PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Holohan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeru Kobayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patrick Holohan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holohan
vs
Kobayashi

175 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
21
146 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Determined

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patrick Holohan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takeru Kobayashi!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Holohan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kobayashi defends it well.
Holohan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kobayashi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Holohan tries to pass to full mount but Kobayashi defends it.
Kobayashi trying to control here.

Holohan wants to work for an arm triangle but Kobayashi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Holohan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kobayashi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holohan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Holohan from controlling successfully.
Kobayashi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Holohan from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kobayashi throws a head kick that half lands.
A punch lands to the side of Kobayashi 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holohan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Kobayashi tries to sprawl but Holohan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Holohan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kobayashi is controlling Holohan's trapped leg to prevent Holohan from advancing to side control.
Holohan trying to pass the guard but Kobayashi defending well.
Kobayashi is refusing to be controlled, as Holohan sits in half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Holohan'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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kobayashi has his hands clasped together around Holohan's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holohan wants to work for an arm triangle but Kobayashi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Holohan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kobayashi's thigh. Kobayashi counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Holohan from controlling successfully.
Kobayashi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holohan is one step ahead there.
Holohan wants to control from the top but Kobayashi keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Holohan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Holohan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kobayashi counters with an outside leg kick.
Kobayashi scoring well with a low kick there.
Kobayashi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Holohan.
Crunch! Kobayashi slams his shin into Holohan's torso.
Kobayashi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Holohan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kobayashi but Kobayashi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Holohan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holohan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kobayashi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holohan somewhat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holohan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Holohan dominated that round.
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.

Kobayashi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Holohan.
Takeru Kobayashi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Holohan shoots in and gets a takedown into Kobayashi's guard.
Holohan looking to pass the guard.
Holohan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

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

Holohan is trying to get an arm triangle but Kobayashi is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kobayashi tries to buck Holohan off but Holohan is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holohan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kobayashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kobayashi is not content to let Holohan control the position.
Kobayashi holds on to Holohan's head and controls the position momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Holohan wants to control but Kobayashi is keeping him busy.
Kobayashi felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
You can see the frustration on Kobayashi's face as Holohan controls the position.
Kobayashi tries to improve position but can't.
Kobayashi is still trying to improve position.

Holohan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Holohan tries for a kimura but Kobayashi is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Holohan trying to control the action but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Holohan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Holohan trying to control the action but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi moves into full guard.

Holohan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kobayashi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kobayashi has escaped and now he's on top!

Kobayashi content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Holohan dominated that second round.
That's time! Holohan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Holohan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kobayashi defends it nicely.
Kobayashi throws a leg kick
and Holohan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kobayashi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Holohan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kobayashi wants to land a leg kick but Holohan is out of range.
Holohan feinted with a counter takedown.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kobayashi. Holohan shrugs it off though.
A head kick misses from Kobayashi.
Kobayashi lands a head kick!
Holohan shoots in for a takedown but Kobayashi shows good takedown defense.
Holohan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kobayashi as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Holohan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kobayashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Holohan has closed the distance and engaged Kobayashi in a clinch.
Holohan blocks a body shot from Kobayashi.

Holohan pulls guard successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

Holohan is looking for a triangle but Kobayashi pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holohan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Holohan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kobayashi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Holohan is looking for a triangle but Kobayashi pushes his legs off easily.

Holohan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kobayashi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kobayashi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Kobayashi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Holohan wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holohan wants to clinch up but Kobayashi keeps it at a distance.
Kobayashi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A punch combination from Holohan misses.
Takeru Kobayashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kobayashi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kobayashi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Holohan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Holohan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kobayashi's thigh. Kobayashi counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Holohan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kobayashi is pulling down on Holohan's head to control his posture.
Holohan trying to control but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kobayashi looking for subs off his back but Holohan has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kobayashi is not content to let Holohan control the position.
Holohan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Holohan wants to work for an arm triangle but Kobayashi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Patrick Holohan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Holohan is trying to work for a kimura but Kobayashi is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Takeru Kobayashi.
I think Holohan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Holohan!