PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Stanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Holt
vs
Stanton

213 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

179 cm
25
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Holt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phil Stanton!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanton throws a looping overhand right but Holt ducks down to avoid it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Stanton looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Holt misses with a takedown
and Stanton counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Holt misses with a lunging right hand
letting Stanton counter with a right hand.
Holt takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holt tries for a takedown but Stanton circles away easily
and Stanton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stanton throws a nice looking combination but Holt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Stanton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stanton misses with a looping left.

Stanton shoots in and bounces Holt off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holt controlling Stanton's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My spies in Cozad MMA Rio inform me that Stanton has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Stanton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Holt pulls Stanton in close to his closed guard and prevents Stanton from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stanton. Holt does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stanton tries to land a front kick but Holt steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Holt throwing a counter right hand but Stanton manages to avoid it.

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.
No luck for Holt with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Holt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stanton explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Stanton tries to clinch but Holt moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Holt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Stanton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stanton connects with a right hand. Holt shakes it off.
Stanton scores with a body shot.
Stanton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stanton misses with the combination.
Holt throwing a counter right hand but Stanton manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stanton misses with a few strikes there.
Holt tries to counter by clinching up but Stanton breaks away and moves out of range.
Stanton is breathing heavily.
Stanton leaves Holt with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Stanton. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt with a poor takedown
and Stanton counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Stanton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Holt wants to sweep but no luck.
Holt lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Stanton is looking to advance position but Holt has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Holt looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holt landing punches.

Holt stands up from mount. Strange move.
Holt tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stanton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holt somewhat.
Stanton throws out a counter right but Holt avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Holt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stanton misses the body punch
and Holt counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Holt 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.
Holt throws a jab but it's blocked by Stanton.
Stanton flicks out a counter leg kick but Holt steps away.

Holt drives through with a takedown into guard.
Holt is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stanton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Holt. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Holt is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Stanton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stanton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Holt controlling from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Holt stands up from Stanton's guard - Holt perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Holt dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Holt tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stanton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holt somewhat.
Phil Stanton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Holt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stanton.
Stanton 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.
Holt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stanton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton throws out a loose jab but Holt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Holt is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stanton.
Stanton leaves Holt with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Holt shoots in for a takedown but Stanton shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Holt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holt is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stanton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stanton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holt checks a low kick from Stanton.
Holt was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Holt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stanton as he jumps to the side.
Stanton misses with a hook

and Holt counters by clinching up.

Holt drags the fight down to the ground.
Stanton wants to control from the top but Holt keeps moving.
Holt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holt pushes Stanton off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The fighters circling - Stanton throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Holt is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Stanton throws a nice looking combination but Holt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Holt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stanton but Stanton pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Holt instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton is trying to break free.
Holt swings wildly with an uppercut but Stanton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stanton trying to stall but Holt improves his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Phil Stanton.
I think Stanton 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!