PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Max Holloway (ranked 4835 p4p, 5583 weight class) and Padro Piscani (ranked 407 p4p, 431 weight class). Holloway comes to the cage accompanied by Face the Pain. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Holloway
vs
Piscani

180 cm
19
150
0 - 3 - 0

173 cm
18
145
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Urban Fighter
Altitude Clothing

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Holloway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Padro Piscani!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Piscani lands a nice shot to the body.
Piscani lands a nice looking body shot.
Piscani throws a low kick but Holloway avoids it.
Holloway throws a poor cross that misses
and Piscani counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Holloway with a nice calf kick.
Holloway throws a leg kick but Piscani sees it coming and moves out of range.
Holloway walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Piscani checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A nice leg kick from Holloway, right into the meat of the thigh.
Holloway doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Holloway lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Piscani goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Holloway scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Piscani connects with a body shot that sends Holloway's belly button to the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holloway misses with a straight left.
Piscani throws a wild body kick that Holloway sees coming a mile off.
Holloway looks to land a combination but Piscani avoids it well.
Piscani throws a body kick that misses.
Holloway is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Holloway with the inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piscani connects with a body shot that sends Holloway's belly button to the back.
Piscani lands a right hook to the body.
Piscani slips a jab and a cross from Holloway.
Holloway fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Piscani throws a right and a left that Holloway avoids nicely.
It looked like Holloway was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A swing and a miss from Holloway.
Piscani motions for Holloway to come forward. Piscani throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Holloway throws a big counter combination but Piscani scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Piscani walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Piscani lands with a cross.
Holloway lands a nice looking body kick.
Piscani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A chopping leg kick lands by Holloway.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holloway throws a head kick that misses
and Holloway takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Good standup being displayed there by Piscani as he connects with a hook.
Piscani displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Piscani is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Holloway rather than just go for the knockout.
Holloway leaves Piscani with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Holloway went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piscani takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Piscani swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Holloway.
Holloway ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Piscani moves away.
Holloway lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Piscani throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Max Holloway is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Piscani takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nice cross by Piscani.
Piscani fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Holloway looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Holloway getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Piscani throws a hook but Holloway blocks it.
Holloway lets loose with a powerful body kick. Piscani will feel that in the morning.
A slow jab from Holloway misses its intended target.
Piscani tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Holloway is able to avoid easily.
Holloway moves out of range as Piscani throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holloway throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A punch combination from Holloway misses.
Piscani lands the left hand.
Holloway moves out of range as Piscani strikes.
Holloway scores with a head kick.
Holloway goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Max Holloway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holloway throws a head kick that Piscani semi-blocks.
Piscani tries a head kick but it misses.
Piscani looks winded!
Holloway lands with a shot to the body.
Holloway with a nice calf kick.
Holloway lands with a kick to the ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piscani scores with a one two! Holloway had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
We've been told by Holloway's head coaches at Irish Collar & Elbow Academy (ICE) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Piscani throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Holloway misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holloway. Piscani does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Holloway does no damage.
Holloway works Piscani's body with a nice hook.
Holloway throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holloway takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Holloway throws a head kick that Piscani semi-blocks.
Holloway throws a series of punches but Piscani avoids them all with ease.
Piscani catches Holloway with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Holloway throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Piscani.
Holloway cracks Piscani with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Piscani lands with a nice body punch.
Holloway buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Piscani comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Holloway misses with a few strikes there.
Holloway throws a series of punches but Piscani moves out of range.
Holloway misses with a body shot.
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 Max Holloway will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Piscani walks into a straight right hand from Holloway.
Max Holloway is winning the standup battle so far.
Piscani lands a glancing blow to the side of Holloway's head.
Holloway takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Good work by Holloway as he checks the leg kick.
Holloway fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Piscani.
Holloway misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Piscani.
Holloway throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holloway misses with an uppercut
and Piscani counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Holloway waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Piscani.
Holloway avoids the head kick by Piscani.
Holloway displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Piscani avoids the head kick by Holloway.
Holloway fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Piscani throws a body punch but Holloway moves out of range.
It looked like Holloway was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Holloway.
Holloway scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piscani ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Piscani lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Piscani connects with the punch.
Holloway lands a head kick!
Holloway tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Piscani was well out of range. Poor timing from Holloway.
A punch combination from Holloway misses.
Piscani with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Holloway to score with a decent uppercut.
Max Holloway is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Piscani tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Piscani showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holloway.
Holloway throws a leg kick which misses Piscani's front leg but catches the back leg as Piscani tries to avoid it.
Piscani lands an overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Piscani looks to score with a jab to the body but Holloway is just out of range.
As Piscani looks to move away, Holloway throws a big counter combo but Piscani just gets out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Holloway, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Holloway tries a head kick but it misses.
Piscani swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Holloway moves out of range of the body kick from Piscani.
Piscani lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Piscani takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Holloway throws a right hand that Piscani ducks under and follows up with a left that Piscani also avoids with ease.
Holloway lets loose with a powerful body kick. Piscani will feel that in the morning.
Holloway lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Holloway blocks a head kick by Piscani.
Piscani is breathing heavily.
Holloway avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for Holloway, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Holloway swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piscani jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Holloway.
Piscani's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Piscani lands with a straight right. Holloway didn't see that one coming.
An inside leg kick from Piscani misses.
Piscani has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Holloway.
Nice uppercut lands for Holloway. That snapped Piscani's head back.
Piscani misses with a body shot.
Piscani throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Holloway misses with a two punch combination.
Holloway blocks the body kick.
Piscani moves out of range as Holloway throws a body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Holloway. That's going to slow Piscani down.
Piscani misses with a leg kick.
Holloway gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Piscani.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piscani throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Holloway fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Piscani.
Holloway throws a nice outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Piscani throws a body punch but Holloway moves out of range.
Holloway takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Piscani keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Piscani uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Holloway.
Despite the aggression on Piscani's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
An inside leg kick from Piscani misses.
Piscani walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Holloway fails to land with a series of punches.
Piscani dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holloway throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Piscani's head.
Holloway throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Piscani to counter with a crisp jab.
Piscani showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holloway.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Max Holloway dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Holloway swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Piscani throws a head kick but Holloway moves out of range.
Piscani on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Holloway dips to his left and cracks Piscani with an uppercut!
The crowd cheers as Holloway lands an impressive looking overhand right. Piscani doesn't seem phased though.
Holloway plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Holloway checks a low kick from Piscani.
Holloway takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice uppercut there from Piscani.
Piscani takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Holloway lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Piscani circles away quickly and effectively.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Holloway. Piscani shrugs it off though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holloway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Piscani manages to avoid it.
Piscani is looking for the big counter here.
Holloway throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Piscani digs a good hook to Holloway's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holloway connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Piscani takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice straight punches there by Holloway. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Holloway.
Piscani tries a head kick but it misses.
Holloway throws a combination that misses

