PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rich Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skyler Holderman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holderman has chosen Spit yo Game as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnston
vs
Holderman

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Skyler Holderman!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holderman gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnston is looking for a sweep. Holderman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnston manages to get to full guard.
Johnston is trying to keep Holderman in close.
Holderman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Holderman won't allow Johnston to sweep him here.
Johnston is trying to hold Holderman in close to prevent damage but Holderman has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holderman works his way into full mount!
Holderman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
A nice elbow there by Holderman.
Johnston really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Holderman controlling from the full mount.
Johnston is desperately trying to improve his position but Holderman has a good base and remains in mount.
Holderman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holderman prevents Johnston from getting the reversal.
Holderman content just to control the position here.
Johnston wants to control but Holderman is having none of it.
Holderman with shots to the head and body - Johnston looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holderman lands a heavy elbow.
Johnston slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Johnston keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnston makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnston.
Holderman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnston is breathing heavily.
Holderman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnston is proving hard to escape from.
Holderman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Holderman wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skyler Holderman dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnston shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Holderman counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnston!

Holderman is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Johnston can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Holderman is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Skyler Holderman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holderman throws a one two combo.
Johnston has his takedown stuffed

and Holderman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnston has a closed guard, preventing Holderman from standing up.

Johnston looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holderman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Holderman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Holderman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Holderman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Holderman stands and throws Johnston's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Johnston is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Skyler Holderman has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnston taking a bit of punishment here - Holderman scoring with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holderman remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Holderman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Holderman working the head with strikes.

Holderman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Holderman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holderman decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Holderman shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Holderman wants to free his trapped foot but Johnston is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holderman slows the pace down in half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Skyler Holderman just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnston with a poor takedown

and Holderman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Johnston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holderman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Holderman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnston defends it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holderman content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skyler Holderman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnston takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A head kick misses from Holderman.

Holderman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Holderman controlling his opponent.
Johnston is trying to escape the mount.
Johnston wants to control but Holderman is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Holderman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Holderman in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Holderman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Johnston really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Holderman content just to control the position here.
Holderman scoring with strikes but Johnston is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holderman is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Holderman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Johnston tries to control the position but Holderman now has his back.
Holderman controlling the position well here. Johnston rolled but Holderman kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Holderman softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Holderman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnston preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Holderman.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Johnston covers up after that shot from Holderman.
Holderman cracks Johnston with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Johnston from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Holderman is riding his opponent, not letting Johnston buck him off.
Rich Johnston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Skyler Holderman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Johnston is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Holderman gets his way!

And that's the end of the fight!
Skyler Holderman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Holderman 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Skyler Holderman!