PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between River Walken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Holtra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). River Walken looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Walken
vs
Holtra

185 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

165 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, River Walken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thiago Holtra!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holtra is looking to clinch but Walken is avoiding it.
Holtra doesn't manage to clinch there - Walken circles away.
Holtra is looking to clinch.
Walken tries to clinch there but Holtra circles away.

Walken moves into the clinch successfully.
Holtra is struggling to control the position.

Walken manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Walken lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Holtra!

Walken gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walken tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by Holtra misses

and Walken counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Holtra's guard now.
Walken will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Holtra escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Walken gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Holtra is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Walken stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holtra tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Walken counters with a shoot takedown. Holtra fights it but they end up in guard.
Holtra tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Holtra manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Walken is trying to escape the mount.
Walken is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtra tries to control but Walken wriggling away.

Holtra stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Walken is breathing heavily.

Walken has closed the distance and engaged Holtra in a clinch.

Holtra has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Walken uses from the top position.
Walken stopping the sweep attempt from Holtra.
Holtra wants to stand and escape but Walken is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walken seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Walken trying to control but Holtra is working from the bottom.

Walken drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Holtra manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Walken has Holtra in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

River Walken dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Walken fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
River Walken is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Walken is looking to land body kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Walken.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holtra tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Walken counters with a nice double leg into side control. Holtra won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walken slows the pace down.
Walken working away.
Holtra is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Walken wants to control but Holtra is keeping him busy.
Holtra is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Walken off and has taken his back!
Holtra wants to control but Walken manages to buck him off and is now in Holtra's guard! Nice work there by Walken!
Walken won't allow Holtra to sweep him here.

Holtra is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Walken defends well.
Holtra is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Walken is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtra wants to sweep here but Walken controlling him for the moment.
Walken wants to control from the top but Holtra keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holtra is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Holtra throws a sloppy head kick and Walken moves out of range easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holtra tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Walken counters with a nice low kick that buckles Holtra's knee momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

River Walken dominated that second round.
That's time! Walken's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Walken tries to clinch there but Holtra circles away.
Walken wants to clinch up but Holtra keeps it at a distance.
Walken tries to clinch up.
Walken shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holtra as he avoids it easily.
Walken tries to clinch up but Holtra circles away and keeps his distance.
River Walken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holtra wants to clinch but Walken slips to the side

and Walken counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Walken.
Walken is looking to break free of the clinch but Holtra has double underhooks.
Walken connects with a knee to the head.
Holtra misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walken avoiding damage as Holtra throws knees to the body.
Walken dodges an elbow strike from Holtra.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Walken is working for takedown but Holtra is calmly controlling the position for now.
Holtra throws an elbow that misses.
Walken takes a knee to the side of the body.
Holtra on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Holtra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holtra closes the distance looking to clinch

and Walken counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Walken has had enough of the clinch but Holtra keeps him there for the moment.
Walken can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for River Walken. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walken blocks an elbow strike.
Holtra landing knees to the head.

It looks like River Walken has been cut.

Holtra breaks from the clinch.
Holtra throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thiago Holtra is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holtra plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Walken tries to score a power double leg takedown but Holtra sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Walken somewhat.
Holtra tries to clinch
and Walken counters with a big head kick but Holtra shrugs it off.
Holtra is looking to clinch but Walken is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holtra instigates a clinch.
Holtra prevents a takedown attempt there.
Walken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Holtra with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Holtra putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Walken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Holtra trying to land knees to the body.

Holtra breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holtra looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Holtra tries to clinch but Walken is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Holtra moves into the clinch.
The referee calls for Holtra to work.
Holtra using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Walken has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Holtra misses with an elbow strike.
River Walken is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holtra stalling in the clinch.
Thiago Holtra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holtra tries to land knees in the clinch but Walken avoids the damage to the body.
Walken gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Holtra.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holtra with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Holtra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Walken 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... River Walken!