PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Flo Holl (ranked 926 p4p, 498 weight class) and Charlie River (ranked 73 p4p, 41 weight class). River is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Waylon Jennings - I've Always Been Crazy. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Holl
vs
River

178 cm
29
145
14 - 9 - 1

170 cm
34
142
34 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

NARCOS

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 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Flo Holl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 22 - 1, fighting out of New York, Charlie River!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holl fails in his attempt to clinch.
Holl throws a good cross that connects.
River thumps Holl with a low kick.
River slips under a jab.
River blocks the body kick.
Holl throws out a powerful jab.
River gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Holl.
River swats away the attempt to clinch by Holl.
Holl scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
River throws a hook but Holl avoids it easily.
Holl has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Holl misses with a kick to the body.
Nice body punch from River.
We've been informed that River has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Danga de danga de dang - River scores with a four punch combination!
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!
River slips a jab from Holl.
River scores with a nice head shot.
Holl is looking to clinch but River is avoiding it.
River throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Holl sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from River.
Holl cracks River with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Holl throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holl swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Holl fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with River, pushing him back against the cage.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Holl is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holl landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Holl keeps control of River as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Holl misses with a punch to the body.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

River pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holl waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract River.
River is looking to land body kicks.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Holl moves away from the strike by River.
An attempted straight right counter from Holl misses the target.
River steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Holl.
River throws the left hand but Holl avoids the punch easily.
Holl sizes up River with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holl lands a jab to River's midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
River tries to move into range but Holl moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Holl scores with a crisp jab that stopped River in his tracks.
Holl blocks a head kick by River.
Holl throws a right hand that misses
and River counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

River closes the distance and clinches.
Holl landing knees to the body.
A short right from Holl.
A right hand to the body from Holl.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Holl's elbow.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from River fails to land.
Nice elbow from Holl.
River misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Holl throws an elbow but misses.
A hook to the body from Holl.
A short body shot lands from Holl as the two fighters clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Holl.
River looks winded!
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Holl's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Holl tries a body shot but River blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holl.
Holl lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Holl lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Charlie River has been cut.
River lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
River avoiding damage as Holl throws knees to the body.
River lands with a short shot to the head.
Holl prevents a body shot from River.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Holl as River tries to tie him up.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holl.
Holl working River over with knees to the body.
River lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holl tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Holl controls the action.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knees to the body from Holl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holl lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Holl creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through River's defenses.
Holl has a couple of punches blocked by River.
Holl struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
River misses with a body punch.
River working aggressively here.
Holl tries to land a knee to the head but River blocks with his arms.
Holl pushes River back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Holl blocking some punches.
Holl throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but River blocks it with crossed arms.
River scores with a nice hook to the head.
River working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from River.
Holl throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rivers head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
River throws a punch but it's blocked by Holl.
River blocks a body shot from Holl.
River takes a shot to the head.
River takes a knee right on the jaw!

River breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Flo Holl dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Charlie River's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

River tries a head kick but it misses.
Holl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but River paws at him with a jab and circles away.
River takes one to the side of the head.
River throws a shot from downtown. Holl moves away and avoids it.
River tries a head kick but it misses.
Holl just misses with a punch to the body.
River is trying to counter with his kicks.
River circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holl throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Holl moves in looking to clinch but River pushes him off.
River throws a shot from downtown. Holl moves away and avoids it.
Flo Holl is winning the standup battle so far.
River misses the jab.
Holl throws an overhand right that lands on River's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holl moves away.
As River backs away, Holl returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A leg kick checked by River.
A looping hook to the body misses from River. Holl does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holl swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Holl lands a high kick!
River walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Holl checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Holl lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holl looks to land a left hand but River moved out of range nicely.
River lands a jab.
River throws a sloppy head kick and Holl moves out of range easily.
Holl scores with a kick to the midsection.
Holl connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
River tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Holl is able to avoid easily.
Holl is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that River can do to turn this around?
Holl connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Holl lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Holl keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
River misses with a leg kick.
Holl has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Holl turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

