PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pancho Arechavaleta (ranked 4371 p4p, 550 weight class) and Armand Holtz (ranked 8404 p4p, 785 weight class). Armand Holtz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Pancho Arechavaleta's chin.

Arechavaleta
vs
Holtz

185 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
206 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pancho Arechavaleta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Armand Holtz!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holtz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Holtz lands with a slapping head kick.
Arechavaleta avoids the head kick by Holtz.
Arechavaleta is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Holtz.
Holtz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holtz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holtz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Arechavaleta circles away quickly and effectively.
Arechavaleta avoids the head kick by Holtz.
Arechavaleta is looking to counter the offense by Holtz and move into the clinch.
Holtz's jab looks to have found its range, popping Arechavaleta under the eye.
Holtz throws a shot from downtown. Arechavaleta moves away and avoids it.
Holtz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Arechavaleta avoids it really well and circles away.
Holtz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arechavaleta tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Holtz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Arechavaleta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Holtz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holtz lands with an overhand left.
Arechavaleta shoots in for a takedown but Holtz shows good takedown defense.
Holtz throws a sloppy head kick and Arechavaleta moves out of range easily.
As Holtz tries to get set, Arechavaleta tries to push him back and clinch up but Holtz manages to avoid the attempt.
Arechavaleta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Holtz looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Holtz throws a head kick but Arechavaleta moves out of range.
Arechavaleta moves out of range of the strikes.
Holtz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Holtz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Holtz digs a right hand underneath Arechavaleta's ribcage. Arechavaleta let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right hook to the body lands for Arechavaleta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Holtz.
Arechavaleta tries to work over Holtz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Holtz lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Holtz misses with a hook to the ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holtz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Holtz lands an elbow inside.
Holtz unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Holtz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Arechavaleta misses with some punches.
Arechavaleta has a couple of punches blocked by Holtz.
Arechavaleta working Holtz over with knees to the body.
Arechavaleta goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Holtz lands an elbow inside.
Arechavaleta letting Holtz take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtz lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Holtz pulls guard effortlessly.
Holtz is looking to stand up but Arechavaleta isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arechavaleta is working Holtz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Arechavaleta postures up in Holtz's guard and throws a big left but Holtz blocks it.
Holtz pulls Arechavaleta in to control the position.
Holtz looking for a sweep. Not yet Holtz, not yet.
Holtz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Arechavaleta's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holtz stays in close to Arechavaleta's body and controls the position.
Arechavaleta working a defensive guard here.
Holtz stays in close to Arechavaleta's body and controls the position.
Holtz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Holtz stops Arechavaleta from standing up.
Holtz content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holtz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armand Holtz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Holtz throws a right and a left that Arechavaleta avoids nicely.
Holtz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Holtz clinches with his opponent.
Arechavaleta is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Holtz is keeping busy.

Holtz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Arechavaleta can't fight it off and eventually Holtz manages to take the fight to the floor. Arechavaleta looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Holtz looking to pass the guard.
Arechavaleta can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Holtz controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holtz is continuing to stall.
Holtz throwing strikes but missing.
Holtz trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Arechavaleta manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Arechavaleta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holtz is keeping the position for now.
Holtz looking for a sweep. Not yet Holtz, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Arechavaleta wants to stand but Holtz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Holtz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Arechavaleta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Holtz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Holtz trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holtz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Arechavaleta manages to get himself to full guard.

Holtz connects with a couple of short punches.
Holtz stays in close to Arechavaleta's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtz connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arechavaleta working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holtz.

Holtz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Arechavaleta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Holtz has Arechavaleta in his guard.

Holtz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Holtz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Arechavaleta defends it easily.
Holtz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Holtz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holtz throws a strike but Arechavaleta rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Holtz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Holtz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Arechavaleta won't allow Holtz to sweep him here.

Holtz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arechavaleta defends well.
Holtz has his hands on Arechavaleta's head, controlling the position.
Arechavaleta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Holtz wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arechavaleta goes for a double leg but Holtz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Holtz continues to drive forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armand Holtz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Holtz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Arechavaleta's sensitive parts.
Armand Holtz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Holtz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Arechavaleta walks forward, straight into a front kick from Holtz.
Holtz throws a body shot but no joy.
Holtz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Holtz throws a looping overhand right but Arechavaleta ducks down to avoid it.
Holtz tries to land a front kick but Arechavaleta steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Arechavaleta tries to close the distance and clinch but Holtz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Holtz rushes Arechavaleta and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holtz comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Holtz gets control of Arechavaleta's arms and successfully pulls guard. Holtz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holtz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Arechavaleta is in trouble now - Holtz has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holtz jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Arechavaleta manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Arechavaleta wants to get back to his feet but Holtz drags him back down.
Arechavaleta is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Holtz taking a breather here.
Arechavaleta is trying to control Holtz's posture but Holtz avoids it.
Armand Holtz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two 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.
Arechavaleta is letting Holtz control him for a moment.
Holtz lands a few punches from side control.
A lull in the action here.
Let's hope that Holtz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
An elbow from Holtz crashes against the mat.
Holtz is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtz sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Arechavaleta is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Arechavaleta dodges the ground and pound from Holtz.
Arechavaleta managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Holtz.
Holtz controlling the position from side mount.
Holtz is chipping away with strikes.
Holtz fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Holtz tries for a kimura but Arechavaleta is defending well.
Holtz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Arechavaleta sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holtz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Armand Holtz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Holtz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Arechavaleta knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
A lull in the action here.
Pancho Arechavaleta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holtz in side control, throwing shots but Arechavaleta defends.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holtz taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armand Holtz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Holtz 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armand Holtz!