PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lula DeSilva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lula DeSilva had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

DeSilva
vs
Holt

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lula DeSilva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Holt!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from DeSilva.
Holt is on the wrong end of a nice combination from DeSilva.

It looks like Steve Holt has been cut.
Holt takes a swing at DeSilva's ribcage but misses.
DeSilva misses with a straight right.
DeSilva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
DeSilva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Holt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
DeSilva misses with a wild body shot.
DeSilva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
DeSilva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holt moves away from the strike by DeSilva.
DeSilva misses with a wild combination.
Holt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Holt uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from DeSilva.
DeSilva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
DeSilva throws a hook to the side of Holt's head but Holt sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSilva misses with a jab, cross combination.
DeSilva clobbers Holt with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
DeSilva fails to land with a series of punches.
Holt fails with an attempt to clinch.
DeSilva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Holt moves into the clinch.
DeSilva working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Holt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. DeSilva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lula DeSilva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Holt.
DeSilva can't break the clinch.

DeSilva manages to break the clinch.
Holt punishes DeSilva's body with a nice straight punch.
DeSilva jabbing away but nothing is landing.

DeSilva gets caught flat footed, as Holt shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
DeSilva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Holt controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holt stopping the sweep attempt from DeSilva.
DeSilva trying to strike off his back.
DeSilva seems keen to control Holt's posture.
DeSilva keeping moving, preventing Holt from controlling successfully.

DeSilva pushes Holt off and gets back to his feet.
Holt moves out of range of the strikes.
Jab from DeSilva.

Holt shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Holt was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Holt is landing with some decent strikes but DeSilva is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Holt trying to control but DeSilva is having none of it.
DeSilva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
DeSilva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Holt controlling from the full mount.
Holt's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
DeSilva is working to get back to half guard.
Holt tries to control but DeSilva wriggling away.
DeSilva can't escape the position.
Holt controlling the pace for now.
DeSilva wants to control but Holt is having none of it.
DeSilva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Holt trying to control but DeSilva is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Steve Holt just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice defenses there by Holt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steve Holt will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steve Holt's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

DeSilva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Holt slips a jab from DeSilva.
DeSilva misses with a hook.
DeSilva misses with a few strikes there.
DeSilva throws the left hand but Holt avoids the punch easily.
DeSilva looks to land a right hand but Holt moved out of range.

Holt drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Holt tries for a kimura but DeSilva is defending well.
DeSilva is working to avoid the ground and pound but Holt connects with a decent elbow.
DeSilva pushes Holt away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Holt gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
DeSilva is not content to let Holt control the position.
DeSilva seems a little lost for a moment, as Holt dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt working the ground and pound.
Holt working the ground and pound but DeSilva is defending the strikes.
DeSilva is looking for a sweep.
Holt working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

DeSilva darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Holt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Holt is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
DeSilva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Holt on the ground.
Holt is breathing heavily.
Holt trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva is trying to control the action in half guard but Holt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Holt misses with some strikes from the bottom.
DeSilva controlling the action here.
Holt is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
DeSilva misses with a jab, cross combination.

Holt shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in DeSilva's guard.
DeSilva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
DeSilva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Holt is controlling him.
Holt trying to control but DeSilva is working from the bottom.
Holt showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
DeSilva is trying to control the position but Holt postures up.
Holt stops DeSilva from standing up.
Holt controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from DeSilva does no damage.

Holt scores with a takedown into DeSilva's guard.

DeSilva uses the cage to get back to his feet.
DeSilva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
DeSilva scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt misses with a takedown attempt - DeSilva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Good shot there by DeSilva.
Holt changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. DeSilva tries to avoid it but Holt manages to keep hold of a leg and drag DeSilva to the ground. DeSilva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Holt gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Holt with a lazy takedown attempt
and DeSilva counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lula DeSilva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Holt.
Holt blocks a jab.
Holt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts DeSilva as he jumps to the side.
Holt fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A combination from DeSilva does no damage.
DeSilva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lula DeSilva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Holt looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Holt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steve Holt's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Holt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Holt doesn't succeed with the takedown

and DeSilva counters with a shoot takedown. Holt fights it but they end up in guard.
Steve Holt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Holt controls DeSilva momentarily but DeSilva frees himself.
DeSilva trying to control but Holt is working from the bottom.
Holt pulls DeSilva in to control the position.
Holt is trying to control the position but DeSilva postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
DeSilva looking to pass the guard.
DeSilva sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSilva wanted to stand there but Holt had control of the position.
Holt controlling DeSilva's posture.
Holt trying to keep a closed guard but DeSilva is proving a slippery customer.
DeSilva tries to stand but Holt is controlling from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holt tries to close the distance and clinch but DeSilva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
DeSilva misses with a two punch combination.
Holt tries to close the distance and clinch but DeSilva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
DeSilva misses with a wild combination.
DeSilva fails with an attempt to clinch.

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.
Some wild striking there from DeSilva.
Holt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Holt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lula DeSilva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Holt.
Holt with a poor takedown
and DeSilva counters with a nice uppercut.
Some wild striking there from DeSilva.
Holt gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and DeSilva counters with a nice body shot.
DeSilva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Holt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from DeSilva.
DeSilva blocks a head kick by Holt.
DeSilva moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
DeSilva misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva throws a right and a left that Holt avoids nicely.
Holt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from DeSilva.
DeSilva pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Holt closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
DeSilva seems a little lost for a moment, as Holt dominates the positioning.
DeSilva avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Holt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DeSilva is looking for a sweep.
DeSilva trying to remain calm as Holt controls from the top position.
Holt wants to take a breather but DeSilva manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Holt.
Holt won't allow DeSilva to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt is stalling in the full guard.
Holt cracks DeSilva with a solid left hand.
Holt scoring with some ground and pound.
Holt wants to control from the top but DeSilva keeps moving.
Holt slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lula DeSilva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Steve Holt just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
DeSilva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lula DeSilva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Holt 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Steve Holt!