PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodger Holland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuriorkis Gamboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuriorkis Gamboa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Holland
vs
Gamboa

181 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Rodger Holland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yuriorkis Gamboa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holland tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gamboa swivels and escapes.
Holland shoots for a double leg takedown but Gamboa sprawls well. He's pushed Holland's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Gamboa drives through with a takedown into guard.

Holland uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Holland gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Gamboa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Holland has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gamboa has managed to get both his arms back between Holland's legs - danger averted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holland pulls Gamboa in close to prevent any damage.
Holland controls Gamboa momentarily but Gamboa frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamboa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holland working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gamboa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gamboa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gamboa stopping the sweep attempt from Holland.
Gamboa stops Holland from standing up.
Gamboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Holland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holland is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gamboa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gamboa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gamboa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Holland back to the cage. Gamboa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Rodger Holland has been cut.

Gamboa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gamboa lands in his opponent's guard.

Holland is rocked!
Gamboa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Oh Holland is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Gamboa is trying to work for a kimura but Holland is defending well.
Holland seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gamboa looks winded!

Gamboa escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gamboa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Holland to the mat! Holland manages to get full guard.

Holland pushes Gamboa off and scrambles back to his feet.
Gamboa avoids the head kick by Holland.
Holland looks for a takedown but Gamboa sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodger Holland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gamboa moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Holland's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gamboa manages to break the clinch.
Gamboa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Holland swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Gamboa moves into the clinch.

Gamboa manages to break the clinch.

Gamboa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Holland sprawls well initially but Gamboa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gamboa is trying to control. Holland wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Holland is doing well to control the position and prevent Gamboa from advancing to side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gamboa is looking to take a break and control but Holland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gamboa throwing shots but Holland is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuriorkis Gamboa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodger Holland's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gamboa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Holland did well to prevent Gamboa getting side control.
Holland wants to get back to his feet.
Gamboa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Holland trying to control from the bottom.
Holland is looking to escape.
Holland trying to hold on to Gamboa's head to control him but Gamboa postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Holland looking for a kimura from the bottom but Gamboa passes into side control!

Gamboa decides to stand back up. Gamboa steps back and let's Holland get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamboa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A swing and a miss from Holland.

Gamboa closes the distance and clinches.
Holland tries to circle away but Gamboa has him pinned against the cage.

Gamboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Holland closes the distance and clinches.
Holland wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gamboa has him pressed against the cage.

Gamboa is fighting off a takedown attempt but Holland is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gamboa to the mat. Gamboa regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holland trying to control but Gamboa is working from the bottom.
Gamboa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Holland. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gamboa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holland doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holland manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holland cracks Gamboa with a solid left hand.
Holland preventing the sweep.
Gamboa is looking to stand up but Holland isn't so interested in that idea.
Holland throws a big elbow that misses.
Holland postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holland shoots in looking for a takedown. Gamboa tries to sprawl out of it but Holland keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gamboa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Gamboa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short body shot lands from Gamboa as the two fighters clinch.
Gamboa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Holland is looking to break free of the clinch but Gamboa has double underhooks.

Gamboa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gamboa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gamboa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Holland throwing strikes from guard but Gamboa blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamboa seems keen to control Holland's posture.
Gamboa controls Holland momentarily but Holland frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holland landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuriorkis Gamboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodger Holland's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Gamboa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gamboa is looking to advance position but Holland has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Holland lands with some strikes.

Gamboa defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Holland.
Gamboa is looking to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gamboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holland controlling from the full mount.
Gamboa working to try and regain half guard.
Gamboa wants to hold on but Holland pushes him away.

Holland swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gamboa is now in Holland's guard. A big mistake from Holland there, giving up the dominant position!

Gamboa stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gamboa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Holland working for a triangle but Gamboa defends it easily.
Gamboa trying to control but Holland is working from the bottom.

Holland is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gamboa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gamboa throws a head kick that misses

and Holland counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Holland.

Holland turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Holland manages to end up in side control.
Gamboa bucks up and tries to throw Holland off but instead Holland has got his back!
Rodger Holland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gamboa defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gamboa manages to reverse the position and now he's in Holland's guard. Nice work there by Gamboa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamboa stays in close to Holland's body and controls the position.
Gamboa looking to sit in guard and control but Holland gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gamboa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Holland scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gamboa working a defensive guard here.
Rodger Holland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yuriorkis Gamboa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Holland stands up over Gamboa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodger Holland showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gamboa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuriorkis Gamboa!