PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Schafer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Holt
vs
Schafer

183 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Holt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Keith Schafer!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schafer misses with a series of wild punches.
Schafer tries to clinch up but Holt circles away and keeps his distance.
Schafer shoots in for a takedown but Holt shows good takedown defense.
Schafer doesn't manage to clinch there - Holt circles away.
Holt keeps the fight on the outside.
Holt misses with a takedown attempt
and Schafer counters with a left and a right that stings Holt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schafer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Schafer has his takedown stuffed

and Holt counters with a shoot takedown. Schafer fights it but they end up in guard.
Schafer being controlled here, momentarily.
Schafer wants to stand up but Holt is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holt stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Holt feints and as Schafer raises his hands in defense, Holt changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Holt wants to control from the top but Schafer keeps moving.
Holt is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holt gets to his feet - Schafer follows without any prompting.
Holt with a lazy takedown attempt

and Schafer counters with a shoot takedown. Holt fights it but they end up in guard.
Holt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Holt is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Holt.
Holt is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Holt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Schafer just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Holt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Schafer breaks the clinch.
Holt misses with a wild combination.
Schafer with a lazy takedown attempt

and Holt counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Schafer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schafer can't keep his opponent in guard - Holt advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Holt trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Holt has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Holt tries to control but Schafer wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holt looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Schafer with that takedown attempt.
Holt takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Schafer closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Holt did well to prevent Schafer getting side control.

Schafer decides to return to a standing position.
Schafer bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Schafer tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Holt counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Holt is stalling in the full guard.
Holt slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Holt with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Schafer wants to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Holt wants to advance to full mount but Schafer doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Marcus Holt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schafer wants to get back to his feet but Holt is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Schafer keeping moving, preventing Holt from controlling successfully.
Holt controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Schafer for as long as he can get away with.
Holt wants to pass the guard but Schafer is keeping the position.
Holt sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Holt passes into half guard.

Holt decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Holt dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Schafer throws a hook but Holt avoids it easily.
Holt shoots in and drives through. Schafer sprawls well.

Holt shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Schafer is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Holt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Schafer is looking to escape.
Schafer tries to buck Holt off but Holt takes his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Will Holt go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Holt working for the choke.
Schafer looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

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.
Holt looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Schafer wants to get back to his feet.
Holt biding his time, looking for the opening.
Schafer is trying to get back to his feet but Holt has full control of the position and if anything, Schafer has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt biding his time, looking for the opening.
Holt punishes Schafer with strikes from the back mount.
Holt scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Schafer is looking for a way out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Schafer looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Holt working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Marcus Holt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Schafer holding both Holt 's hands and preventing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Holt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holt, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Holt!