PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buck Holdren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Saki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saki has chosen Ramble On -- Led Zepplin as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Holdren
vs
Saki

191 cm
27
273 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

200 cm
25
282 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

BALCO MMA ELITE
Balco Boys Battle Gear

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Buck Holdren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roberto Saki!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holdren tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Holdren misses with a leg kick
and Saki counters with a left to the body.
Holdren lands a jab to the nose.
Holdren misses with a left hand

and Saki counters with a single leg into guard. Holdren didn't expect that.
Holdren keeping full guard, as Saki tries to pass.
Holdren on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Holdren tries to get out of the position.
Holdren wants to sweep but no luck.
Saki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Holdren looking to control.
Saki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Saki wants to control from the top but Holdren keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holdren dodges the punch combination from Saki.
Holdren lands with a straight right. Saki didn't see that one coming.
Holdren keeps the fight on the outside.
Holdren lands a head kick. Saki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Saki fails with a takedown attempt.
Holdren connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holdren throws a sloppy head kick and Saki moves out of range easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Holdren.
Holdren closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Holdren counters with a nice low kick that buckles Saki's knee momentarily.
Holdren throws the kick towards the body but Saki avoids it.
Holdren feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Saki's calf.
Saki looks gassed!

Holdren gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Saki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holdren swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Holdren tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki postures up.
Holdren looking to control but Saki passes into half guard.

Saki is working for a kimura but Holdren is defending it quite comfortably.
Holdren blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saki.
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.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Holdren is staying active underneath Saki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Holdren is in trouble now - Saki has advanced to mount!

Saki jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Holdren is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Holdren and Saki has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Holdren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saki on the ground.
Holdren tries to bench press Saki off him but Saki keeps the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saki tries to move into full mount but can't pass Holdren's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buck Holdren dominated that round.
That's time! Holdren's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Saki.
Holdren throws an off balance right hand

and Saki counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Holdren!
Holdren working to try and regain half guard.
Holdren tries to lock up and control but Saki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Saki tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Saki advances nicely into full mount.
Saki wants to control the pace but Holdren is squirming around nicely.

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.
Saki looking to finish with strikes here!
Saki misses with a head shot.
Holdren really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Saki lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Saki controlling the pace for now.
Saki thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Holdren is squirming around, avoiding Saki's attempts to control the action.

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.

Saki looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Holdren is squirming around, avoiding Saki's attempts to control the action.
Saki landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Saki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Saki. Those never looked like landing.
Holdren throws a leg kick

and Saki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Holdren's guard now.
Saki trying to control but Holdren is working from the bottom.
Saki looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saki wants to control from the top but Holdren keeps moving.
Saki pushes down on Holdren's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki is trying to control the action in half guard but Holdren is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saki is just content to waste time from the top position. Holdren takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Saki trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Holdren manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Saki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Holdren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saki is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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.

Saki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Holdren postures up.
Saki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holdren is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holdren decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saki, up you get!
Saki thuds his right hand into Holdren's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Saki ducks under a wild hook from Holdren.
Buck Holdren is winning the standup battle so far.
Holdren misses with a body kick.
Saki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Holdren but Holdren pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A shot to the body from Holdren misses
and Saki counters with a head kick.
Saki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Holdren counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Saki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saki tries for a takedown but Holdren circles away easily
and Holdren counters with a body kick that stops Saki in his tracks momentarily.
Buck Holdren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Saki.
Holdren throws a right and a left that both miss.
Holdren goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Holdren lands a nice looking kick to the body. Saki takes a step back to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saki takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Holdren scores with a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Holdren feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Saki's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buck Holdren showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Holdren has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buck Holdren!