PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nils Holgersson (ranked 962 p4p, 104 weight class) and Anton Altair (ranked 1258 p4p, 137 weight class). Holgersson comes to the cage accompanied by Theme. Altair has chosen Bran's freestyle as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Holgersson
vs
Altair

169 cm
36
157 lbs
29 - 21 - 0

180 cm
29
141 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Pit Bull Development
RAGS of a RONIN

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 29 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nils Holgersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anton Altair!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Altair takes a swing at Holgersson's ribcage but misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Altair checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Altair looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Holgersson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Altair is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Holgersson throws a body kick that misses.
Altair tries a quick counter leg kick but Holgersson is wise to it.
Altair throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Holgersson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Altair has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Holgersson is on him like a limpet, forcing Altair back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Altair is trying to force a seperation but Holgersson has the dominant position.
Altair tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Altair misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holgersson.
Holgersson misses with some punches.
Holgersson tries for a takedown but Altair manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Altair.
Knees in the clinch landing for Holgersson.

Altair pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Altair throws a head kick but Holgersson moves out of range.
Holgersson throws a jab when Altair was well out of range.
We've been hearing reports that Holgersson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Altair scores with the left hand. Holgersson knows he should have avoided that one.
Holgersson blocks a low kick nicely.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Holgersson. Altair shrugs it off though.
Nice body punch from Holgersson.
Altair just misses with a punch to the body.
Altair blocks a head kick by Holgersson.
Holgersson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Altair sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Altair waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holgersson.
Altair looks to land a body kick but Holgersson moved away.
Holgersson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Altair misses with the body kick

and Holgersson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Holgersson working Altair over with strikes.

Holgersson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Altair is trying to stand up here but Holgersson is controlling him well.
Holgersson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Altair to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson stopping the sweep attempt from Altair.
Altair working a defensive guard here.
Altair lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Holgersson trying to control the position.
Altair trying to control the position from guard on top but Holgersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Altair with a flurry of punches that miss.
Holgersson has a closed guard, preventing Altair from standing up.
Holgersson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Altair slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Holgersson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Altair is pulling down on Holgersson's head. It's preventing any offense from Holgersson, at least for the moment.
Holgersson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Holgersson won't allow Altair to get back to his feet.
Holgersson with a nice head shot there.
Holgersson working some strikes from top position.
Our spies down at at Gym 412-RoaR sponsored training facility inform us that Altair has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Altair keeping moving, preventing Holgersson from controlling successfully.
Holgersson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anton Altair will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Altair keeps the fight on the outside.
Altair stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Altair wants it to stay on the feet.
Holgersson tries to land a leg kick but Altair saw it coming and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holgersson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Holgersson gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Altair counter with a right hand.
Holgersson shoots for a double leg takedown but Altair sprawls well. He's pushed Holgersson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Altair follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Altair throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holgersson scores with a punch to the head.
Altair is looking to score with low kicks.
Holgersson takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson throws a sloppy head kick and Altair moves out of range easily.
Holgersson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Holgersson ducks right into an uppercut from Altair.

Holgersson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Altair's guard.
Holgersson postures up in Altair's guard and throws a big left but Altair blocks it.
Holgersson throws a strike but Altair rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Altair looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Altair must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Holgersson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Holgersson trying to control but Altair is working from the bottom.
Holgersson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Holgersson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Altair's head.

Holgersson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Holgersson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Altair wants to sweep here but Holgersson controlling him for the moment.
Altair keeps trying to improve his position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Altair wants to stand up but Holgersson is controlling him.
Altair utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holgersson controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Altair utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holgersson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holgersson wants to control from the top but Altair keeps moving.
Holgersson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Altair's head.
Holgersson postures up in Altair's guard and throws a big left but Altair blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Altair is trying to keep Holgersson in close.
Altair is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Holgersson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Holgersson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Altair looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Holgersson looking to sit in guard and control but Altair gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Holgersson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Altair won't allow Holgersson to sweep him here.

Holgersson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Altair defends well.
Holgersson wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nils Holgersson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Holgersson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Altair.
Altair missing with a left hand there. Holgersson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Altair tries to sprawl but Holgersson drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Holgersson is working for a kimura but Altair is defending it quite comfortably.
Altair is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holgersson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Holgersson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Holgersson is pressing down on Altair's thigh, looking to free his foot. Altair is holding on for now.
Holgersson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Altair with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Altair trying to control but Holgersson postures up.
Altair is positioning himself well to prevent Holgersson advancing to mount.
Holgersson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Holgersson controlling the action here.
Altair is looking to control Holgersson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Altair avoid being mounted?
Holgersson trying to mount his opponent but Altair defends it.
Holgersson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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.
Altair wants to control but Holgersson is keeping busy.
Holgersson slows the pace down in half guard.
Altair avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Holgersson.
Holgersson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Holgersson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nils Holgersson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holgersson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Holgersson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Altair is trying to get back to full guard.
Holgersson prevents Altair from standing back up.
Altair is holding on to half guard well.
Altair moves into full guard.
Holgersson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Holgersson throwing strikes but missing.
Holgersson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson looking to sit in guard and control but Altair gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Holgersson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Altair is staying active underneath Holgersson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Holgersson slips a nice elbow through Altair's hands, connecting with Altair's forehead.

Holgersson seems to be looking for submissions.
Holgersson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Altair is looking to escape.
Holgersson is looking to advance position but Altair won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nils Holgersson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Holgersson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nils Holgersson!
A less than humble Nils Holgersson misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.