PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arlie Holt (ranked 5106 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Freshwater (ranked 5133 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Holt
vs
Freshwater

222 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arlie Holt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Freshwater!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Bruno Lombardi and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Freshwater throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Holt tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Freshwater is in Holt's guard.
Holt seems keen to control Freshwater's posture.
Freshwater content to stall in guard here.
Freshwater passes Holt's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Holt is not content to let Freshwater control the position.
Holt is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freshwater is trying to control the action in half guard but Holt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Freshwater prevents Holt from improving his position.

Freshwater is working for a kimura but Holt is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freshwater wants to take a breather but Holt is having none of it.
Freshwater wants to pass to mount but Holt is defending the position.
Holt trying to control here.
Holt wants to get back to full guard.
Freshwater seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Holt does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Holt is looking to improve his position.
Holt trying to control from the bottom.

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.

Freshwater is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Freshwater thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holt's head.
Freshwater trying to control from half guard but Holt is working away.

Freshwater is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holt has managed to free his arm - good work.
Freshwater tries to pass to full mount but Holt defends it.
Freshwater is keen to just control but Holt is a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Freshwater is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Freshwater trying to pass the guard but Holt defending well.
Freshwater controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holt shoots in for a takedown but Freshwater shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Freshwater feints the counter takedown.
Freshwater fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four 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.

Freshwater manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Holt on his heels. He'll look to pass Holt's guard now, I'm sure.
Holt is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Holt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Holt being controlled here, momentarily.
Freshwater pushes down on Holt's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Freshwater wants to control but Holt is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Freshwater dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Freshwater is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Freshwater swings widly with a right hand

and Holt counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Holt.
Freshwater wants to sweep here but Holt controlling him for the moment.
Holt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Holt is working Freshwater over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freshwater is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Holt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Freshwater on the ground.
Holt controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Freshwater is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Freshwater has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt works over Freshwater with some ground and pound from guard.
Holt trying to control but Freshwater is working from the bottom.

Freshwater looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Holt trying to control but Freshwater is working from the bottom.
Freshwater being controlled here, momentarily.

Holt drops back looking for a leg! Freshwater is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Freshwater manages to kick Holt off! Holt jumps back into Freshwater's guard.
Holt stopping the sweep attempt from Freshwater.

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.

Freshwater is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Holt defends well.
Freshwater manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Holt manages to get himself to full guard.

Holt lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Freshwater wants to sweep but no luck.
Freshwater keeping moving, preventing Holt from controlling successfully.
Holt has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Holt won't allow Freshwater to sweep him here.

Holt is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Holt controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt looking to sit in guard and control but Freshwater gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Freshwater sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Joey Freshwater has got the better of the ground game so far.
Freshwater advances to half guard.
Freshwater tries to pass the half guard into mount. Holt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Freshwater is still trying to improve position.

Freshwater is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Freshwater is breathing heavily.
Freshwater trying to control the action but Holt is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freshwater is working for a submission of some sort.
Holt is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holt is doing well to control the position and prevent Freshwater from advancing to side control.

Freshwater trying to work for an americana but Holt has managed to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joey Freshwater will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Freshwater throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Holt was covering up waiting for the punch and Freshwater finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Holt pushes Freshwater off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Holt looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Freshwater!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Holt looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt scoring with punches from side control.
Freshwater manages to work his way to half guard, despite Holt's best efforts.
Freshwater tries to roll over but Holt keeps him under control.
Ground and pound from Holt.
Freshwater gets full guard.
Freshwater has his hands on Holt's head, controlling the position.
Holt won't allow Freshwater to get back to his feet.

Holt drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Holt jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Freshwater bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holt's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freshwater stops Holt from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Freshwater advances to half guard.
Holt has a hand on Freshwater's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Freshwater takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Freshwater content just to control the position here.
Holt is looking to get to half guard.

Freshwater has hold of Holt's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Holt manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Holt is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freshwater wants to control the pace but Holt is squirming around nicely.
Holt is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Holt is trying to escape the mount.
Freshwater looking to control and managing it successfully.
Freshwater wants to control the pace but Holt is squirming around nicely.

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.
Holt is trying desperately to improve position.

Freshwater has isolated one of Holt's arms. Holt looking to fight him off but Freshwater twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joey Freshwater!