PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Gatsby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodney Holzken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holzken is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Justin Bieber ft. Ariana Grande - Let Me Think Bout You. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Gatsby
vs
Holzken

178 cm
24
167 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

179 cm
28
157 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Nuggetori's Nutritionals
House of Valor

Aspire Clothing
House of Valor

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Gatsby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodney Holzken!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holzken has his takedown stuffed
and Gatsby cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Holzken shoots in and bounces Gatsby off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gatsby trying to control the position here.
Holzken stopping the sweep attempt from Gatsby.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holzken showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Holzken won't allow Gatsby to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holzken is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gatsby tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Holzken sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Gatsby looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Holzken seems keen to control Gatsby's posture.
Holzken is continuing to stall.
Gatsby trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby throws an elbow that misses. Holzken uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gatsby's guard. Nice move by Holzken!

Gatsby is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Holzken preventing the sweep.
Holzken is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gatsby bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holzken's guard.

Holzken keeping moving, preventing Gatsby from controlling successfully.
Holzken managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby throws an elbow that misses. Holzken uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gatsby's guard. Nice move by Holzken!

Gatsby working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Holzken has passed into half guard!
Holzken is taking a breather. Gatsby says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gatsby misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Holzken trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Gatsby is squirming around, avoiding Holzken's attempts to control the action.
Gatsby throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Holzken sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holzken prevents Gatsby from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Holzken dominated that round.
That's time! Gatsby's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Holzken shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gatsby's guard.
Gatsby wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Holzken is now in half guard.
Gatsby is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holzken content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gatsby wants to improve his position but Holzken is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holzken works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gatsby working to try and regain half guard.
Holzken blocks Gatsby's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Gatsby can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holzken content just to control the position here.
Gatsby working to try and regain half guard.
Rodney Holzken has got the better of the ground game so far.
Holzken controlling from the full mount.
Holzken has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at LOD:NYC Striking Academy . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Holzken has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gatsby tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gatsby is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holzken controlling the position easily from mount.
Gatsby is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gatsby regains half guard.
Gatsby tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Holzken has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Holzken showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Holzken shoots in but no luck this time.
Holzken fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Holzken enables Gatsby to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Holzken manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gatsby trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Holzken seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gatsby loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gatsby throws a strike but Holzken rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatsby trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Holzken stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gatsby swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gatsby wants to improve his position but instead Holzken has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gatsby wants to improve his position but Holzken is controlling well.
Holzken not doing much here.
Holzken blocks the strikes from Gatsby.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gatsby tries to roll over but Holzken keeps him under control.
Gatsby works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gatsby is looking to sweep but instead, Holzken has passed into half guard.
Gatsby is looking for a sweep. Holzken is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gatsby is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holzken's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holzken's back!
Gatsby misses with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holzken trying to control the action but Gatsby just sinks the hooks in.

Gatsby looking for the choke but no joy.
Gatsby throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Holzken covering up well under a series of strikes from Gatsby.
Holzken just trying to survive but Gatsby is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Gatsby is punishing Holzken with strikes - can he finish him?!
Gatsby lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Holzken hold on?!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Holzken just trying to survive but Gatsby is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Gatsby throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Holzken trying to control but not successfully.
Holzken tries to escape the position.
Gatsby misses with an elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Holzken defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gatsby throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Gatsby showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Holzken 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight for Joe Gatsby!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Joe Gatsby!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Rodney Holzken!

Joe Gatsby wins by split decision!