PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manuel La Bor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodney Holzken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). La Bor's entrance music is Centuries. A fine choice. Manuel La Bor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

La Bor
vs
Holzken

179 cm
26
155 lbs
16 - 5 - 2

179 cm
25
157 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Manuel La Bor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Holzken!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
La Bor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Holzken's hands.
La Bor slips under a jab from Holzken.
La Bor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Holzken misses with a straight left.
La Bor throws a combination that misses
and Holzken counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Holzken slips a jab from La Bor.
And Holzken tries to counter it with a takedown but La Bor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A jab from Holzken does it's job there.
La Bor throws a lazy uppercut

so Holzken counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Holzken looking to pass the guard.
Holzken trying to control but La Bor is working from the bottom.
My spies in The Million Dollar Performance Center inform me that Holzken has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Holzken is pushing down on La Bor's leg trying to pass to half guard. La Bor is fighting to maintain full guard but Holzken has managed to sneak the leg through.
Holzken wants to free his trapped foot but La Bor is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Holzken works his way into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Holzken working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holzken working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
La Bor struggling a bit here.

Holzken thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Holzken tries for a kimura but La Bor is defending well.
Holzken content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Holzken is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. La Bor looks calm but he's in trouble here. Holzken gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. La Bor is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Holzken lets go of the hold and La Bor can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rodney Holzken!
Rodney Holzken took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.
The defeated Manuel La Bor had this to say: 'This IS frustrating, but the training that I have received in preparation for you, will be followed with more. Nice win and I salute you.'.