PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eric Holliday (ranked 3895 p4p, 3994 weight class) and Justin Gaethje (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Holliday
vs
Gaethje

178 cm
25
162
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
162
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Holliday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justin Gaethje!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaethje misses with an uppercut.
Gaethje misses with a looping left.
A counter left hand to the body from Holliday misses its target.
Gaethje is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Holliday.
Gaethje throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Holliday to counter with a crisp jab.
Gaethje looks to score with a jab to the body but Holliday is just out of range.
Holliday is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A big right from Gaethje misses.
It looked like Holliday wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gaethje throws a body punch but Holliday moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Gaethje misses.
Gaethje throws a hook but Holliday avoids it easily.
A quick step to the side and Holliday tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holliday throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaethje throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaethje throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gaethje takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gaethje ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holliday moves away.
Holliday was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gaethje takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gaethje takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Holliday needs to keep his hands up - Gaethje had a free shot at his head there.
Gaethje throws an off balance right hand
and Holliday counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Holliday lands a two punch combo.
Holliday scores with a nice right hand.
A slow jab from Gaethje misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gaethje misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holliday.
Gaethje rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Holliday counters with a nice body shot.
Gaethje misses with an uppercut
and Holliday cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gaethje throws a hook but Holliday blocks it.
Gaethje swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holliday moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice uppercut lands for Holliday. That snapped Gaethje's head back.
Nice defenses there by Holliday.
Holliday connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaethje clobbers Holliday with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gaethje misses with an uppercut
and Holliday counters with a straight right hand.
Holliday uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gaethje.
Holliday ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gaethje misses with an uppercut. Holliday saw that one coming.
Holliday was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gaethje misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Holliday counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Holliday changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Holliday staying out of range there.
Gaethje misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaethje slips under a jab.
Holliday lands with a good body shot.
Holliday throws a series of punches but Gaethje moves out of range.
Holliday slips under a jab.
Holliday uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gaethje.
Holliday paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaethje jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Holliday is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Holliday on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gaethje darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eric Holliday will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gaethje thows a left - swing and a miss!
Eric Holliday is winning the standup battle so far.
Gaethje misses with a body shot
and Holliday counters with a straight right hand.
Gaethje throws a hook but Holliday blocks it.
Gaethje throws a poor cross that misses
and Holliday counters with a right hand to the body.
Holliday throws a shot to the body.
Gaethje lunges at Holliday with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Holliday's hand.
Gaethje misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Holliday counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Holliday.
Holliday uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gaethje.
Gaethje throws a lazy right hand but Holliday sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaethje rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Holliday counters with a right hand to the body.
Holliday swings for the body but Gaethje moves out of range.
Gaethje misses with an uppercut
and Holliday counters with a right hand to the body.
Gaethje throws a lazy uppercut
and Holliday counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gaethje misses with a looping right.
Holliday tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gaethje was well out of range. Poor timing from Holliday.
The fighters circling - Gaethje throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gaethje throws a right hand that misses
and Holliday makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Justin Gaethje seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaethje looks to land a right hand but Holliday moved out of range.
Holliday was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaethje jabs Holliday right on the nose. Holliday blinks but takes it well.
Gaethje throws a lazy uppercut
and Holliday counters with a stiff right hand.
Gaethje throws a right hand that misses
and Holliday counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gaethje throws a shot from downtown. Holliday moves away and avoids it.
Holliday swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaethje keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gaethje might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Holliday keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gaethje.
A telegraphed right hand from Gaethje misses the target.
The fighters circling - Holliday throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gaethje swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Holliday scores with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaethje jabs Holliday to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gaethje scores with a jab. Holliday acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gaethje throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Holliday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gaethje throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Holliday counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Holliday slips a straight right by Gaethje.
As Gaethje looks to move away, Holliday throws a big counter combo but Gaethje just gets out of the way.
Holliday catches Gaethje with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Holliday is looking to wear down Gaethje with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gaethje jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gaethje throws a right hand that misses
and Holliday makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaethje throws a sloppy body shot
and Holliday counters with a straight right hand.
Gaethje throws a predictable looking body shot
and Holliday counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Gaethje misses.
Holliday throws a body punch but Gaethje moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Gaethje on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A slow jab from Gaethje misses its intended target.
A quick step to the side and Holliday tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holliday misses with a wild body shot.
Gaethje tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Holliday was well out of range. Poor timing from Gaethje.
Holliday swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gaethje counters with a nice uppercut.
Gaethje misses with a hook
and Holliday counters with a straight right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Holliday dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gaethje scores with a body shot.
Gaethje avoids the body shot from Holliday.
It seemed like Gaethje was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Holliday slips under a jab.
Gaethje swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Holliday swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Holliday misses with a looping right.
Holliday blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaethje takes a swing at Holliday's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Holliday was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gaethje.
Gaethje connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gaethje throws a hook but Holliday blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Gaethje coming out on top.
Gaethje throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaethje misses with a right hand
letting Holliday counter with a right hand.
Gaethje keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Holliday.
Holliday ducks under a wild hook from Gaethje.
Holliday uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaethje.
Gaethje throws an off balance right hand
and Holliday connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gaethje thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Gaethje misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaethje keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holliday ducks under a wild hook from Gaethje.
Gaethje missing with a left hand there. Holliday was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Holliday was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Holliday takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A jab lands there for Gaethje.
Holliday misses with a hook.
Holliday moves out of range of the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaethje misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Holliday to counter with a crisp jab.
Gaethje misses with a hook. Holliday ducked under it nicely.
Holliday is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaethje throws a poor cross that misses
and Holliday makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gaethje throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Holliday counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Holliday misses.
Gaethje throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaethje throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaethje takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gaethje missing with a left hand there. Holliday was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gaethje misses with a right hand
enabling Holliday to counter with a crisp jab.
Holliday has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Holliday finds it's target.
Gaethje is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gaethje tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Holliday was well out of range. Poor timing from Gaethje.
A telegraphed right hand from Holliday misses the target.
Gaethje looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gaethje connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaethje on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gaethje lands with a cross.

Holliday is rocked!
Gaethje misses with a left hand
and Holliday counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Oh Holliday is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Holliday lands with a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Justin Gaethje.
Well Holliday 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Eric Holliday!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Justin Gaethje!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Eric Holliday!

Eric Holliday wins by split decision!