PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Holcomb (ranked 25448 p4p, 0 weight class) and High Row (ranked 8314 p4p, 0 weight class). High Row has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holcomb
vs
Row

177 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
21
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lorenzo Holcomb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, High Row!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Row throws a head kick that Holcomb semi-blocks.
Row throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Row.
Holcomb really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Holcomb avoids the head kick by Row.
As Row tries to get set, Holcomb tries to push him back and clinch up but Row manages to avoid the attempt.

Holcomb shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Row's guard.
Holcomb lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Holcomb content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Row throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Row trying to control the position.
Holcomb lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Holcomb working some strikes from top position.
Row bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holcomb's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holcomb is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Holcomb can't keep his opponent in guard - Row advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Holcomb keeping hold of Row's head, controlling as best he can.
Holcomb tries to roll over but Row keeps him under control.
Holcomb is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

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.

Row looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Holcomb regains full guard. Nicely done.
Holcomb manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Row manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Holcomb lands a couple of digs.
Row pulls Holcomb in close to prevent any damage.

Row looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Holcomb has picked Row up and slammed him! Row can't keep hold of the triangle and Holcomb manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Row is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Holcomb lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Holcomb moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Holcomb scores with a couple of short elbows.
Row is looking for a sweep.
Holcomb is working Row over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Row tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Row is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Row is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Holcomb working away.
Holcomb in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Holcomb is putting a hurting on Row here, landing some big shots from side control.
Holcomb working the head with strikes.
Row tries to buck Holcomb off but Holcomb is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We've been informed that Row has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Holcomb working away.
Holcomb working the ground and pound.
Holcomb wants to lay and pray for a moment but Row keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Holcomb dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Row throws a sloppy head kick

and Holcomb counters with a takedown into side control.
Row tries to buck Holcomb off but Holcomb is having none of it.
Row is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Row taking punishment in the form of punches.
Row is looking for a sweep.
Holcomb is putting a hurting on Row here, landing some big shots from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Row is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Holcomb's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Holcomb trying to control the pace.
Holcomb is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holcomb perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Row is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Holcomb pulls his head out easily.
Holcomb lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Holcomb content to control rather than advance.
Row on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Row looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Row actively working from the bottom here.
Row is breathing heavily.
Holcomb working the head and body with strikes.
Holcomb working the head and body with strikes.
Row is trying to get back to full guard.
Holcomb looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Holcomb working over Row with some ground and pound. Row looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Row tries to roll over but Holcomb keeps him under control.
Holcomb looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Row tries to get to full guard but Holcomb has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Holcomb connects with a nice short shot to Row's temple.
Row on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Holcomb lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Holcomb there.
Holcomb slows the pace down in half guard.
Holcomb is nestled in close to Row, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lorenzo Holcomb overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Row is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Holcomb lands with a punch from half guard.

Row looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Row wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Holcomb seems content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Row is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Holcomb pulls his head out easily.
Holcomb scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Holcomb dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Row takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
High Row seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Row throws a head kick but Holcomb moves out of range.
Row changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holcomb tries to avoid it but Row manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holcomb to the ground. Holcomb escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Row throws a sloppy head kick and Holcomb moves out of range easily.
Holcomb wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Holcomb gets the takedown into side control.
Row is trying to improve his position.
Row can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holcomb lands some shots froms side control.
Row takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Row taking a bit of punishment here - Holcomb scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Row tries to bench press Holcomb off him but Holcomb keeps the position.
Holcomb working the ground and pound from side control.
Holcomb is working Row over with some ground and pound from side control.
Holcomb is putting a hurting on Row here, landing some big shots from side control.
Row is letting Holcomb control him for a moment.
Holcomb landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Holcomb in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Row is looking to reverse the position.
Holcomb gets to mount! Row was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Holcomb in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holcomb connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Holcomb postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Row looks a forlorn figure.
Row is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Holcomb controlling his opponent.
Holcomb 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.
Holcomb fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! Holcomb connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
BOOM! Holcomb connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Row tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Row wants to hold on but Holcomb pushes him away.
Holcomb sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Holcomb lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holcomb controlling from mount.
Holcomb in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Row tries to hold on but Holcomb postures up.
Row is in all sorts of trouble here.
Row regains half guard.
Holcomb is nestled in close to Row, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Row wants to sweep but Holcomb has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holcomb lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Row tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Holcomb scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
What can Row do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Holcomb has the hooks in. Row is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Row is trying to remain composed but Holcomb is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
High Row has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lorenzo Holcomb is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holcomb biding his time, looking for the opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lorenzo Holcomb showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holcomb, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lorenzo Holcomb!