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Holzken working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
La Bor is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Netherlands Top Team & KT, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

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

Holzken working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Bor is looking for a sweep.

Holzken wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by La Bor, who protects the arm well.

Holzken thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Holzken tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
La Bor tries to bench press Holzken off him but Holzken keeps the position.
La Bor prevents Holzken from improving position.

Holzken is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. La Bor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
La Bor gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holzken looking to secure an arm triangle but La Bor defends it well.
La Bor is desperately trying to improve his position but Holzken has a good base and remains in mount.
La Bor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Holzken on the ground.

Holzken is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. La Bor can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
La Bor is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holzken is going oldschool here, as he tries to force La Bor to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so La Bor shrugs it off.

Holzken is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but La Bor is surviving well by controlling Holzken's body position as best he can.
La Bor bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
La Bor passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holzken makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Holzken.
Holzken looking to hit a scissor sweep but La Bor is one step ahead there.

La Bor stands up from Holzken's guard - La Bor perhaps looking for a knockout.
La Bor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holzken.
La Bor scores with a jab to the jaw.
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!
Holzken comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
La Bor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Holzken tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Holzken throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Holzken throws a poor cross that misses
and La Bor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A big left from La Bor misses.
A jab from Holzken does it's job there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Holzken dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Holzken lands a jab to the head.
Holzken swings and misses with a shot to the body
and La Bor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
La Bor lands with a right hand.
La Bor misses with a hook

and Holzken counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

La Bor has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Holzken is on him like a limpet, forcing La Bor back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holzken wants a takedown.
Holzken changes levels and goes for a takedown here. La Bor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
La Bor tries to clinch but Holzken moves out of range.
La Bor is looking to score with low kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from La Bor misses the target.
La Bor lands with a cross.
La Bor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Holzken was well out of range. Poor timing from La Bor.
Holzken drops down looking to force a counter takedown but La Bor defends it well.
La Bor misses with a hook. Holzken ducked under it nicely.
Holzken just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holzken ducks under a wild hook from La Bor.
Holzken throws a hook but La Bor avoids it easily.
La Bor connects with a solid leg kick.
Manuel La Bor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
La Bor looks to score with a jab to the body but Holzken is just out of range.
La Bor lands with a nice combination. Holzken backs away looking to recover.
La Bor connects with a jab.
Holzken misses the shot to the body.
Holzken throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Holzken throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Holzken looks to move away, La Bor throws a big counter combo but Holzken just gets out of the way.

La Bor moves into the clinch.
Holzken drops to a knee looking for a takedown but La Bor gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Manuel La Bor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodney Holzken.
Holzken blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holzken wants a takedown.
La Bor stops a takedown attempt from Holzken.
La Bor stops a takedown attempt from Holzken.
Holzken looking for a takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by La Bor.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holzken wants to take the fight to the mat but La Bor manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Holzken is looking for a takedown.
Holzken is breathing heavily.
La Bor stops a takedown attempt from Holzken.
La Bor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Holzken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. La Bor is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
La Bor throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
La Bor lands a left hand that snaps the head of Holzken backwards.
Holzken has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. La Bor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by La Bor.
La Bor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
La Bor lands a body shot.
La Bor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from La Bor.
Holzken goes for a takedown in the clinch but La Bor prevents it.

La Bor breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holzken circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Holzken tries to counter it with a takedown but La Bor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Holzken takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Holzken swats away the attempt to clinch by La Bor.
La Bor throws a combination. Holzken tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
La Bor throws a right hand that Holzken ducks under and follows up with a left that Holzken also avoids with ease.
Holzken swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Holzken takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
La Bor misses with an uppercut.
La Bor looks to score with a jab to the body but Holzken is just out of range.
La Bor tries to clinch up but Holzken circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Bor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Holzken moves away from the strike by La Bor.
Holzken looks for a takedown but La Bor sprawls well.
La Bor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

La Bor has managed to clinch.
Holzken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. La Bor is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
La Bor presses Holzken against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
La Bor prevents the takedown attempt.
Holzken's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Holzken is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Holzken tries to score a body lock takedown but La Bor shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Holzken drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

La Bor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel La Bor dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Holzken takes a body punch but keeps moving.
La Bor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holzken can do to turn this around?
La Bor moves out of range of the strikes.
La Bor tries to clinch there but Holzken circles away.
Holzken looks like he wants to counter punch here.
La Bor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
La Bor throws a low kick, looking for Holzken's leg but Holzken calmly moves out of range.

La Bor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Holzken has La Bor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. La Bor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
La Bor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from La Bor.
Holzken tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holzken blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
La Bor throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Holzkens head.
La Bor misses with some punches.
La Bor lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Holzken drops down looking for an ankle pick but La Bor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Manuel La Bor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodney Holzken.
Holzken takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Holzken swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As Holzken backs away, La Bor returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Bor just misses with a punch to the body.
La Bor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Holzken has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
La Bor misses with a kick to the body.
La Bor throws a leg kick but Holzken moved away.
Holzken throws a looping overhand right but La Bor ducks down to avoid it.
La Bor wants to land a leg kick but Holzken is out of range.
Holzken takes one to the side of the head.
La Bor wants to land a leg kick but Holzken is out of range.
And Holzken tries to counter it with a takedown but La Bor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
La Bor's jab looks to have found its range, popping Holzken under the eye.
Manuel La Bor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circling - Holzken throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Holzken throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice body punch from La Bor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

La Bor gets a clinch.

La Bor breaks from the clinch.
La Bor tries to clinch there but Holzken circles away.
La Bor misses with a hook. Holzken ducked under it nicely.
Holzken scores with a jab. La Bor acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
La Bor with a jab.
La Bor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
La Bor throws a combination that misses

and Holzken counters with a shoot takedown. La Bor fights it but they end up in guard.
La Bor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Holzken forces his way into half guard.

Holzken seems to be working for a kimura but La Bor defends the submission attempt.
La Bor wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holzken wants to work for an arm triangle but La Bor is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
La Bor won't allow Holzken to pass to mount.
La Bor wants to get back to full guard.
Holzken tries to pass to full mount but La Bor defends it.
La Bor is looking to improve his position.

La Bor is defending against the submission attempts here by Holzken.
Holzken is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for La Bor!

Holzken has control of La Bor's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and La Bor regains control of the situation pretty easily.
La Bor is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
La Bor regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holzken passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for La Bor!
La Bor can't escape the position.
Rodney Holzken has got the better of the ground game so far.

Holzken is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but La Bor is surviving well by controlling Holzken's body position as best he can.

Holzken wants to finish this one by submission but La Bor is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Holzken.
La Bor gets back to half guard.
Holzken tries to pass the half guard into mount. La Bor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Holzken seems to be looking for submissions.
La Bor gets back to full guard.
La Bor wants to get back to his feet but Holzken is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Holzken trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel La Bor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think La Bor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel La Bor!
A victorious Manuel La Bor thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.