PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mathas Holliday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Tessio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holliday's entrance music is You'r Going Down. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Holliday
vs
Tessio

180 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

181 cm
20
167 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mathas Holliday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Tessio!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tessio is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holliday sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holliday tries to clinch there but Tessio circles away.
Tessio shoots in looking for a takedown. Holliday tries to sprawl out of it but Tessio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Holliday manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tessio throws a nice looking combination but Holliday bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tessio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Holliday.
Tessio misses with a wild combination.

Holliday clinches up with Tessio and pushes him back against the cage.

Holliday has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tessio uses from the top position.
Tessio thows a big elbow that misses.

Holliday is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Tessio looking for a takedown.
Mathas Holliday has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Tessio.

Holliday successfully pulls guard.
Holliday is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tessio looking to sit in guard and control but Holliday gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday trying to control the position from guard on top but Tessio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tessio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tessio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Tessio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Holliday is aware though and is defending well.
Tessio looks gassed!
Holliday trying to control but Tessio is working from the bottom.
Tessio trying to control the position.
Holliday makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Holliday is pushing down on Tessio's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tessio is fighting to maintain full guard but Holliday has managed to sneak the leg through.
Holliday thows a huge punch but Tessio dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Holliday gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Holliday will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tessio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tessio fails with a takedown attempt.
A slapping body kick lands there for Holliday.
Holliday tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tessio sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holliday somewhat.
Holliday shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tessio as he avoids it easily.
Holliday with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tessio counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Holliday!
Holliday tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holliday is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Tessio tries to control but Holliday wriggling away.
Holliday tries to hold on but Tessio pushes him away.

Tessio goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Holliday turns into him and now he's in Tessio's guard.

Holliday gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Holliday scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holliday trying to control the action but Tessio is working from the bottom.

Holliday decides to stand back up. Holliday steps back and let's Tessio get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holliday has his takedown stuffed

and Tessio counters with a takedown into side control.
Holliday tries to escape but Tessio is in control.
Holliday tries to buck Tessio off but Tessio is having none of it.

Tessio decides to stand up, so the ref orders Holliday to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holliday tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holliday is looking to clinch but Tessio is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holliday closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tessio circles away.
Holliday throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tessio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holliday.
Tessio throws a low kick but Holliday avoids it.
Holliday tries to clinch
and Tessio counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Holliday closes the distance and pushes Tessio back into the cage.
Holliday unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tessio lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Tessio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Holliday lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Holliday gets underhooks to prevent Tessio's takedown attempt.
Holliday gets underhooks to prevent Tessio's takedown attempt.
Tessio is breathing heavily.

Holliday has hold of one of Tessio's legs. Tessio is fighting the takedown attempt but Holliday gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Holliday passes Tessio's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tessio tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Holliday manages to move to mount!
Holliday tries to control but Tessio wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holliday jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tessio manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Holliday creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Tessio prevents Holliday from improving position.
Tessio takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Holliday scoring with punches from side control.

Holliday has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Tessio is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Holliday yanks on the arm and Tessio is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Holliday.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mathas Holliday!