PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Holmes Jr (ranked 923 p4p, 935 weight class) and Tank Ispa (ranked 132 p4p, 134 weight class). Holmes Jr comes to the cage accompanied by Red - Damage. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Holmes Jr
vs
Ispa

194 cm
31
203
19 - 14 - 0

190 cm
33
216
27 - 15 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Hardcore Alchemy
Arcticus University: London

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 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Holmes Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tank Ispa!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ispa tries to clinch but Holmes Jr moves out of range.
Holmes Jr moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ispa gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Holmes Jr counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ispa is defended easily by Holmes Jr.

Ispa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Ispa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holmes Jr has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ispa working away.
Holmes Jr is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Holmes Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ispa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ispa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Holmes Jr manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ispa is pressing down on Holmes Jr's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Holmes Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ispa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Ispa is looking for a triangle but Holmes Jr pushes his legs off easily.

Ispa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ispa working a defensive guard here.

Ispa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holmes Jr doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holmes Jr manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Holmes Jr advances to half guard.
Ispa is not content to let Holmes Jr control the position.
Ispa trying to get back to full guard but Holmes Jr takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Holmes Jr goes for an armbar but Ispa turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ispa.
Holmes Jr trying to control the position.
Ispa passes Holmes Jr's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Ispa seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ispa is working for a kimura but Holmes Jr is defending it quite comfortably.

Holmes Jr is defending against the submission attempts here by Ispa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ispa wants to work for an arm triangle but Holmes Jr is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Holmes Jr controlling the position well.
Ispa is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ispa trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tank Ispa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Holmes Jr lands with a slapping head kick.
A head kick from Holmes Jr lands but Ispa takes it in his stride.
Holmes Jr tries to land a leg kick but Ispa saw it coming and moves away.
Ispa doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Holmes Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ispa is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ispa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Holmes Jr. Holmes Jr circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ispa throws a low kick but Holmes Jr avoids it.
Ispa connects with a solid leg kick.
That kick from Ispa tenderised Holmes Jr's leg. Holmes Jr is trying to keep his angry face on.
Holmes Jr throws a head kick that misses
and Holmes Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Good leg kick by Ispa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holmes Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Ispa is just out of range.
Ispa throws a head kick that misses.
Holmes Jr moves out of range as Ispa throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ispa drives through and clinches with Holmes Jr against the cage.
Ispa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ispa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Holmes Jr backwards.
Holmes Jr working aggressively here.
Ispa pushes off an throws an elbow but Holmes Jr leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Holmes Jr pushes Ispa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ispa gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ispa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Holmes Jr.

Ispa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ispa uses his free foot to push down on Holmes Jr's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Holmes Jr.
Holmes Jr manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ispa uses his free foot to push down on Holmes Jr's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Holmes Jr.
Ispa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ispa.
Holmes Jr tries to lock up and control but Ispa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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

Ispa jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Holmes Jr is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Holmes Jr and Ispa has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Holmes Jr manages to get back to half guard.
Ispa trying to control the action but Holmes Jr is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ispa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Holmes Jr sees it coming and defends easily.
Holmes Jr is trying to maintain the position but Ispa is very close to passing his half guard.
Holmes Jr gets full guard.
Ispa looking to pass the guard.
Ispa trying to control but Holmes Jr is working from the bottom.
Ispa won't allow Holmes Jr to sweep him here.

Ispa is posturing up here but Holmes Jr has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Ispa tries to roll out but it's too tight and Ispa has to tap! Slick submission there by Holmes Jr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Holmes Jr!
During a confident post fight interview, Mike Holmes Jr thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.