PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cedric Simard (ranked 2231 p4p, 223 weight class) and Dani Holguin (ranked 1145 p4p, 139 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Simard
vs
Holguin

200 cm
22
250 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

189 cm
25
272 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cedric Simard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dani Holguin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simard doesn't manage to clinch there - Holguin circles away.
Holguin shoots in for a takedown but Simard shows good takedown defense.

Simard has Holguin up against the cage in a clinch.
Simard lands a shot to the body.
Holguin looks winded!
A nice left hand lands by Simard.
Simard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Simard.
Holguin takes a shot to the head.

Holguin pulls guard effortlessly.
Simard controlling from the top position.
Holguin can't keep his opponent in guard - Simard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Holguin tries to get to full guard but Simard has control of the leg.
Simard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holguin is trying to get back to full guard.
Holguin wants to control the action here but instead Simard manages to pass to full mount!
Simard is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Holguin told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Simard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Holguin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Simard definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Holguin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Holguin trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simard wants to take a breather but Holguin is having none of it.
Holguin is trying to get back to full guard.
Holguin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holguin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Holguin tries to get to full guard but Simard has control of the leg.
Holguin trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Holguin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Holguin is looking to get to half guard.
Simard tries to control but Holguin wriggling away.
Simard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Holguin is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Holguin regains half guard.
Holguin tries to roll over but Simard keeps him under control.
Simard sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holguin wants to control but Simard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Simard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Simard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Holguin.

Holguin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Simard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Simard here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Simard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holguin wants to pass the guard but Simard is keeping the position.
Holguin throws a strike but Simard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Holguin controlling the position.
Simard postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holguin looking to control but Simard passes into half guard.
Holguin wants to improve his position but Simard is controlling well.
Simard stalling away here and it's allowed Holguin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Cedric Simard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holguin looking to control but Simard passes into half guard.

Holguin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Holguin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Simard stopping the sweep attempt from Holguin.
Simard wants to control from the top but Holguin keeps moving.
Simard stopping the sweep attempt from Holguin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Holguin trying to control the position.
Holguin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Holguin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Simard has passed into side control.
Simard slows the pace down.
Holguin is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Holguin's face as Simard controls the position.
Holguin is not content to let Simard control the position.
Holguin is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holguin looks to move to half guard but instead Simard has passed into mount! Damn!
Simard content just to control the position here.
Holguin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Simard avoids the attempt from Holguin to control.
Simard is looking to stand but Holguin has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Holguin tries to lock up and control but Simard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Holguin is squirming around, avoiding Simard's attempts to control the action.
Holguin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Simard content just to control the position here.
Simard manages to capitalize on a mistake by Holguin to take his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holguin rolls, trying to escape but Simard keeps control of the position.
Simard not allowing Holguin to control his hands.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Simard controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Simard dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Holguin fails with a takedown attempt.
Holguin fails to land the takedown.

Holguin looking to score a takedown here. Simard is defending well but Holguin drives through and ends up in Simard's guard.
Holguin trying to control but Simard is working from the bottom.
Simard has Holguin pulled in close to control his posture.
Holguin forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holguin is pressing down on Simard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Simard is holding on for now.
Holguin is thwarting Simard's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holguin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Holguin throwing shots but Simard is blocking nicely.
Simard trying to control from the bottom.
Holguin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Simard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holguin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holguin's back!
Simard is hanging on to Holguin's back as he tries to escape.
Will Simard go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Holguin right now.
Simard trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Holguin doesn't escape.
Holguin looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Simard controls the action.
Simard is hanging on to Holguin's back as he tries to escape.
Will Simard go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
I really don't envy Holguin right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Simard's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Simard has the hooks in. Holguin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Simard just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Holguin tries to roll but Simard sticks to his back.
Simard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holguin can do to turn this around?
Holguin is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Simard.
Dani Holguin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simard has the hooks in. Holguin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Simard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simard is riding his opponent, not letting Holguin buck him off.
Simard avoiding Holguin 's attempts to control his hands.
Simard controlling the position well here. Holguin rolled but Simard kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Simard keeps control of the position as Holguin tries to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Cedric Simard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cedric Simard!
Cedric Simard thanked the fans post fight for their support.