PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rob Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Mmmm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Holmes
vs
Mmmm

200 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Mmmm!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Holmes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Holmes misses with a takedown attempt - Mmmm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mmmm misses with a takedown attempt - Holmes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Mmmm has Holmes up against the cage in a clinch.
Holmes tries a body shot but Mmmm blocks it.
Holmes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mmmm is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Holmes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holmes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mmmm's face.

It looks like Tom Mmmm has been cut.
Mmmm is trying to pull guard but Holmes has him pressed against the cage.
Mmmm is trying to push Holmes away but Holmes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Holmes gets through Mmmm's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mmmm is working for takedown but Holmes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Holmes tries to land knees in the clinch but Mmmm avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mmmm fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mmmm is trying to force a seperation but Holmes has the dominant position.
Mmmm jumps guard but Holmes stands there with Mmmm around his waist. Mmmm gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Holmes tries to land knees in the clinch but Mmmm avoids the damage to the body.

Holmes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mmmm has managed to clinch.

Mmmm manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mmmm controls Holmes momentarily but Holmes frees himself.
Holmes slips nicely into half guard.
Holmes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mmmm tries to get to full guard but Holmes has control of the leg.
Holmes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mmmm trying to control from the bottom.
Holmes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mmmm closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mmmm can't get the takedown.
Mmmm is trying to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling him.
Mmmm is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes has Mmmm pressed against the cage, preventing Mmmm from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holmes avoiding damage.
Holmes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mmmm after a bit of a struggle.
Holmes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Mmmm being controlled against the cage.
Holmes scores a nice knee to the body.
Mmmm looks gassed!
Mmmm wants to break free but Holmes has control.
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes wants to take the fight to the mat but Mmmm manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holmes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Holmes fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Holmes avoids the elbow strike from Mmmm, against the cage.

Mmmm jumps into guard, dragging Holmes to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mmmm is working an open guard so Holmes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mmmm dives in and grabs Holmes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Holmes pushes down on Mmmm's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rob Holmes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tom Mmmm's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Holmes fails with the takedown.
A punch combination from Holmes misses.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mmmm crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Holmes - the referee stops the clock and Mmmm gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Holmes. Mmmm manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Mmmm throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Holmes.
Mmmm throws a push kick but Holmes slaps the foot to one side.
Mmmm misses with a jab to the body

and Holmes moves into the clinch.
Mmmm tries to pull guard but Holmes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Holmes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mmmm is trying to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling him.

Holmes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Holmes clinches.
Mmmm is trying to pull guard but Holmes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mmmm is breathing heavily.
Mmmm is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Holmes to keep the fight standing.
Rob Holmes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Mmmm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holmes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holmes misses with a head kick.
Mmmm takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Holmes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Holmes shoots in for a takedown but Mmmm shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mmmm throws a nice looking combination but Holmes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Mmmm closes the distance and clinches.
Holmes is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mmmm is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Holmes to keep the fight standing.
Mmmm is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Holmes manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes shoots in but no luck this time.
Mmmm shoots in looking for a takedown but Holmes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mmmm's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holmes closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Holmes moves into range and clinches up with Mmmm.

Mmmm breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holmes shoots in for a takedown but Mmmm shows good takedown defense.
Holmes thows a body kick. Mmmm tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Mmmm misses with a hook.
Holmes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Holmes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Holmes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mmmm manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mmmm lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Holmes circles away quickly and effectively.

Mmmm clinches up with Holmes and pushes him back against the cage.
Holmes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mmmm avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Holmes has Mmmm pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mmmm manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mmmm is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mmmm after a bit of a struggle.

Mmmm escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mmmm shoots in for a takedown but Holmes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mmmm shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rob Holmes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes shoots in for a takedown but Mmmm shows good takedown defense.
Mmmm tries for a takedown but Holmes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Holmes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holmes is looking to clinch but Mmmm is avoiding it.
Mmmm fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Holmes avoids it really well and circles away.
Holmes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mmmm as he avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mmmm shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holmes as he avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Mmmm as Holmes shoots in.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mmmm is defended easily by Holmes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Holmes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Mmmm's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Holmes gets tackled into the cage by Mmmm. Mmmm maintains the clinch.
Mmmm tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Mmmm breaks the clinch.
Holmes shoots in looking for a takedown but Mmmm manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Holmes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holmes tries to clinch up.
Holmes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mmmm shoots for a double leg takedown but Holmes sprawls well. He's pushed Mmmm's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rob Holmes is winning the standup battle so far.
Mmmm stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mmmm wants it to stay on the feet.
Mmmm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mmmm fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rob Holmes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Mmmm.

Holmes drives through and clinches with Mmmm against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes lands with a left to the head.
Mmmm just leaning against Holmes, taking a breather.
Mmmm takes a knee right on the jaw!
Holmes tries to pull guard but Mmmm holds him up against the cage and eventually Holmes drops back down to his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Mmmm's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mmmm is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holmes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Holmes tries for a takedown but Mmmm manages to get underhooks.
Holmes holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Holmes lands an uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Holmes obliges.
Mmmm changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Holmes fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mmmm's calf.

Holmes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Holmes controlling the action here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Holmes escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mmmm moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Mmmm tries to sprawl but Holmes drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Mmmm is trying to control but can't.
Holmes thows a huge punch but Mmmm dodges it nicely.
Holmes has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mmmm is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mmmm is trying desperately to improve position.
Mmmm is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Holmes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Holmes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Holmes has control of Mmmm's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mmmm regains control of the situation pretty easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mmmm is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Holmes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Holmes 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Holmes!