PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Holyfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and North West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Holyfield
vs
West

190 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
188 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Holyfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, North West!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holyfield gets in close and instigates a clinch.

West jumps guard and drags Holyfield to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
West working a defensive guard here.

West has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holyfield can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
West controls Holyfield momentarily but Holyfield frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
West manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Holyfield manages to get himself to full guard.

West won't allow Holyfield to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West with a flurry of punches that miss.
West stays in close to Holyfield's body and controls the position.
Holyfield is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $350 fee) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Holyfield working a defensive guard here.
Holyfield looking for a sweep. Not yet Holyfield, not yet.
West wants to control from the top but Holyfield keeps moving.
Holyfield keeping full guard, as West tries to pass.
Holyfield is trying to hold West in close to prevent damage but West has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Holyfield is controlling West's trapped leg to prevent West from advancing to side control.
West is looking to take a break and control but Holyfield is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Holyfield is looking to improve his position.
West takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

West gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Holyfield pushes West up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holyfield has clasped his hands together around West's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
West manages to get back to half guard.
West manages to get to full guard.
West looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
West controls Holyfield momentarily but Holyfield frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
West seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
West's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West is trying to keep Holyfield in close.
Holyfield sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

West closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Holyfield is staying active underneath West, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
West throwing shots but Holyfield is blocking nicely.
West sitting and controlling from the half guard.
West wants to take a breather but Holyfield is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

North West dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

West fails with a takedown attempt.
West changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holyfield tries to avoid it but West manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holyfield to the ground. Holyfield escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
West shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Holyfield sprawls well. Holyfield wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. West gets slowly back to his feet.
James Holyfield has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of North West.

Holyfield darts in and clinches West up against the cage.

Holyfield's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for West with that takedown attempt.
West throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Holyfield's waist but Holyfield gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing West off to one side.
West shoots in for a double leg but Holyfield sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holyfield shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in West's guard.
West trying to control the position.
Holyfield tries to stand but West is controlling from the bottom.
West is trying to hold Holyfield in close to prevent damage but Holyfield has managed to pass into half guard.
Holyfield missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
West wants to improve his position but Holyfield is controlling well.
West trying to hold on to Holyfield's head to control him but Holyfield postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West makes his way to full guard. A much better position for West.
West is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
West manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Holyfield manages to get himself to full guard.

West looking to sit in guard and control but Holyfield gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Holyfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield preventing the sweep.
West not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
West is controlling Holyfield's posture.
Holyfield in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
West keeping moving, preventing Holyfield from controlling successfully.
West not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
West looks for a takedown but Holyfield sprawls well.
West goes for a double leg but Holyfield avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Holyfield continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Holyfield just leaning against West, taking a breather.
Holyfield is defending well against a takedown attempt.
West tries to break free but Holyfield pushes him back against the cage.

Holyfield manages to pull guard.
West sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Holyfield seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
West missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Holyfield dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Holyfield looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
West wants to control but Holyfield is keeping busy.
Holyfield stalling.
West moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

West is looking to cinch up a triangle. Holyfield throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to West's body to avoid the submission. West has instead reached around Holyfield's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! West arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). North West!