PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Yudovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Judge Holden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Yudovich might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Zetsubou Restaurant (ZSZS ED3 Ver.). Judge Holden has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mikhail Yudovich's chin.

Yudovich
vs
Holden

185 cm
26
210 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

200 cm
24
205 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikhail Yudovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Judge Holden!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yudovich cracks Holden with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mikhail Yudovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holden walks into a straight right hand from Yudovich.
Yudovich misses the jab.
Yudovich misses with a wild body shot.
Yudovich is looking to chop away at Holden's legs.
Yudovich cracks Holden with a good jab.
Yudovich throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A low kick from Yudovich misses

and Holden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yudovich's guard now.
Yudovich working a defensive guard here.
Yudovich keeping moving, preventing Holden from controlling successfully.

Holden is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yudovich tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yudovich manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yudovich putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Holden bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Yudovich keeping full guard, as Holden tries to pass.
Yudovich looking for a sweep. Not yet Yudovich, not yet.
Holden wants to control from the top but Yudovich keeps moving.

Holden thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Holden wants to pass the guard but Yudovich is keeping the position.
Yudovich might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holden slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Holden wants to control from the top but Yudovich keeps moving.
Yudovich pulls Holden in close to prevent any damage.
Yudovich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Holden is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yudovich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden trying to control but Yudovich is working from the bottom.
Yudovich keeping full guard, as Holden tries to pass.
Yudovich pulls Holden in close to his closed guard and prevents Holden from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Judge Holden.
Yudovich misses with an uppercut
and Holden counters with a three punch combo that has Yudovich backing up. Yudovich nods at Holden to acknowledge the strikes.
Yudovich misses with an uppercut

and Holden counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Holden.
Holden wants to control from the top but Yudovich keeps moving.
Holden passes Yudovich's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Holden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yudovich does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yudovich wants to control but Holden is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Holden is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yudovich defends it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yudovich wants to control but Holden is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Holden wants to pass to mount but Yudovich is defending the position.
Yudovich is trying to maintain the position but Holden is very close to passing his half guard.
Yudovich wants to improve his position but Holden is controlling well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holden stalling.

Holden is working for a kimura but Yudovich is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Judge Holden dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yudovich throws a leg kick
letting Holden counter with a right hand.

It looks like Mikhail Yudovich has been cut.
Yudovich misses with a left hand
and Holden counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yudovich misses with a hook
enabling Holden to counter with a crisp jab.
Yudovich misses with an uppercut
and Holden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yudovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yudovich misses with a leg kick
letting Holden counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yudovich throws a chopping leg kick but Holden manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Holden takes one on the button.
Yudovich throws a lazy uppercut
and Holden counters with a stiff right hand.
Yudovich swings widly with a right hand
and Holden counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yudovich scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yudovich gets caught napping as Holden dives in and scores a takedown. Yudovich manages to retain guard.
Holden trying to control but Yudovich is working from the bottom.
Holden passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Holden working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Holden is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yudovich knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Holden swings around for an armbar but Yudovich sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Holden's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yudovich looking to sit in guard and control but Holden gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Judge Holden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Holden controlling from the top position.
Holden trying to control but Yudovich is working from the bottom.
Holden postures up.
Holden trying to control the position from guard on top but Yudovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yudovich wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yudovich keeping moving, preventing Holden from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Judge Holden was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Yudovich throws a poor cross that misses
and Holden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Holden misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Holden closes the distance and clinches up with Yudovich, looking for a takedown. Holden pushes Yudovich against the cage but Yudovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yudovich misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Holden counter with a right hand.
Yudovich rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Holden counters with a three punch combo that has Yudovich backing up. Yudovich nods at Holden to acknowledge the strikes.
Holden doesn't manage to clinch there - Yudovich circles away.
Yudovich misses with an uppercut
and Holden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Mikhail Yudovich's cut is getting worse.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Yudovich is predictable there

and Holden counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yudovich won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Holden is trying to get an arm triangle but Yudovich is defending well.

Holden tries for a kimura but Yudovich is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yudovich regains half guard.
Holden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yudovich keeps working.

Holden is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yudovich has managed to free his arm - good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holden is looking to take a break and control but Yudovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Judge Holden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Yudovich's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yudovich rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Holden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Holden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Holden takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sloppy strikes from Yudovich. Those never looked like landing.
Yudovich takes a swing at Holden's ribcage but misses.
Yudovich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Holden.
Yudovich misses with a looping left.
Yudovich throws a right hand that misses

so Holden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Yudovich working a defensive guard here.
Yudovich keeping moving, preventing Holden from controlling successfully.
Holden controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holden is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yudovich is on top in guard.

Holden has an active guard here but Yudovich has managed to pass into half guard.

Holden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yudovich tries to pass the half guard into mount. Holden knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mikhail Yudovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Holden looking for submissions off his back.
Holden tries to roll over but Yudovich keeps him under control.

Holden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Holden wants to improve his position but Yudovich is controlling well.
Yudovich throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yudovich working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Holden's thigh. Holden counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Holden looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Yudovich got a little sloppy there for a moment and Holden has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yudovich has managed to get both his arms back between Holden's legs - danger averted.
Holden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yudovich controls from within his opponent's guard.
Yudovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Holden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yudovich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Holden wants to sweep here but Yudovich controlling him for the moment.

Yudovich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yudovich.
Yudovich controls from within his opponent's guard.
Yudovich scoring with punches to the head and body.
Judge Holden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Holden had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yudovich defends it easily.
Yudovich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yudovich thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Judge Holden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Holden has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Judge Holden!