and Piscani moves into the clinch.

Holloway breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Holloway. Those never looked like landing.
A bone on bone clash there as Holloway blocks the leg kick.
Holloway tried to counter with a leg kick but Piscani avoided it.
Piscani moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Piscani lands with a hook. Holloway tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sloppy strikes from Holloway. Those never looked like landing.
Piscani pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Holloway back to the cage. Piscani follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Piscani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piscani connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Piscani misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piscani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Holloway.
Holloway connects with a leg kick.
Piscani moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Holloway throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holloway throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Piscani.
Holloway throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holloway misses with a shot to the body
and Piscani counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Holloway plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Holloway walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Piscani fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Holloway looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Holloway checks the leg kick nicely there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Piscani!
Max Holloway is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holloway throws a front kick that sends Piscani stumbling back into the cage.
Holloway thuds his shin into the meat of Piscani's side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holloway lets loose with a powerful body kick. Piscani will feel that in the morning.
Holloway misses with a few strikes there.
Holloway throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Piscani drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Holloway defends it well.
Piscani lands a nice shot that snaps Holloway's head back.
Holloway swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Piscani does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Holloway is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Piscani has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Piscani there as he acknowledges the shot.
Holloway looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Piscani scores with a crisp jab that stopped Holloway in his tracks.
Piscani avoids the head kick by Holloway.
Holloway looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Piscani takes a kick to the side of the head.
Holloway misses with a kick to the body.
Piscani scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piscani tries to land a front kick but Holloway steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Holloway comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Piscani takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Piscani throws a head kick but Holloway moves out of range.
Piscani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holloway moves away.
Holloway misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sloppy strikes from Holloway. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters circling a little - Holloway finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Holloway.
Padro Piscani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holloway takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Piscani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A right-left combo lands from Piscani.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Max Holloway.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holloway, 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Holloway!
In his post fight interview, Max Holloway started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.