PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Little Hercules (ranked 4129 p4p, 4163 weight class) and Max Holloway (ranked 0 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.

Hercules
vs
Holloway

162 cm
18
148
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Little Hercules!
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, Max Holloway!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Hercules misses

and Holloway moves into the clinch.
Holloway stalling the fight.

Holloway breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Hercules.
Hercules throws a head kick that Holloway semi-blocks.
Hercules misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Holloway.
Holloway controls the position.
Hercules is looking to regain half guard here but Holloway keeps moving and retains side control.
Hercules seems a little lost for a moment, as Holloway dominates the positioning.

Holloway stands up.
Hercules throws a head kick that Holloway semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hercules lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Holloway lands a jab-cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Holloway.

Holloway closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hercules knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Holloway on the ground.
Hercules is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Holloway with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Let's hope that Holloway has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Holloway working Hercules over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holloway controlling the action here.
Hercules wants to improve his position but Holloway is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ground and pound from Holloway.
Holloway frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Holloway looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Holloway sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Holloway connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Holloway gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Holloway scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hercules could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Holloway shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hercules manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Holloway looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holloway gets to his feet. Hercules looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Holloway shoots for a takedown but Hercules saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Holloway has taken the fight to the clinch.
Holloway just leaning against Hercules, taking a breather.

Holloway tightens his grip and picks Hercules up, before dumping him to the ground. Hercules manages to land in guard.
Hercules is looking to stand back up but Holloway counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Hercules.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Holloway is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Max Holloway dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Holloway closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hercules circles away.
Holloway throws a head kick that Hercules semi-blocks.
Holloway tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hercules swivels and escapes.
Max Holloway is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Holloway moves into the clinch successfully.
Hercules fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hercules looking to slow down the pace here.
Holloway tries for a takedown. No joy.
Little Hercules has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Holloway.
Hercules has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hercules has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Holloway avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Holloway jumps into guard, dragging Hercules to the mat.
Hercules looking to sit in guard and control but Holloway gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Holloway decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Hercules.
Hercules tries a head kick but it misses.
Jab, jab by Holloway - just one landing.

Holloway shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hercules's guard.
Holloway distracts Hercules with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Holloway sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Holloway works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Holloway scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Holloway has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holloway maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Hercules could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Holloway has cracked it and Hercules is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Holloway!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Max Holloway!