PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Holiday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darius Paganopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Holiday
vs
Paganopoulos

166 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tanner Holiday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darius Paganopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holiday changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Paganopoulos looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Paganopoulos looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Holiday trying to control the action but Paganopoulos is working from the bottom.

Holiday is trying to get an arm triangle but Paganopoulos is defending well.

Holiday tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The referee asks Holiday politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Holiday prefers to stall for the moment though.

Holiday tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Holiday tries for a kimura but Paganopoulos is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holiday wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Paganopoulos, who protects the arm well.
Holiday trying to control the action but Paganopoulos is working from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holiday is looking to take a break and control but Paganopoulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Holiday wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Paganopoulos, who protects the arm well.

Holiday tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Holiday has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paganopoulos is not content to let Holiday control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holiday is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Paganopoulos has escaped the position, nice work there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Paganopoulos can do anything to dispel that myth.

Holiday tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holiday working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paganopoulos is not content to let Holiday control the position.

Holiday is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Paganopoulos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Holiday is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Paganopoulos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Holiday dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Holiday shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Paganopoulos's guard.
Holiday pushing down on Paganopoulos's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Holiday seems to be looking for submissions.

Holiday is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Holiday seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paganopoulos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Holiday is trying for a kimura here. Paganopoulos looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Holiday wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tanner Holiday!
Tanner Holiday decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.