River has taken the fight to the clinch.
Holl tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Holl's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Holl tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holl working aggressively here.
River lands a body punch in the clinch.
River is looking to break free of the clinch but Holl has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

River's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Holl is looking to clinch but River is avoiding it.
River swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Holl tries to clinch up.
A nice side step and River releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Holl moves in looking to clinch but River pushes him off.
River throws a hook to the side of Holl's head but Holl sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Holl throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
River misses with an uppercut. Holl saw that one coming.
Holl lands with a nice body punch.

Holl gets in close and instigates a clinch.
River takes a knee to the side of the body.
Still in the clinch, Holl scores with a nice short uppercut.
Holl blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Holl - that landed with a thud.
River managing to block the knees to the body from Holl.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holl makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knees to the body from Holl.
River takes an elbow to the forehead.
Holl pushes off an throws an elbow but River leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Holl swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Holl working aggressively here.
Holl landing knees to the head.
Holl can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
River blocks a body shot from Holl.
River makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.
River misses with a punch to the body.
River digs a right hand underneath Holl's ribcage. Holl let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A left hand lands to the body for River.

River manages to break the clinch.
Holl throws out a loose jab but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Holl takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
River checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from River.
River takes a swing at Holl's ribcage but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holl throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
River misses with a looping right.
River on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
River misses the jab.
River swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
River throws a chopping leg kick but Holl manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
River jabs Holl to the body, keeping him at a distance.
River misses with an uppercut.

Holl closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Holl lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, River creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Holl lands an elbow just above River 's eye.
Holl throws a knee to the head but misses.
River tries to work over Holl's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Flo Holl will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Charlie River's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Holl fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with River, pushing him back against the cage.
Holl with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Holl.
Holl misses with some punches.
A body shot lands from River.
Holl looking to throw knees to the head but River is blocking nicely.
With the fighters up against the cage, Holl throws an elbow but misses.
River is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
River digs a right hand into Holl's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Holl's gas tank.
River lands with a short shot to the head.
River softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
River lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
River scores with a nice hook to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on River - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Holl tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
River is working Holl over against the cage.
Flo Holl has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holl.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
River prevents a body shot from Holl.
Holl working River over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

River pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
River looks to land a body kick but Holl moved away.
River digs a good hook to Holl's body.
Holl pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Holl scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
River has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Holl.
River throws a leg kick but Holl checks it.
A low kick lands for Holl.
River lands with a right hand.
River ducks under a wild hook from Holl.
Holl looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
River throws a nice outside leg kick.
Holl slips under a jab from River.
River throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Holl sees it coming and avoids it easily.
River misses with a body kick.
River connects with a leg kick.

Holl has closed the distance and engaged River in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holl comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Holl lands a good knee to the midsection. River won't want to take too many of those.
Holl throws an elbow but it misses.
Knees to the body from Holl.
Knees in the clinch landing for Holl.
River takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
Holl lands a shot to the body.
Holl struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
River tries to work over Holl's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Holl working River over with knees to the body.
River has a couple of punches blocked by Holl.
Holl is stalling here.
Holl landing knees to the head.
Holl prevents a body shot from River.
River throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
River misses with a body punch.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Charlie River has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flo Holl is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holl tries a body shot but River blocks it.
Holl prevents a body shot from River.
Holl throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Holl prevents a body shot from River.
River works on Holl's body with a couple of short punches.
Holl blocks an uppercut.
River lands a hook that snaps the head of Holl backwards.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
River presses Holl against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Holl misses with some punches.
Holl makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holl.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Holl's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
River misses with the head strike.
River working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A body shot lands from River.
River lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
River misses with the head strike.
Holl lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Holl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from River.
Holl is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. River is defending well for now.
Holl blocks an uppercut.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Holl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charlie River.
I think Holl 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flo Holl!
After winning the bout, Flo Holl thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.