PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dylan Hollinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graeme Symons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hollinger comes to the cage accompanied by WILD BOYS. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hollinger
vs
Symons

184 cm
34
156 lbs
23 - 6 - 0

170 cm
29
171 lbs
9 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Namunamu Clothing
SP Ultimate Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dylan Hollinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Graeme Symons!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Symons closes the distance and clinches.
Symons's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Symons working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Symons misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Symons misses with a hook from the clinch.
Symons tries to work over Hollinger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Symons misses with a punch to the body.
Hollinger working aggressively here.
Hollinger blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Symons.
Symons lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Symons working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Symons misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hollinger throws a head punch that misses.
Symons misses with a knee to the head.
Symons swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Symons.
Symons throws a head punch that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hollinger as Symons tries to tie him up.
Symons lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symons blocking some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Symons.
Hollinger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Symons is looking to control Hollinger's arms but Hollinger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Symons has his back to the cage.
Hollinger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hollinger.
Hollinger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hollinger looking to stall.
Symons lands a body punch.
Symons misses with a punch on the inside.
Symons softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Symons takes a shot to the head.
Symons lands a nice uppercut.
Symons goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hollinger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Symons swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hollinger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger misses with some punches.

Symons works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hollinger keeping moving, preventing Symons from controlling successfully.
Hollinger will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Symons might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hollinger haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Symons postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Symons postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hollinger has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Symons is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hollinger.
Hollinger takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Symons is looking to take a break and control but Hollinger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Symons lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symons working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Symons wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hollinger keeps working.
Symons working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hollinger takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hollinger manages to work his way to half guard, despite Symons's best efforts.
Symons winds up and cracks Hollinger with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Symons throws a strike but Hollinger avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Symons lands a couple of digs.
Symons not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Symons is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Symons trying to control but Hollinger is working from the bottom.
Symons lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symons stands up over Hollinger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Symons showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Symons looking to sit in guard and control but Hollinger gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Symons keeping full guard, as Hollinger tries to pass.
Symons controlling the position.
Symons looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hollinger really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graeme Symons 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.

Symons lands a nice shot that snaps Hollinger's head back.
Hollinger throws a right hand that Symons ducks under and follows up with a left that Symons also avoids with ease.
Symons thuds a left hand into Hollinger's body.
Symons scores with a sloppy right hand. Hollinger should have avoided that one.
Decent striking displayed by Hollinger there.
Symons throws a jab when Hollinger was well out of range.

Symons shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Symons was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hollinger is looking to reverse the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Check out the look on Symons's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hollinger is looking to reverse the position.
Symons wants to control but Hollinger is keeping him busy.
Symons laying and praying for a moment but Hollinger takes advantage and regains half guard.
Hollinger keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symons drops an elbow to the side of Hollinger's head.

Hollinger looking for submissions off his back.
Symons trying to control from half guard but Hollinger is working away.
Symons is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Symons scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hollinger tries to get to full guard but Symons has control of the leg.
Ground and pound from Symons.
Symons working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Symons is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Hollinger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Symons is keen to just control but Hollinger is a slippery customer.
Symons sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hollinger defending well though.
Symons working over Hollinger with some ground and pound. Hollinger looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Graeme Symons has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hollinger is not content to let Symons control the position.
Symons is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Symons working the head and body with strikes.
Symons has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Symons stalling.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symons wants to control but Hollinger is keeping him busy.

Hollinger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Symons pulls his head out easily.
Symons has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Symons seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Symons looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hollinger with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Symons is looking to stall here but Hollinger recovers full guard.

Hollinger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Symons defends it easily.
Hollinger keeping moving, preventing Symons from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Symons scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Symons missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hollinger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hollinger keeping full guard, as Symons tries to pass.
Symons wants to control from the top but Hollinger keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Symons drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hollinger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graeme Symons showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Symons scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hollinger doesn't seem bothered though.
Hollinger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Symons is fending him off so far but Hollinger persists. Nope, Symons circles away and we're back to standing.
Symons lands an overhand right.
Symons waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hollinger.
Hollinger digs a good body shot into Symons's ribs.
A big right from Hollinger misses.
Hollinger lands a lovely overhand right.
Graeme Symons seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hollinger takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Symons wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Symons throws a hook but Hollinger blocks it.
Hollinger misses with a left hand

and Symons counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Symons.
Hollinger displaying some good clinch control by pressing Symons up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Symons.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Symons tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Symons scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hollinger blocks an uppercut.
Hollinger is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Symons is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Symons fails to land.
Symons struggles to land a body shot inside as Hollinger controls his hands.
Symons lands a right hand.
Hollinger scores with a shot to the side of Symons's head.
Symons tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hollinger misses with a punch on the inside.
Symons goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Symons looking to stall.
Symons has Hollinger pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hollinger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hollinger.
Hollinger misses with some punches.
Symons misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Symons.
Hollinger throws a punch but it's blocked by Symons.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Symons lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hollinger or not.
Symons lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hollinger backwards.
Hollinger lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hollinger misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Symons.
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!
A short right from Symons.
Symons is looking to control Hollinger's arms but Hollinger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Symons has his back to the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hollinger.
Hollinger avoids a wild elbow strike from Symons.
A short uppercut from Hollinger.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Symons misses with a punch on the inside.
Graeme Symons seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Symons fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hollinger misses with a punch on the inside.
Hollinger misses with a punch on the inside.
Symons blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger swings wildly with an uppercut but Symons uses good head movement to avoid it.
A shot in the inside from Hollinger.
Symons tries a body shot but Hollinger blocks it.
Hollinger lands a hook to the side of the head.
Symons pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Symons misses with a knee strike.
Symons misses with a body punch.
Hollinger prevents a body shot from Symons.
A shot in the inside from Hollinger.
Hollinger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hollinger.
Symons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hollinger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Symons.
Symons blocks an uppercut.
Symons misses with the head strike.
Symons lands a right hand.
Graeme Symons is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Symons fails to land.
Hollinger throws a head punch that misses.
Hollinger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Symons makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Symons lands a hook to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Symons.
A shot in the inside from Symons.
Symons fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hollinger lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Symons lands a hook that snaps the head of Hollinger backwards.
Hollinger pushes Symons back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hollinger has a couple of punches blocked by Symons.
Hollinger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hollinger takes a shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graeme Symons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Symons 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graeme Symons!
Graeme Symons seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.