PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zackary Holden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derrick Bichel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Holden
vs
Bichel

175 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zackary Holden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derrick Bichel!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bichel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Holden manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bichel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Holden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bichel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bichel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Holden can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bichel controls the pace.
Holden might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Let's hope that Bichel 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Derrick Bichel hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Holden slips under a jab from Bichel.

Holden drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Holden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bichel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Holden passes into side control.
Bichel is trying to improve his position.
Bichel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bichel gets back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bichel is trying to maintain the position but Holden is very close to passing his half guard.

Bichel looking for submissions off his back.
Bichel tries to roll over but Holden keeps him under control.
Bichel controlling the position well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bichel looking for subs from the bottom but Holden mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holden avoids the attempt from Bichel to control.
Holden controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bichel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bichel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holden swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bichel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Holden could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bichel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Derrick Bichel wasn't active enough on the ground.
Holden shoots in for a takedown but Bichel shows good takedown defense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bichel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bichel tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Bichel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bichel feints and as Holden raises his hands in defense, Bichel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Holden keeping full guard, as Bichel tries to pass.
Holden controls Bichel momentarily but Bichel frees himself.
Holden can't keep his opponent in guard - Bichel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bichel tries to pass to full mount but Holden defends it.
Bichel seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bichel is looking to take a break and control but Holden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bichel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Bichel wants to pass the guard but Holden is defending well.
Bichel controlling the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Derrick Bichel hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bichel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Holden counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

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

Bichel actively working from the bottom here.

Bichel looking for submissions off his back.
Bichel is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bichel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bichel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Holden thows a huge punch but Bichel dodges it nicely.
Bichel is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Holden jumps into side control!
Holden trying to control the action but Bichel is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Bichel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bichel looks to move to half guard but instead Holden has passed into mount! Damn!
Bichel taking shots to the head.
Bichel is trying desperately to improve position.
Holden working Bichel over with strikes here.
Bichel tries to lock up and control but Holden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bichel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bichel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bichel gets back to half guard.

Bichel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Holden thows a huge punch but Bichel dodges it nicely.
Bichel wants to sweep but Holden has passed to side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bichel wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Bichel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Holden fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bichel sprawls well initially but Holden persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Holden is thwarting Bichel's attempts to control the position.

Bichel looking for submissions off his back.

Bichel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bichel has a hand on Holden's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Holden takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Bichel is working to get back to half guard.
Bichel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bichel gets back to half guard.
Holden throwing shots but Bichel is blocking nicely.
Bichel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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

Bichel throws his legs up looking for a submission but Holden uses it to pass to side control.
Bichel struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bichel is looking to reverse the position.
Holden trying to control the action but Bichel is working from the bottom.
Bichel is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bichel works his way to full guard. Good work.

Bichel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Holden is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holden wants to stand but Bichel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Holden knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bichel on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holden thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bichel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bichel is looking for a triangle but Holden pushes his legs off easily.

Bichel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Bichel isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Holden stacks Bichel on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Holden!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bichel is trying to improve his position.

Holden tries for a kimura but Bichel is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holden misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Bichel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bichel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrick Bichel!
A pretty intense looking Derrick Bichel took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.