PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Sahebt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanner Holiday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sahebt has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sahebt
vs
Holiday

190 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

166 cm
26
190 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Sahebt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tanner Holiday!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holiday slips a jab and a cross from Sahebt.
Holiday misses with a takedown attempt
and Sahebt counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Holiday fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Holiday closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Holiday is working for a submission of some sort.
Sahebt wants to improve his position but Holiday is controlling well.

Holiday is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sahebt sees it coming and defends easily.
Holiday trying to control from Sahebt's half guard. Sahebt has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holiday drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sahebt dives on top into guard.

Sahebt got a little sloppy there for a moment and Holiday has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sahebt has managed to get both his arms back between Holiday's legs - danger averted.

Holiday isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sahebt stacks Holiday on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sahebt!
Holiday sneaks back into half guard.

Holiday looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Holiday.

Holiday looking for subs from the bottom but Sahebt mounts him!
Holiday is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sahebt manages to capitalize on a mistake by Holiday to take his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holiday rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Holiday looking for submissions off his back.
Sahebt seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Holiday wants to get back to full guard.
Sahebt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Holiday wants to control but Sahebt is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holiday is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sahebt pulls his head out easily.
Holiday is pressing down on Sahebt's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Holiday is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sahebt defends well.

Holiday is looking for a triangle here but Sahebt uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Sahebt stands up and beckons Holiday to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holiday tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sahebt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holiday somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Holiday dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sahebt enables Holiday to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sahebt manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sahebt trying to control the position.
Holiday looking to pass the guard.

Holiday is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sahebt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sahebt has escaped and now he's on top!
Tanner Holiday has got the better of the ground game so far.

Holiday throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sahebt uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holiday struggling a bit here.
Sahebt gets to mount! Holiday was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Holiday wants to hold on but Sahebt pushes him away.
Holiday tries to improve his position but instead Sahebt has taken his back!
Holiday tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt avoiding Holiday 's attempts to control his hands.

Sahebt stands up from back control! Strange decision that!
Sahebt lands with a hook. Holiday tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Holiday shoots in and gets a takedown into Sahebt's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holiday trying to control the position from guard on top but Sahebt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holiday drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sahebt manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Holiday has Sahebt in his guard.

Sahebt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Holiday throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holiday is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sahebt engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Holiday looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sahebt passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Holiday showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Holiday takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Sahebt throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Holiday tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sahebt is in Holiday's guard.

Holiday throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sahebt escapes and throws Holiday's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Holiday manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Holiday trying to control here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Holiday is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sahebt pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sahebt decides to return to a standing position.
Sahebt bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Holiday's head.
Sahebt throws out a loose jab but Holiday uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sahebt tries a head kick but it misses.
Sahebt swinging wildly here.
Sahebt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sahebt leaves Holiday with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Sahebt as Holiday shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt leaves Holiday with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
James Sahebt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanner Holiday.
Holiday shoots in and drives through. Sahebt sprawls well.
Holiday dives in and grabs Sahebt's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sahebt pushes down on Holiday's head and hops out.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sahebt, as that shot connected.
Sahebt throws a right and a left that Holiday avoids nicely.
James Sahebt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sahebt displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Holiday.
Sahebt is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sahebt ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holiday moves away.
Holiday fails with a takedown attempt.
Sahebt connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sahebt forces Holiday back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sahebt wants the takedown. Holiday is fighting it off but Sahebt persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Holiday's guard against the cage.

Holiday throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sahebt uses it to pass to side control.
Holiday struggling a bit here.
Sahebt tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sahebt working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holiday tries to improve position but can't.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Holiday is trying to control Sahebt's posture but Sahebt avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holiday tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Holiday's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holiday is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sahebt clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Holiday shoots in and drives through. Sahebt sprawls well.
Holiday ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Sahebt scores with a takedown into Holiday's guard.

Holiday escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sahebt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sahebt gets to his feet. Holiday looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sahebt shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Holiday manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Holiday is looking for a triangle here but Sahebt uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Sahebt tries to stand but Holiday is controlling his head.
Holiday tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holiday is trying to work for a sweep but Sahebt has mounted him!
Sahebt manages to capitalize on a mistake by Holiday to take his back!
Sahebt has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Holiday's body.
Holiday trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Holiday's corner are yelling at him, telling him to just focus on controlling Sahebt's hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt biding his time, controlling Holiday.
Holiday tries to break free.
Holiday trying to control the hands but Sahebt breaks the grip.
You can see the frustration on Holiday's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sahebt gets his hands free as Holiday looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holiday tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Holiday is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sahebt manages to capitalize on a mistake by Holiday to take his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that James Sahebt will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Holiday fails with a takedown attempt.

Sahebt has taken the fight to the clinch.
Holiday goes for a takedown attempt but Sahebt pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Holiday blocks a head kick by Sahebt.
Sahebt loads up on a big right hand but Holiday slips the punch.
Holiday takes a jab right on the kisser.

Holiday closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sahebt quickly recovers to half guard.
Holiday is looking to stall here but Sahebt recovers full guard.
Holiday trying to control but Sahebt is working from the bottom.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holiday advances to half guard.
Holiday is trying to control the action in half guard but Sahebt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Holiday is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sahebt defends it well.
Sahebt pushes Holiday off looking to stand but Holiday dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holiday looking for a submission but Sahebt manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Sahebt keeping full guard, as Holiday tries to pass.
Sahebt keeping moving, preventing Holiday from controlling successfully.
Sahebt wants to stand up but Holiday is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holiday tries to free his leg and advance position but Sahebt is retaining full guard.
Holiday is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Holiday trying to move into half guard but instead Sahebt has managed to sweep!

Holiday has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sahebt can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sahebt wants to get up but he can't break Holiday's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Holiday working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sahebt has passed into half guard!
Sahebt keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Holiday with the active half guard here but Sahebt passes nicely into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holiday tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tanner Holiday comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Holiday 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 46:49
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 47:48
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.