PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Utah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brik Holtik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brik Holtik will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Utah
vs
Holtik

180 cm
26
197 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

192 cm
32
192 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonny Utah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brik Holtik!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Utah scores with a jab. Holtik acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Utah avoids a punch combination nicely.
Holtik with a lazy takedown attempt

and Utah counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Holtik wants to take the fight to the mat but Utah manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Utah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holtik fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jonny Utah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brik Holtik.
Holtik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A jab from Utah finds it's way through Holtik's defenses.

Holtik looking to score a takedown here. Utah is defending well but Holtik drives through and ends up in Utah's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Utah is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Utah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Utah shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Holtik is trying to defend but Utah finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Holtik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Utah.

Holtik looking for submissions off his back.
Utah missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Utah sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Holtik defending well though.
Holtik avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Utah.
Holtik has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Utah is working away from the top position though.
Holtik is looking for a sweep. Utah is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Utah is pressing down on Holtik's thigh, looking to free his foot. Holtik is holding on for now.
Holtik controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holtik is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Utah pulls his head out easily.
Utah wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holtik keeps working.
Holtik is looking to control Utah's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Holtik avoid being mounted?
Holtik manages to get to full guard.
Utah postures up in Holtik's guard and throws a big left but Holtik blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Utah is looking to work some ground and pound but Holtik has wrist control.

Holtik working for a triangle but Utah defends it easily.
Utah trying to control but Holtik is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Utah slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Utah looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Holtik is avoiding damage well.
Holtik is looking to reverse the position.
Utah tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Holtik wants to control but Utah postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Utah seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Holtik throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Holtik can't do much from the bottom here.
Holtik is letting Utah control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utah lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Utah wants to control for a moment but Holtik uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Utah trying to control from half guard but Holtik is working away.
Holtik is looking for a sweep. Utah is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Utah trying to control the action but Holtik is working from the bottom.
Holtik missing with punches from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Utah throwing shots but Holtik is blocking nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Holtik actively working from the bottom here.
Holtik keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holtik closes the distance and clinches up with Utah, looking for a takedown. Holtik pushes Utah against the cage but Utah circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Holtik tries for a takedown but Utah circles away easily

and Utah counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Holtik is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Utah defends well.

Holtik has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Utah can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Utah got a little sloppy there for a moment and Holtik has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Utah has managed to get both his arms back between Holtik's legs - danger averted.
Holtik tries to strike from the bottom.
Utah trying to control but Holtik is working from the bottom.

Holtik has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Utah can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Utah has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Holtik controls Utah momentarily but Utah frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holtik working for a triangle but Utah defends it easily.
Holtik keeping moving, preventing Utah from controlling successfully.
Utah might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Holtik looking for a guillotine here but Utah defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Utah looking to sit in guard and control but Holtik gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Utah controls Holtik momentarily but Holtik frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utah working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holtik.
Holtik trying to control but Utah is working from the bottom.

Utah is working an open guard so Holtik takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Holtik keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Utah.
Holtik shoots in but Utah avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jonny Utah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brik Holtik.
Holtik uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Utah.
Brik Holtik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Holtik bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Utah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holtik moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Holtik. Those never looked like landing.
Holtik has his takedown stuffed
and Utah counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Utah is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Holtik's half guard.
Utah stalling.

Holtik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Utah sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Holtik defending well though.
Utah is trying to control the action in half guard but Holtik is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Holtik tries to roll over but Utah keeps him under control.

Holtik actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utah controlling the action here.
Utah throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Utah thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Holtik regains full guard. Nicely done.
Utah lands a couple of elbows.
Holtik keeping full guard, as Utah tries to pass.

Holtik throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Utah trying to control the position from guard on top but Holtik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Holtik looking for a guillotine here but Utah defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jonny Utah will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Utah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holtik.
Holtik shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Utah counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Holtik throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Holtik fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Utah clinches up against the cage.

Utah turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Utah working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holtik is looking to reverse the position.
Holtik gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Holtik is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Holtik is trying to control but can't.

Holtik looking for submissions off his back.
Utah scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Utah is keen to just control but Holtik is a slippery customer.
Holtik wants to improve his position but Utah is controlling well.
Utah lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Holtik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Utah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holtik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Holtik looking for submissions off his back.
Holtik takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Holtik has hold of Utah's hands but Utah slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Utah lands strikes from half guard.
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!
Holtik keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Holtik manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Utah postures up in Holtik's guard and throws a big left but Holtik blocks it.
Holtik trying to control the position.
Utah wants to control from the top but Holtik keeps moving.
Brik Holtik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Utah throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Holtik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holtik throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Utah is working Holtik over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Utah is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Utah trying to control but Holtik is working from the bottom.

Holtik is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Holtik looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jonny Utah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holtik working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Utah doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Utah manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Utah postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Utah wants to control from the top but Holtik keeps moving.
Utah is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Holtik is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Utah throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Utah trying to control but Holtik is working from the bottom.
Holtik doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Utah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Utah 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Utah!