PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Az Hole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and IZ Kawlani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hole
vs
Kawlani

197 cm
25
247 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

193 cm
23
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Az Hole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, IZ Kawlani!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawlani scoring well with a low kick there.
Hole tries to clinch up but Kawlani circles away and keeps his distance.
Hole tries to close the distance and clinch but Kawlani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hole wants to clinch.
Hole is looking to clinch.
Hole tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hole doesn't manage to clinch there - Kawlani circles away.
Kawlani moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kawlani avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hole fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kawlani, pushing him back against the cage.
Hole misses with a knee to the head.
Hole fails to pull guard.
Hole with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kawlani tries to pull guard but Hole holds him up against the cage and eventually Kawlani drops back down to his feet.
Hole tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kawlani just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hole tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kawlani lands with a left to the head.
Kawlani on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hole wants to get back to striking at distance but Kawlani won't allow it.

Hole pulls guard.
Kawlani sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawlani working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kawlani trying to control but Hole is working from the bottom.
Kawlani is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kawlani tries to free his leg and advance position but Hole is retaining full guard.
Kawlani trying to control the position from guard on top but Hole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Kawlani clinches up against the cage.
Kawlani tries for a takedown. No joy.

Hole jumps guard and drags Kawlani to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hole keeping full guard, as Kawlani tries to pass.
Kawlani won't allow Hole to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawlani wants to control from the top but Hole keeps moving.
Hole wants to stand up but Kawlani is controlling him.
Kawlani forces his way into half guard.
Hole is trying to stand back up but Kawlani is controlling him
Hole is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hole trying to control from the bottom.

That's four 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kawlani.
Az Hole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of IZ Kawlani.
A head kick misses from Hole.
Kawlani fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kawlani looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kawlani looks gassed!
Kawlani swats away the attempt to clinch by Hole.
Hole looks to clinch

and Kawlani counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hole is trying to control the position but Kawlani postures up.
Hole wants to stand but Kawlani is controlling the position.
Hole keeping moving, preventing Kawlani from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

IZ Kawlani dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hole clinches but Kawlani breaks the clinch

and Kawlani counters with a shoot takedown. Hole fights it but they end up in guard.
Hole trying to keep a closed guard but Kawlani is proving a slippery customer.
Hole wants to stand but Kawlani is controlling the position.
Kawlani preventing the sweep.
Kawlani content to stall in guard here.
Kawlani is pushing down on Hole's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hole is fighting to maintain full guard but Kawlani has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kawlani scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kawlani thows a huge punch but Hole dodges it nicely.
Hole wants to get back to his feet.
Kawlani controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hole tries to get to full guard but Kawlani has control of the leg.
Hole trying to hold on to Kawlani's head to control him but Kawlani postures up.

That's two 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.
Kawlani thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hole's head.
Hole is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kawlani seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hole does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kawlani circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kawlani counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hole!
Kawlani looking to ground and pound but Hole is blocking nicely.
Kawlani trying to control but Hole is having none of it.
Kawlani is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hole avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kawlani.
Kawlani controlling his opponent.
Hole wants to try and get back to his feet.
Kawlani sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Hole slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Kawlani missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hole tries to kick Kawlani off but Kawlani keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hole is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kawlani prevents Hole from standing back up.

Hole manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Hole tries to clinch

and Kawlani counters with a takedown into side control.
Hole struggling a bit here.
Hole is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

IZ Kawlani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kawlani shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hole but Hole pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hole moves in looking to clinch but Kawlani pushes him off.
A solid body kick from Kawlani.
Kawlani fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hole avoids it really well and circles away.

Kawlani clinches up with Hole and pushes him back against the cage.
Kawlani has Hole pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hole manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Az Hole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of IZ Kawlani.
Kawlani tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hole smiles and moves away.
Hole connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like IZ Kawlani has been cut.
Hole wants to clinch but Kawlani slips to the side
and Kawlani counters with a nice uppercut.
Hole tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawlani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hole is looking to clinch.
Kawlani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hole is looking to clinch but Kawlani is avoiding it.
Hole wants to clinch up but Kawlani keeps it at a distance.
Az Hole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawlani keeps the fight on the outside.
Hole fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hole is looking to clinch but Kawlani is avoiding it.

Hole rushes Kawlani and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kawlani is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hole gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kawlani gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hole.
Knees to the body from Hole.
Hole scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kawlani tries for a takedown but Hole manages to get underhooks.
Hole connects with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hole.
A knee to the head by Hole.
Hole holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hole lands a knee to the head.
Hole wants to stall.
Hole connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kawlani's face.
Az Hole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hole utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hole tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hole tries a knee to the head but Kawlani blocks it.
Hole drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kawlani gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hole lands a knee to the head.
Hole jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kawlani walks away with a smile on his face. Hole gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kawlani moves into the clinch.

Hole breaks the clinch.
Hole tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kawlani counters with a nice leg kick.
Kawlani misses with a few strikes there.
Hole tries to clinch but Kawlani moves away

and Kawlani counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hole lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kawlani backwards.
Hole trying to land knees to the body.
Hole scores with a shoulder strike.
Kawlani tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hole just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kawlani wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hole has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Hole on the inside.
Kawlani takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kawlani tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hole just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hole pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hole wants to clinch but Kawlani slips to the side
letting Kawlani counter with a right hand.
Kawlani circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hole closes the distance but Kawlani moves to the side

so Kawlani counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kawlani wants to control from the top but Hole keeps moving.
Hole wants to get back to his feet but Kawlani is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Hole uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hole lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Kawlani shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hole's guard.
Hole is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kawlani trying to control but Hole is working from the bottom.
Hole wants to stand but Kawlani is controlling the position.
IZ Kawlani is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hole striking off his back but it's not causing Kawlani any problems.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Az Hole.
I think Kawlani 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... IZ Kawlani!