PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zaka Cal (ranked 23465 p4p, 4566 weight class) and James Hollow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cal
vs
Hollow

190 cm
24
145
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
154
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zaka Cal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Hollow!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cal feints and then cracks Hollow's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hollow down.
Hollow fails with the takedown
and Cal counters with a good low kick that Hollow was not able to check.
James Hollow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hollow walks into a straight right hand from Cal.
Cal is looking to slow Hollow down with leg kicks.
Cal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cal really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hollow takes the fight into the clinch.

Hollow pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hollow misses with a wild combination.
Cal seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hollow shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cal defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hollow shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hollow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cal looking to control.
Hollow's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hollow stopping the sweep attempt from Cal.
Hollow controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollow looking to pass the guard.
Hollow stays in close to Cal's body and controls the position.
Hollow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cal is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cal tries to land a body kick

and Hollow counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hollow controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hollow stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Hollow shoots in but Cal avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zaka Cal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Hollow.
Hollow closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cal circles away.
Cal throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cal punishes Hollow's body with a nice straight punch.
Cal is looking to clinch but Hollow is avoiding it.
Cal throws a leg kick but Hollow sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cal moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Hollow looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cal!
Hollow controlling the position from side mount.
Hollow's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hollow advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hollow sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Hollow 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.

Hollow has his takedown stuffed
and Cal counters with a nice body shot.
Cal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hollow avoids it really well and circles away.
Cal throws a right and a left that Hollow avoids nicely.
Zaka Cal is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hollow or perhaps it was just good defense by Cal, which made it look bad.

Cal moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hollow tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zaka Cal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Hollow.
Cal wants to break free but Hollow has control.

Hollow jumps guard and drags Cal to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hollow holds on and takes a little breather.
Cal will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hollow looking for a sweep. Not yet Hollow, not yet.
Hollow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cal.
Cal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hollow looking for a sweep. Not yet Hollow, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hollow working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cal has passed into half guard!
Hollow is looking for a sweep. Cal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cal is trying to control. Hollow wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hollow shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hollow dodges the punch combination from Cal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollow closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cal circles away.
Cal throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hollow counters with a one-two to the body.
Cal fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hollow shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hollow was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Hollow decides to stand back up.
Cal slaps away a takedown attempt from Hollow, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cal throws a big counter combination but Hollow scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cal throws a leg kick

and Hollow counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cal kicks off Hollow and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cal throws a leg kick that is checked

so Hollow counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Cal is rocked!
Hollow controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Oh Cal is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cal seems to have got his legs back now.
Hollow tries to free his leg and advance position but Cal is retaining full guard.

Hollow drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cal manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hollow has Cal in his guard.

James Hollow has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cal takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zaka Cal dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hollow shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cal sprawls well. Cal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hollow gets slowly back to his feet.
Cal is looking for a counter combo.
Hollow throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cal counters by moving into the clinch.

Hollow has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cal uses from the top position.
Hollow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hollow manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cal manages to get himself to full guard.

Cal wants to get back to his feet but Hollow passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hollow seems to be working for a kimura but Cal defends the submission attempt.
Hollow controlling the pace.
Cal is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hollow jumps into side control!

Hollow decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cal tries to clinch but Hollow moves away

and Hollow counters with a shoot takedown. Cal fights it but they end up in guard.
Cal being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cal trying to keep a closed guard but Hollow is proving a slippery customer.

Hollow stands and steps away. Cal gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cal misses with a leg kick

and Hollow counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hollow lands a nice short elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hollow perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollow working over Cal with some ground and pound. Cal looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Well, if Hollow is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hollow is continuing to stall.

That's four 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.
Hollow passes to full mount!
Hollow controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hollow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hollow 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Hollow!