PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Corey Holland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelson Labhag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Holland
vs
Labhag

153 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 St Petersburg, Corey Holland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nelson Labhag!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Labhag feints and as Holland raises his hands in defense, Labhag changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Holland keeping moving, preventing Labhag from controlling successfully.
Holland is looking to stand up but Labhag isn't so interested in that idea.
Holland trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Labhag throwing strikes from guard but Holland blocks nicely.
Holland is looking to stand up but Labhag isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Labhag trying to control the position from guard on top but Holland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Holland closes the distance and clinches up with Labhag, looking for a takedown. Holland pushes Labhag against the cage but Labhag circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Holland tries to clinch up.

Labhag bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Labhag tries to advance to mount but Holland denies him.
Labhag remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Labhag wants to control but Holland is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labhag is trying to ground and pound but Holland uses the momentary lack of control by Labhag to regain half guard.
Labhag works his foot free and advances to mount.
Holland is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holland is trying desperately to improve position.
Holland suckers Labhag into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Holland is now in Labhag's guard!
Labhag seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Holland working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Holland landing some decent shots from guard.
Holland makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Holland is in close to Labhag's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Holland preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Labhag trying to control the position.
Holland throwing strikes from guard but Labhag blocks nicely.
Holland wants to get up but he can't break Labhag's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Holland postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Holland throwing strikes but missing.
Holland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Holland trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holland throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Labhag works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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

Labhag closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Labhag lands in his opponent's guard.
Labhag wants to control from the top but Holland keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelson Labhag 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.

Holland shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Holland is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Labhag sees it coming and defends easily.

Holland is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Labhag doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holland.
Labhag wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Labhag is trying to maintain the position but Holland is very close to passing his half guard.
Holland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holland is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Labhag doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holland.
Labhag is looking for a sweep. Holland is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Labhag is defending against the submission attempts here by Holland.

Holland is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Labhag defends it well.

Holland seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Holland is working for a kimura but Labhag is defending it quite comfortably.
Labhag has his hands clasped together around Holland's back. He's all about the action.

Holland seems to be working for a kimura but Labhag defends the submission attempt.
Labhag is holding on to half guard well.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Holland seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labhag wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Holland looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Labhag!
Labhag is looking for a sweep.
Holland 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.

Holland is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Labhag is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Labhag manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Holland thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Labhag's head.
Labhag is trying to stand back up but Holland is controlling him
Holland with the ground and pound but Labhag uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Holland is looking to work some ground and pound but Labhag has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holland scoring with punches to the head and body.
Holland stands up over Labhag, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Holland with a nice head shot there.
Labhag wants to sweep here but Holland controlling him for the moment.

Labhag is looking for a triangle but Holland pushes his legs off easily.
Holland landing with the ground and pound.
Labhag looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holland postures up in Labhag's guard and throws a big left but Labhag blocks it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Holland missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Holland dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Labhag clinches up against the cage.
Holland tries to circle away but Labhag has him pinned against the cage.
Holland tries to pull guard but Labhag forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Labhag gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Holland regains guard.
Holland keeping moving, preventing Labhag from controlling successfully.
Labhag won't allow Holland to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Labhag wants to control from the top but Holland keeps moving.

Holland is looking for a triangle but Labhag pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labhag in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Corey Holland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Labhag trying to control the position from guard on top but Holland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Holland looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Holland lands a couple of elbows.
Holland throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holland lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labhag looking to control.
Labhag wants to stand up but Holland is controlling him.
Holland throwing strikes but missing.
Labhag has momentary wrist control but Holland slips an elbow through the middle.
Holland throws a big elbow that misses.
Holland throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holland throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Labhag throws a right and a left that both miss.

Labhag fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Holland, pushing him back against the cage.

Labhag has hold of one of Holland's legs. Holland is fighting the takedown attempt but Labhag gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holland working for a triangle but Labhag defends it easily.
Labhag controls from within his opponent's guard.
Holland looking for a sweep. Not yet Holland, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Holland escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Labhag gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Labhag trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Holland could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Labhag preventing the sweep.
Labhag stays in close to Holland's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Labhag shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Holland manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Labhag sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nelson Labhag comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Labhag has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nelson Labhag!