PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Holiday (ranked 2548 p4p, 25448 weight class) and Makoa Iona (ranked 330 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Holiday
vs
Iona

193 cm
25
197
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
195
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryan Holiday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Makoa Iona!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holiday tries a low kick but Iona avoids it.
Iona looks to land a right hand but Holiday moved out of range.
It looked like Holiday wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Iona tries for a takedown but Holiday sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Holiday uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Iona.
It looked like Holiday was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Iona.
Iona throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Holiday's waist but Holiday gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Iona off to one side.
Iona tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Holiday cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iona misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Holiday connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Iona stuns Holiday with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Iona looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Holiday throws a jab but it's blocked by Iona.
Iona tries to score a power double leg takedown but Holiday sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Iona somewhat.
Ryan Holiday has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makoa Iona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iona looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holiday is fending him off so far but Iona persists. Nope, Holiday circles away and we're back to standing.
Holiday went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Holiday misses with an uppercut. Iona saw that one coming.
Holiday displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Iona.
Holiday is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Iona wants to clinch.
Iona with a poor takedown
and Holiday counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice takedown defense from Holiday. No joy for Iona on that attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Iona.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iona throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Holiday.
Holiday swinging wildly here.
Iona is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Holiday misses with a hook. Iona ducked under it nicely.
Iona steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Holiday.
Iona tries to score a power double leg takedown but Holiday sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Iona somewhat.
Holiday definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Holiday feints a jab promting Iona to slip. Holiday then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Iona slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holiday wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Iona misses with a takedown attempt
and Holiday cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Holiday misses with an uppercut. Iona saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Iona looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Holiday wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Iona fails with the takedown
and Holiday counters with a nice uppercut.
Some bone on bone action there as Iona checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Iona replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Holiday blocks it well.
Iona keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Holiday.
Holiday blocks a head kick by Iona.
A little feinted left hand from Holiday on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iona wants to clinch up but Holiday keeps it at a distance.
Iona with a poor takedown
and Iona takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Makoa Iona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Iona looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holiday is fending him off so far but Iona persists. Nope, Holiday circles away and we're back to standing.
Holiday misses with a combination

and Iona moves into the clinch.

Iona breaks the clinch.
Iona throws a body punch but Holiday moves out of range.
Holiday misses with a few strikes there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holiday swings for the body but Iona moves out of range.
Iona tries to counter by closing the distance.
Iona doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Iona forces Holiday back against the cage and clinches.
Iona has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Holiday after a bit of a struggle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Holiday dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Iona fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Holiday, pushing him back against the cage.
Holiday fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Holiday lands a left hand that snaps the head of Iona backwards.
Iona jumps guard but Holiday stands there with Iona around his waist. Iona gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Holiday scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Holiday has Iona pressed against the cage.
Holiday fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Holiday on the inside.
Holiday taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holiday misses with a hook from the clinch.

Iona breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Iona shoots in looking for a takedown. Holiday tries to sprawl out of it but Iona keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Holiday manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Holiday throws a big counter combination but Iona scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holiday changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Iona fails with an attempt to clinch.
Holiday 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.
Holiday lands a body shot.
Holiday lands with a right hand.

Iona forces Holiday back against the cage and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holiday.
Holiday stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Holiday misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holiday lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Holiday has Iona pushed against the cage.
Holiday working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Holiday takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Holiday working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holiday.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holiday.
Iona tries to pull guard but Holiday forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ryan Holiday has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makoa Iona.
Iona is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Holiday is defending well.
Holiday swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Iona letting Holiday take a breather here.
Holiday lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holiday working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Iona tries to circle away but Holiday has him pinned against the cage.
Holiday is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Iona can do to turn this around?
Iona jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Holiday walks away with a smile on his face. Iona gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Holiday pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A leg kick checked by Iona.

Holiday cracks Iona with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Holiday has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Iona to stand back up!

Iona is rocked!
Ryan Holiday is winning the standup battle so far.
Iona fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Iona is still on wobbly legs! Can Holiday finish him?
Holiday drops a shoulder and throws a monster hook that connects perfectly to the side of Iona's head, knocking him out cold! Holiday is extatic as he celebrates with his cornermen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ryan Holiday!