PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dorsey Holland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danilo Novaes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dorsey Holland has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Holland
vs
Novaes

182 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

187 cm
19
251 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dorsey Holland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Danilo Novaes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Novaes drives through with a takedown into Holland's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Holland being controlled here, momentarily.
Novaes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Novaes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
It looks like Novaes might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Novaes 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.

Novaes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Holland sprawls well initially but Novaes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Holland is controlling Novaes's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Novaes controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holland is trying to maintain the position but Novaes is very close to passing his half guard.
Novaes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holland's head.
Novaes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Novaes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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

Novaes has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holland tries to stall but Novaes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Novaes jumps guard.
Novaes keeping moving, preventing Holland from controlling successfully.
Novaes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Novaes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Novaes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Holland prevents Novaes from getting back to his feet.
Novaes keeping moving, preventing Holland from controlling successfully.
Holland throws a big right hand that misses.
Novaes keeping moving, preventing Holland from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Novaes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holland.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Novaes tries a head kick but it misses.
Danilo Novaes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holland takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Novaes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Holland did well to prevent Novaes getting side control.
Novaes not doing much here.
Holland really is a fat lump.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Novaes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danilo Novaes dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Holland swings for the body but Novaes moves out of range.

Novaes has Holland up against the cage in a clinch.
Holland tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Novaes just stands there and leans against the cage.

Novaes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Novaes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Novaes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Holland has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Holland wants to control from the top but Novaes keeps moving.
Holland throws an elbow that misses. Novaes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Holland's guard. Nice move by Novaes!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holland is trying to control the position but Novaes postures up.
Novaes is stalling in the full guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Novaes. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danilo Novaes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Novaes is continuing to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holland is trying to control the position but Novaes postures up.
Novaes is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Novaes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Novaes sitting in guard here, content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

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

Novaes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Novaes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Novaes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Holland with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Novaes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Novaes moves nicely into side control.
Novaes staying calm.

Novaes swings around for an armbar but Holland sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Novaes's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Novaes pulls Holland in to control the position.
Holland won't allow Novaes to get back to his feet.
Novaes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Novaes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Holland gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Novaes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Novaes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danilo Novaes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Holland's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Novaes clinches.
Holland is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Novaes to keep the fight standing.
Holland is looking to take this one to the mat.

Novaes breaks from the clinch.
Holland shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Novaes as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dorsey Holland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Novaes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Holland did well to prevent Novaes getting side control.

Novaes is working for an americana but Holland has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Novaes was thinking about the submission.
Novaes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Novaes won't allow Holland to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Novaes lands a couple of elbows.
Novaes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Holland is proving hard to escape from.
Novaes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Novaes wanted to stand there but Holland had control of the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Holland ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Novaes moves away.
Dorsey Holland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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

Novaes forces Holland back against the cage and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Novaes as Holland tries to tie him up.
Holland is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Novaes to keep the fight standing.

Novaes manages to break the clinch.

Novaes moves into the clinch.
Holland stalling in the clinch but Novaes improves position.

Novaes breaks from the clinch.
Holland tries to score a power double leg takedown but Novaes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holland somewhat.
Novaes is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Novaes has closed the distance and engaged Holland in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holland tries to pull guard but Novaes holds him up against the cage and eventually Holland drops back down to his feet.

Holland decides to pull guard.
Novaes advances position into side control!
Holland seems a little lost for a moment, as Novaes dominates the positioning.
Novaes advances to full mount.
Novaes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Novaes wants to finish this one by submission but Holland is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Novaes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Novaes controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danilo Novaes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Novaes 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danilo Novaes!