PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between New York Strangler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Hollis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hollis has chosen UGK - Pocket Full of Stones as his entrance music. 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?

York Strangler
vs
Hollis

175 cm
31
167 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

173 cm
31
165 lbs
20 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Firebird Designs

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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, New York Strangler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Hollis!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strangler doesn't manage to clinch there - Hollis circles away.
Hollis throws a lazy right hand but Strangler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Strangler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hollis tries to roll over but Strangler keeps him under control.
Strangler works his way into full mount!
Strangler wants to control the pace but Hollis is squirming around nicely.

Strangler is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hollis has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strangler tries to control but Hollis wriggling away.

Strangler goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hollis turns into him and now he's in Strangler's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strangler looking for a sweep. Not yet Strangler, not yet.
Strangler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hollis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollis wants to control from the top but Strangler keeps moving.
Hollis won't allow Strangler to sweep him here.
Hollis trying to control but Strangler is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Joe Hollis wasn't active enough on the ground.
Strangler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hollis avoids it really well and circles away.
Hollis fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Strangler looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Strangler throws a head kick that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strangler slows down the pace here.
Hollis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Strangler.

Strangler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strangler doesn't manage to clinch there - Hollis circles away.
Hollis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Strangler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hollis looking for a sweep. Not yet Hollis, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strangler is looking to stand up but Hollis won't let him.
Hollis wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hollis pulls Strangler in close to his closed guard and prevents Strangler from doing any damage or advancing position.
Strangler is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Strangler shoots in for a takedown but Hollis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for New York Strangler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hollis swats away the attempt to clinch by Strangler.
Hollis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Strangler has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strangler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hollis.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hollis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

New York Strangler 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.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Strangler is defended easily by Hollis.
Horrible takedown by Strangler or perhaps it was just good defense by Hollis which made him look bad.
Hollis stuns Strangler with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
New York Strangler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good work by Strangler as he checks the leg kick.
Crunch! Hollis slams his shin into Strangler's torso.
Hollis scores with a sloppy right hand. Strangler should have avoided that one.
Hollis lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hollis.
Strangler fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for New York Strangler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hollis misses with a wild body shot.
Hollis moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hollis bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Strangler's head.
Hollis misses with a wild body shot.
Strangler throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strangler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Strangler clinches up against the cage.
Strangler lands an elbow inside that Hollis shrugs off.
Hollis scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hollis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strangler misses with a double jab.
Strangler ducks right into an uppercut from Hollis.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hollis. That's going to slow Strangler down.
Strangler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hollis pinned against the cage. Hollis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hollis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hollis wants it to stay on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hollis pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hollis takes the fight into the clinch.
Strangler tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strangler has had enough of the clinch but Hollis keeps him there for the moment.
Hollis lands a shot to the body.
Hollis pushes Strangler back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Hollis.
Hollis works on Strangler's body with a couple of short punches.
Strangler tries to break the clinch but Hollis is controlling the position.

Strangler has Hollis pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Strangler pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hollis tumbling to the mat - Strangler dives into Hollis's guard.
Hollis wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Strangler postures up.
Strangler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hollis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hollis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Strangler's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Strangler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hollis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hollis trying to control the position from guard on top but Strangler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strangler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hollis wants to control from the top but Strangler keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hollis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Strangler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Strangler checks a leg kick.
Strangler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hollis as he avoids it easily.
Strangler is looking to clinch but Hollis is avoiding it.
Strangler misses with a looping right.
Hollis tries to score with a low kick but Strangler moves his leg out of the way.
Strangler wants to clinch.
Strangler fails to land the takedown.
Hollis moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strangler shoots in looking for a takedown but Hollis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Strangler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for New York Strangler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hollis scores with a nice head shot.
Strangler moves out of range as Hollis throws a body kick.
Joe Hollis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Strangler misses with a takedown attempt
and Hollis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hollis avoids the head kick by Strangler.
Strangler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hollis but Hollis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hollis scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hollis.
Hollis cracks a nice hook into Strangler's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollis throws a series of punches but Strangler moves out of range.
Strangler is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hollis moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Strangler closes the distance and clinches up with Hollis, looking for a takedown. Strangler pushes Hollis against the cage but Hollis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hollis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Strangler throws a nice looking combination but Hollis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hollis lets loose with a powerful body kick. Strangler will feel that in the morning.
Hollis swinging wildly here.
Strangler avoids the body shot from Hollis.
Joe Hollis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strangler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hollis sprawls well. Hollis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Strangler gets slowly back to his feet.
Hollis scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hollis. That's going to slow Strangler down.
Strangler walks into a stiff left hand from Hollis.
Hollis works the jab nicely.
Strangler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hollis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Strangler has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hollis changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hollis throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Hollis.
Hollis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strangler.
Hollis punishes Strangler's body with a nice straight punch.
Hollis pushes Strangler away with a front kick.
Hollis throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hollis lands with a shot to the body.
Strangler gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hollis, as that shot connected.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hollis. Strangler does a little dance to reset his feet.
Strangler avoids a kick to the body.
Jab by Hollis.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Hollis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hollis 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Hollis!