PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darren Holloway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Souza will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Holloway
vs
Souza

200 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Holloway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holloway keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Holloway attempts a counter takedown but Souza avoids it well and moves away.
Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Souza has his takedown stuffed

and Holloway counters with a single leg into guard. Souza didn't expect that.
Darren Holloway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Souza.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Souza has momentary wrist control but Holloway slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

Souza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holloway doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holloway manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Holloway chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Holloway from controlling successfully.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Souza isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Holloway stacks Souza 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 Holloway!
Souza looks winded!
Souza takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Holloway working the head and body with strikes.
Holloway lands some shots froms side control.
Holloway knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Souza on the ground.
Souza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holloway lands a decent elbow from side control.
Souza tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Holloway wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Holloway scoring with punches from side control.
Souza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Souza is still trying to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holloway scores with punches from side control.
Souza gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza is looking to improve his position.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holloway lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Holloway dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Souza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Holloway throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Souza has his takedown stuffed
and Holloway counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Souza has his takedown stuffed
and Holloway counters with a one-two to the body.
Darren Holloway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Souza.
Souza fails with the takedown

and Holloway counters with a single leg into guard. Souza didn't expect that.

Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Holloway gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Holloway working some strikes from top position.
Souza is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holloway working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Holloway scoring with some ground and pound.

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

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

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Holloway passes into side control.
Souza tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holloway working the ground and pound.
Souza looking for a sweep but Holloway has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Holloway lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Holloway is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Souza is bucking up trying to escape but Holloway cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Souza is trying to escape the mount.
Holloway really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Holloway is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Souza can do to turn this around?
Holloway landing strikes, looking to finish!

Souza is rocked!
Holloway breaks from Souza's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Souza is still in real trouble! Can Holloway finish him?

Holloway working for a guillotine from mount but Souza is in no mood to give up.
Souza is looking to improve his position but Holloway isn't that keen on the idea.
Holloway pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Souza is trying to escape the mount.
Darren Holloway overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza regains half guard.

Souza with the active half guard here but Holloway passes nicely into side control.
Souza is trying to improve his position.
Souza seems to have recovered his senses.
Souza is working to avoid the ground and pound but Holloway connects with a decent elbow.
Holloway scoring with punches and elbows.
Holloway scores with punches from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Holloway dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

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

Souza actively working from the bottom here.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.
Holloway is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Holloway is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.
Souza taking some punishment here, with Holloway in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Holloway is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holloway is trying to control the action in half guard but Souza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Holloway lands strikes from half guard.
Souza works his way to full guard. Good work.

Souza is looking for a triangle but Holloway pushes his legs off easily.
Holloway has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Holloway thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza is looking for a triangle here but Holloway uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Check out the look on Holloway's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Holloway is chipping away with strikes.
Souza is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holloway landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Souza looking for a sweep but Holloway has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Souza is working to get back to half guard.
Holloway with good strikes from the mount here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Souza is desperately trying to improve his position but Holloway has a good base and remains in mount.
Rodrigo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darren Holloway is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Souza throwing hammer fists to the chest of Holloway. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren Holloway showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Holloway 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Holloway!