PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Raven
vs
Holmes

189 cm
21
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nathan Raven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sami Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Raven enables Holmes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Raven manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Raven throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Raven is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Holmes drops back looking for a leg! Raven is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Raven manages to kick Holmes off! Holmes jumps back into Raven's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Raven holds on and takes a little breather.
Holmes tries to free his leg and advance position but Raven is retaining full guard.
Raven will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raven is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Holmes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raven tries to strike from the bottom.
Raven has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Raven looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Holmes trying to control but Raven is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Raven misses with a hook to the body

and Holmes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Holmes.
Holmes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raven is keeping the position for now.
Raven looking to control.
Raven keeping moving, preventing Holmes from controlling successfully.
Raven managing to control the position.

Holmes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmes dives in and scores a takedown into Raven's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holmes passes Raven's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Holmes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raven doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holmes.
Raven scores with a few weak punches.
Raven has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Holmes is working away from the top position though.
Raven is not content to let Holmes control the position.
Raven won't allow Holmes to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raven punching from the bottom.
Raven trying to control but Holmes postures up.
Raven is pressing down on Holmes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Raven scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Holmes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holmes wants to control from the top but Raven keeps moving.
Holmes won't allow Raven to sweep him here.
Holmes wants to stand but Raven is controlling his posture from full guard.
Holmes trying to control the position from guard on top but Raven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raven is pulling down on Holmes's head. It's preventing any offense from Holmes, at least for the moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sami Holmes wasn't active enough on the ground.

Holmes gets a double leg takedown into Raven's guard.
Raven keeping full guard, as Holmes tries to pass.
Raven not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Holmes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raven controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holmes slips nicely into half guard.
Raven manages to get to full guard.
Raven trying to strike off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Holmes dominated that round.
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.

Raven moves into range and clinches up with Holmes.
Raven misses with a body punch.
Raven misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Raven fails to land.
Raven misses with a hook to the ribs.
Raven can't find room to land a body shot as Holmes controls the action.

Holmes lands a takedown into guard.
Raven keeping moving, preventing Holmes from controlling successfully.
Holmes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Raven keeping full guard, as Holmes tries to pass.
Raven throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Holmes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Raven's guard.

Holmes is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven scores with a few weak punches.
Raven has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Raven wants to control but Holmes is keeping busy.

Holmes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Raven defends it well.

Holmes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Raven slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Raven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holmes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Holmes looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven working a defensive guard here.
Raven striking off his back but it's not causing Holmes any problems.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Holmes won't allow Raven to sweep him here.
Holmes trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Raven manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Holmes holds on and takes a little breather.
Raven postures up in Holmes's guard and throws a big left but Holmes blocks it.
Raven keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Holmes's head.
Raven wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven won't allow Holmes to sweep him here.
Holmes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Raven content to stall in guard here.
Raven throwing strikes from guard but Holmes blocks nicely.
Holmes is trying to hold Raven in close to prevent damage but Raven has managed to pass into half guard.
Raven lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raven stalling.
Raven throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Raven is looking to take a break and control but Holmes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raven frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Holmes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raven raining down shots from the mount!
Raven throws some wild stikes that Holmes manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Raven dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Holmes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Raven wants to sweep here but Holmes controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raven is on top in guard.
Raven trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Raven cracks Holmes with a solid left hand.
Raven throwing strikes from guard but Holmes blocks nicely.
Nathan Raven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raven throwing strikes from guard but Holmes blocks nicely.
Holmes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raven.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven throws a big elbow that misses.
Holmes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Raven throws a strike but Holmes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Raven is pulling down on Holmes's head to control his posture.
Holmes trying to control but Raven is working from the bottom.
Holmes passes into half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven gets back to full guard.
Raven is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Holmes trying to control but Raven is working from the bottom.
Holmes is looking to work some ground and pound but Raven has wrist control.
Raven will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Holmes tries to free his leg and advance position but Raven is retaining full guard.
Raven throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Raven holds on and takes a little breather.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holmes wants to control from the top but Raven keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Holmes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Holmes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raven is keeping the position for now.
Holmes stands up out of Raven's guard for a moment - Raven manages to land a nice upkick.
Raven trying to strike off his back.
Raven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holmes is one step ahead there.
Raven working a defensive guard here.
Raven trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Raven looking for a guillotine here but Holmes defends easily.
Raven wants to sweep here but Holmes controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raven is on top in guard.
Raven missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Holmes manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Holmes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raven tries to get to full guard but Holmes has control of the leg.
Holmes is keen to just control but Raven is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raven is looking for a sweep. Holmes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holmes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Holmes is pressing down on Raven's thigh, looking to free his foot. Raven is holding on for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nathan Raven.
I think Raven has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nathan Raven!