PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holt's entrance music is Brooklyn Nine-Nine Theme Song. A fine choice. Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 9pm (Till I Come). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Holt
vs
Gracie

175 cm
30
167 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

172 cm
22
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Raymond Holt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thiago Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie scores with a nice strike.
Gracie scores with a hook.
Holt lands a jab to Gracie's midsection.
Holt swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Nice shot lands for Holt.
Holt misses with a double jab
and Holt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Holt slips a straight right by Gracie.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice strikes from Gracie there.
Holt moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Holt working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

Holt manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Holt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holt throws out a powerful jab.
Gracie throws a poor cross that misses
and Holt counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Holt throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Holt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Holt keeps it at a distance.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Holt swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Holt throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holt.
Gracie connects with the punch.
Holt looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice straight punches there by Holt. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Holt.
Raymond Holt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holt scores with a body shot.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Holt.
And Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Holt pushes his down on his head and steps out.
No joy there for Holt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Holt keeps it at a distance.
Holt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Holt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raymond Holt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie throws out a counter right but Holt avoids it with no problem.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Holt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie swings for the body but Holt moves out of range.
Gracie pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Holt back to the cage. Gracie follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie defending well as Holt loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Holt.
Holt lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.
Holt connects with a jab.

Gracie is rocked!
Holt cracks Gracie with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Gracie tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Holt pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Gracie is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raymond Holt!
Raymond Holt looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Great way to start my career here at Imperial! Props to Gracie he was a great opponent and a very talented fighter. I just wanted it more tonight and i really wanted to make an impression. Thanks everyone who came out tonight!'.