PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Holden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thien Nakuratata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thien Nakuratata acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Holden
vs
Nakuratata

173 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
27
160 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Holden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Thien Nakuratata!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakuratata tries to clinch but Holden moves away
and Holden counters with a straight right hand.
Nakuratata wants to clinch
enabling Holden to counter with a crisp jab.
Nakuratata closes the distance but Holden moves to the side
and Holden counters with a stiff right hand.
Nakuratata tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Holden counters with a straight right hand.
Nakuratata moves to clinch but Holden breaks away
and Holden counters with a straight right hand.
Nakuratata tries to clinch but Holden moves away
and Holden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nakuratata closes the distance but Holden moves to the side
and Holden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nakuratata closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nakuratata takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakuratata tries to clinch up
and Holden counters with a straight right hand.
Nakuratata tries to clinch but Holden moves away
and Holden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nakuratata takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nakuratata wants to clinch

and Holden counters with a single leg into guard. Nakuratata didn't expect that.
Holden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakuratata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Holden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Holden forces his way into half guard.
Holden thows a huge punch but Nakuratata dodges it nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nakuratata can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nakuratata keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holden is pressing down on Nakuratata's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nakuratata is holding on for now.
Holden thows a huge punch but Nakuratata dodges it nicely.
Holden throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Holden throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nakuratata tries to kick Holden off but Holden keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nakuratata keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Holden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holden not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Holden tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nakuratata knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nakuratata avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Holden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holden slips a nice elbow through Nakuratata's hands, connecting with Nakuratata's forehead.
Holden is taking a breather. Nakuratata says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Holden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nakuratata looks gassed!
Holden trying to pass the guard but Nakuratata defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Holden connects with a nice short shot to Nakuratata's temple.
Holden is nestled in close to Nakuratata, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Holden 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nakuratata taking some punishment here, with Holden in his half guard.
Holden is taking a breather. Nakuratata says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Holden throwing shots but Nakuratata is blocking nicely.
Holden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Holden thows a huge punch but Nakuratata dodges it nicely.
Holden throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nakuratata tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Holden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nakuratata's guard.
Holden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holden is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nakuratata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holden is looking to work some ground and pound but Nakuratata has wrist control.
Holden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nakuratata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nakuratata is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holden trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakuratata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holden is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nakuratata is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Holden throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holden thows a big elbow that misses.
Nakuratata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holden throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nakuratata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Holden keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nakuratata's head.
Holden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holden is looking to work some ground and pound but Nakuratata has wrist control.
Holden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Holden advances to half guard.
Holden thows a huge punch but Nakuratata dodges it nicely.
Nakuratata is not content to let Holden control the position.
Holden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden is nestled in close to Nakuratata, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Holden connects with a nice short shot to Nakuratata's temple.
Nakuratata keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Holden lands strikes from half guard.
Holden is trying to control the action in half guard but Nakuratata is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Holden is nestled in close to Nakuratata, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Holden thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Holden looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Holden throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nakuratata has hold of Holden's hands but Holden slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Holden thows a huge punch but Nakuratata dodges it nicely.
Holden thows a huge punch but Nakuratata dodges it nicely.
Holden throwing shots but Nakuratata is blocking nicely.
Holden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Holden thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nakuratata's head.
Holden landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Holden missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Holden dominated that second round.
That's time! Holden's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Holden scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Holden tries to score with some ground and pound. Nakuratata controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Holden.
Holden landing a few strikes.
Holden lands a decent elbow from side control.
Holden throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Nakuratata works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Holden moves into full mount! Nakuratata won't be happy about that!
Holden looking to finish Nakuratata with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nakuratata!
Nakuratata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holden postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nakuratata looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Holden cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Holden lands a big elbow.
Holden fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The referee warns Nakuratata that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Holden pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Nakuratata is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holden postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Nakuratata badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Holden around the waist but Holden pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Holden is the winner by TKO! Holden jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nathan Holden!