PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jay Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Holtz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Willis
vs
Holtz

170 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
156 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jay Willis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Holtz!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Willis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holtz as he avoids it easily.
Willis misses with a head kick.
Willis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Holtz defends it nicely.
Holtz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Willis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Holtz defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Willis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Willis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Willis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A chopping leg kick lands by Willis.
Holtz throws a leg kick but Willis checks it.
Willis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Holtz throws out the jab.
Holtz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Willis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holtz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Holtz taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on Willis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Holtz staying calm.
Willis wants to get back to his feet but Holtz drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willis is looking for a sweep.
Holtz lands a decent elbow from side control.
The ground and pound from Holtz seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Willis is trying to escape the position but Holtz is controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Willis is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Willis's face as Holtz controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holtz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willis is looking for a sweep.
Willis is breathing heavily.
Holtz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Willis to see if he's OK.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Holtz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Holtz in side control lands a decent elbow.

Holtz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Holtz scores with punches from side control.
Holtz lands a few punches from side control.
The referee asks Holtz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Holtz prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willis takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holtz is staying tight to Willis's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Holtz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Willis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holtz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Willis keeps working.
Holtz works to advance to full mount. Willis defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Holtz with a couple of short strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holtz content just to control the position here.
Holtz with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Holtz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Willis shoots and misses

and Holtz counters with a single leg into guard. Willis didn't expect that.
Holtz won't allow Willis to get back to his feet.
Holtz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jeff Holtz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Holtz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Holtz cracks Willis with a solid left hand.
Willis keeping moving, preventing Holtz from controlling successfully.
Holtz passes into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holtz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Willis actively working from the bottom here.
Holtz tries to pass to full mount but Willis defends it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holtz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Willis's head.
Holtz is controlling the pace.
Holtz working over Willis with some ground and pound. Willis looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Holtz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Holtz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Holtz is thwarting Willis's attempts to control the position.
Holtz drops an elbow to the side of Willis's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holtz controlling the pace.
Holtz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Holtz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Willis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Holtz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Holtz is taking a breather. Willis says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Holtz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Holtz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Holtz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtz working the head and body with strikes.
Holtz is controlling the pace.
Holtz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Holtz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willis is trying to control but Holtz passes into side control!
Holtz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Holtz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Holtz is working Willis over with some ground and pound from side control.
Holtz working the head with strikes.
Holtz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Willis is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holtz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Holtz is working Willis over with some ground and pound from side control.
Holtz is working Willis over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Holtz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Willis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Holtz's coach down at MMA Warrior (1000$ / 15 Elite Coaches) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Holtz's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Holtz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Willis is trying to defend but Holtz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Holtz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Willis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Holtz thows a huge punch but Willis dodges it nicely.
Holtz is taking a breather. Willis says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holtz controlling the pace.
Willis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Holtz.
Holtz is controlling the pace.
Willis is trying to stand back up but Holtz is controlling him
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Holtz trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holtz throwing shots but Willis is blocking nicely.
Holtz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Willis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Holtz lands with a punch from half guard.
Holtz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Willis has hold of Holtz's hands but Holtz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Holtz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Holtz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Holtz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holtz content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtz raining down shots from the mount!
Holtz with shots to the head and body - Willis looks very uncomfortable down there.
Holtz lands a big elbow.
Holtz looking to finish Willis with some ground and pound. This is bad for Willis!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holtz dominating with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Holtz.
Holtz with shots to the head and body - Willis looks very uncomfortable down there.
Holtz punishing his opponent with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holtz looking to finish Willis with some ground and pound. This is bad for Willis!
Holtz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Holtz working Willis over with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holtz lands a couple of good shots and Willis has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Willis is trying to remain composed but Holtz is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Jay Willis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Willis covers up after that shot from Holtz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Holtz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Holtz 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 25:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Holtz!