PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carson Holliday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Leone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holliday kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Andreas Johnson - Glorious. Leone comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mama Said Knock You Out kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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?

Holliday
vs
Leone

190 cm
19
179 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
176 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Carson Holliday!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Leone!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leone gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Holliday to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Leone is looking to stand up but Holliday isn't so interested in that idea.
Leone keeping moving, preventing Holliday from controlling successfully.
Holliday connects with a couple of short punches.

Holliday thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Holliday has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Holliday wants to control from the top but Leone keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holliday drops back looking for a leg! Leone is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Leone manages to kick Holliday off! Holliday jumps back into Leone's guard.
Leone is looking to stand up but Holliday isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Leone closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Leone slips a nice elbow through Holliday's hands, connecting with Holliday's forehead.
Holliday is looking to improve his position.

Leone is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Holliday doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leone.
Leone looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holliday is trying to control but can't.

Leone wants to work for an arm triangle but Holliday is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Leone is looking to pass Holliday's guard but actually Holliday recovers to full guard.

Holliday has his foot on Leone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leone works his way back into a safe position though.

Holliday is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leone wants to stand and escape but instead Holliday has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holliday trying to control but Leone is working from the bottom.
Leone wants to stand but Holliday is controlling the position.
Leone looks gassed!
Holliday connects with a couple of short punches.
Holliday is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Leone is looking to stand up but Holliday isn't so interested in that idea.

Leone looking for subs off his back but Holliday has passed one foot through into half guard.
Holliday landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holliday is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Holliday wants to take a breather but Leone is having none of it.
Holliday missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holliday works his way into full mount!
Holliday takes Leone's back.
Leone is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carson Holliday dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Holliday shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Holliday is keen to just control but Leone is a slippery customer.
Leone wants to stand back up but Holliday manages to pass into side control.
Holliday is trying to ground and pound but Leone uses the momentary lack of control by Holliday to regain half guard.

Holliday is looking for a kimura but Leone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Holliday to get the leverage.

Holliday is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Leone has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leone is trying to stand.
Leone is breathing heavily.
Leone punching from the bottom.
Leone is trying to stand up here but Holliday is controlling him well.
Holliday is trying to control the action in half guard but Leone is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Holliday is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Leone is trying to stand up here but Holliday is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Leone works his way to full guard. Good work.
Leone wants to stand and escape but Holliday is having none of it.
Holliday trying to control but Leone is working from the bottom.
Holliday slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Leone keeping moving, preventing Holliday from controlling successfully.
Holliday slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holliday is trying to get an arm triangle but Leone is defending well.
Leone is pushing Holliday's head away, looking to escape. Holliday manages to hold on to the position though.

Holliday tries for a kimura but Leone is defending well.

Holliday tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Holliday working away.
Carson Holliday overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leone managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Holliday.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Holliday tries for a kimura but Leone is defending well.
Leone tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Holliday is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Leone has escaped the position, nice work there.
Leone wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carson Holliday dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leone misses with a takedown attempt

and Holliday counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leone!
Leone has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Holliday is looking for the choke from the back position but Leone is controlling his hands well.
Holliday keeps control of the position as Leone tries to break free.
Holliday biding his time, looking for the opening.

Holliday is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Leone is defending well though. Holliday let's go of the attempt for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leone controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday is hanging on to Leone's back as he tries to escape.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Holliday.

Holliday is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Leone is defending well though. Holliday let's go of the attempt for now.
Leone is in bad spot here.

Leone is trying to defend against the choke here but Holliday has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Holliday Tightens the hold and Leone taps out furiously! Holliday displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Carson Holliday!
Carson Holliday retains his welterweight title!