PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tito Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Holliday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ortiz comes to the cage accompanied by Break Stuff. 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.

Ortiz
vs
Holliday

188 cm
31
200 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

183 cm
31
200 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tito Ortiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Holliday!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz lands a head shot.
Ortiz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Holliday misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ortiz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Holliday circles away quickly and effectively.
Holliday throws a right and a left that both miss.
Holliday pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ortiz back to the cage. Holliday follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Holliday gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ortiz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ortiz won't allow Holliday to get back to his feet.
Ortiz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holliday is keeping the position for now.
Ortiz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holliday avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holliday wants to stand and escape but Ortiz is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz looking to pass the guard.
Ortiz works over Holliday with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holliday wants to stand but Ortiz is controlling the position.
Holliday keeping moving, preventing Ortiz from controlling successfully.

Holliday uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Holliday lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Holliday connects with a right hand. Ortiz shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz dodges the punch combination from Holliday.
Ortiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holliday swivels and escapes.
Ortiz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Holliday throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holliday looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Holliday misses with a double jab

and Ortiz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holliday wants to get back to his feet but Ortiz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Holliday looks gassed!

Holliday manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Holliday swinging wildly here.
Ortiz tries for a takedown but Holliday sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz shoots for a takedown but Holliday saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Ortiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holliday takes a swing at Ortiz's ribcage but misses.
Holliday throws a combination that misses
and Ortiz counters with a nice uppercut.
Ortiz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Holliday misses with a double jab

and Ortiz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Ortiz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Holliday sees it coming and defends easily.

Ortiz is looking for a kimura here.

Holliday has one foot on Ortiz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz dives in and grabs Holliday's left leg, looking for a takedown. Holliday pushes down on Ortiz's head and hops out.
Holliday lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holliday throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ortiz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ortiz is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Holliday scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ortiz in his tracks.
The fighters circling - Holliday throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Holliday misses with a jab, cross combination.
Holliday stuffs the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holliday misses with a double jab

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Ortiz counters with a shoot takedown. Holliday fights it but they end up in guard.
Holliday is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ortiz is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tito Ortiz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ortiz tries for a takedown but Holliday sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ortiz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Holliday swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ortiz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ortiz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Holliday circles away quickly and effectively.
Holliday looks to land a combination but Ortiz avoids it well.

Ortiz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Holliday's guard.
Holliday wants to stand but Ortiz is controlling the position.
Holliday is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Ortiz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Holliday's head.

Holliday wriggles free and stands up.
John Holliday seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Holliday falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ortiz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ortiz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ortiz stops Holliday from standing up.
Ortiz throws a big elbow that misses.
Holliday keeping moving, preventing Ortiz from controlling successfully.
Holliday wants to stand but Ortiz is controlling the position.
Ortiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Holliday is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz throws an elbow that misses. Holliday uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ortiz's guard. Nice move by Holliday!
Ortiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holliday.
Holliday trying to control but Ortiz is working from the bottom.

Ortiz is working an open guard so Holliday takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Holliday connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ortiz shoots in but Holliday avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ortiz throws a jab but it's blocked by Holliday.
Holliday misses with a double jab
and Holliday takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz shoots in for a takedown but Holliday shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Ortiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holliday throws a combination that misses

and Ortiz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortiz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Holliday avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ortiz drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Holliday dives on top into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ortiz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Holliday passes Ortiz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ortiz is not content to let Holliday control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holliday is looking to advance position but Ortiz won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holliday tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ortiz.
Holliday wants to control but Ortiz is keeping him busy.
Holliday moves into full mount! Ortiz won't be happy about that!
Ortiz is trying to escape the mount.
Holliday looking to control but Ortiz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ortiz is trying to escape the mount.

Holliday gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tito Ortiz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Holliday rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ortiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Holliday scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Holliday misses with a combination

and Ortiz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Holliday won't be happy with that.
Ortiz taking a breather here.
Ortiz throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ortiz wants to control but Holliday is keeping him busy.
Holliday is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ortiz is controlling him well.
Holliday takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ortiz is looking to take a break and control but Holliday is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Holliday is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ortiz has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz is looking to take a break and control but Holliday is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ortiz goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Holliday has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ortiz but great work by Holliday.
Holliday wants to control but Ortiz is keeping him busy.
Holliday tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Tito Ortiz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Holliday decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Holliday throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Donk. Ortiz catches Holliday right on the button with a cross.
Holliday tries to move into range but Ortiz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz shoots in but Holliday avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Holliday ducks under a wild hook from Ortiz.
Ortiz fails with a takedown attempt.
John Holliday seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holliday avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good exchange - Holliday coming out on top.
Holliday fails to land with a series of punches.
Holliday misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holliday throws a right hand that Ortiz ducks under and follows up with a left that Ortiz also avoids with ease.
Holliday fails to land with a series of punches.
Ortiz slips a jab and a cross from Holliday.
A combination from Holliday does no damage.
Ortiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holliday swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Ortiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ortiz shoots in looking for a takedown but Holliday manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ortiz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holliday swinging wildly here.
Holliday throws a combination that misses

and Ortiz counters with a takedown into side control.
Ortiz wants to control but Holliday is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holliday is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ortiz is controlling him well.
Holliday takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Holliday is pushing Ortiz's head away, looking to escape. Ortiz manages to hold on to the position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holliday parries the strikes from Ortiz easily there. Ortiz is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Holliday to escape.
Ortiz misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Holliday wants to get back to his feet.
Ortiz lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holliday on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ortiz misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Holliday is trying to buck Ortiz off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tito Ortiz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ortiz, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Tito Ortiz!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Tito Ortiz!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Tito Ortiz!

Tito Ortiz wins by unanimous decision!