PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Dirr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Holloway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dirr
vs
Holloway

170 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Dirr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Holloway!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holloway misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Holloway doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dirr counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dirr scores with a jab.
Dirr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Alex Dirr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Holloway.
Dirr stuffs the takedown attempt from Holloway. Holloway gets slowly back to his feet.

Dirr gets caught napping as Holloway dives in and scores a takedown. Dirr manages to retain guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Dirr managing to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holloway stopping the sweep attempt from Dirr.
Dirr wants to get back to his feet but Holloway is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirr manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Holloway is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dirr scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Dirr tries to control but Holloway wriggling away.
Holloway tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dirr lands a couple of good shots and Holloway has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Holloway has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Holloway just trying to survive but Dirr is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Holloway is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Dirr off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Holloway looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holloway can't escape the position.
Dirr scores with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirr controlling the position well here. Holloway rolled but Dirr kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Holloway holding both Dirr 's hands and preventing any damage.
Dirr is punishing Holloway with some ground and pound.
Dirr is looking to control Holloway but Holloway is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Holloway grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Holloway is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is taking a good look at Holloway as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Dirr!
Holloway is trying to remain composed but Dirr is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Dirr trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Holloway trying to control but not successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dirr slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Dirr dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dirr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Holloway shoots in for a takedown but Dirr shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dirr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dirr. Holloway does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dirr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dirr thows a left - swing and a miss!

Dirr scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Holloway wants to get back to full guard.
Holloway wants to get back to his feet.
Dirr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holloway keeps working.
Holloway is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dirr's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dirr's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirr has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Dirr has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dirr trying to control the position but Holloway manages to sink in the hooks.
Dirr is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Holloway is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Holloway working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dirr trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Holloway has the hooks in. Dirr is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Holloway tries to get the hooks in deep but Dirr pushed the leg off.
Holloway avoiding Dirr 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirr wants to escape the position.
Holloway tries to get the hooks in deep but Dirr pushed the leg off.
Dirr trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Holloway's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Holloway is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Holloway doesn't have the hooks in and Dirr manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dirr scoring with punches to the head and body.
Holloway is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Max Holloway.
Holloway shoots for a takedown but Dirr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Holloway is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Dirr.
Holloway shoots in for a double leg but Dirr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alex Dirr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Holloway.

Dirr fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Holloway sprawls well initially but Dirr persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Dirr is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holloway has managed to free his arm - good work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dirr controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Dirr dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dirr closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Holloway is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dirr pulls his head out easily.
Dirr is keen to just control but Holloway is a slippery customer.
Holloway wants to get back to his feet.
Dirr keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Alex Dirr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dirr has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Holloway is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Dirr cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Holloway takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dirr controlling the position easily from mount.
Dirr looking to control but Holloway is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dirr fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dirr is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holloway squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Holloway is working to get back to half guard.
Holloway tries to lock up and control but Dirr gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dirr looking to control and managing it successfully.
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!
Dirr cracks Holloway with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Holloway is wriggling around trying to escape.
Holloway tries to hold on but Dirr postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dirr moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Holloway has worked his arm free - good work by Holloway!
Holloway is not content to let Dirr control the position.
Holloway seems a little lost for a moment, as Dirr dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dirr stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Dirr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holloway can do to turn this around?
Dirr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Holloway.

Dirr rushes Holloway and presses him up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dirr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Max Holloway has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Dirr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Dirr gets the takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Dirr showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dirr has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Dirr!
A less than humble Alex Dirr misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.