PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Judge Holden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mir might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Spoilin For A Fight . Holden is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Act a Fool. Frank Mir has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mir
vs
Holden

190 cm
35
275 lbs
27 - 20 - 0

200 cm
35
219 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Mir!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Judge Holden!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mir shoots for a double leg takedown but Holden sprawls well. He's pushed Mir's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice sprawl there from Holden as Mir shoots in.
Holden leaves Mir with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mir darts in looking for a takedown but Holden gets double underhooks and turns Mir into the ropes.
Mir looking for a takedown.

Holden manages to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Holden is trying to control the position but Mir postures up.

Holden looking for a guillotine here but Mir defends easily.
Holden keeping full guard, as Mir tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mir drops back, looking for a kneebar! Holden looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Holden looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Holden!

Holden goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mir rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Holden's guard! Nice work there by Mir!

Holden throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Our spies down at at Gutz Gym inform us that Holden has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Mir tries to free his leg and advance position but Holden is retaining full guard.
Mir is stalling in the full guard.
Mir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holden tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mir wants to control from the top but Holden keeps moving.
Mir pushes down on Holden's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Holden looking for submissions off his back.

Mir looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mir is trying to control the action in half guard but Holden is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Mir's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden wants to control but Mir is keeping busy.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mir prevents Holden from improving his position.
Mir trying to pass the guard but Holden defending well.

Mir is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holden has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mir trying to control from half guard but Holden is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holden actively working from the bottom here.
Holden moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mir engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mir stopping the sweep attempt from Holden.

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

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Holden passes into half guard.

Holden has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Mir defend it? Holden steps over the head and cranks it - Mir is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Holden!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Judge Holden!
Judge Holden is the new heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Judge Holden thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.