PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Hagen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hagen
vs
Holmes

178 cm
32
195 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

190 cm
27
198 lbs
8 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

KAISER

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tom Hagen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jon Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hagen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hagen.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Holmes is trying to control the position but Hagen postures up.
Hagen passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Hagen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Hagen tries for a kimura but Holmes is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holmes tries to buck Hagen off but Hagen is having none of it.

Hagen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hagen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Holmes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hagen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hagen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holmes has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hagen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holmes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Holmes is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hagen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Holmes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hagen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hagen is trying is best to control the position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hagen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holmes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holmes's back!

Hagen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holmes wants to control his opponent's hands but Hagen gets his hands free.

Holmes preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hagen.

Holmes showing good submission defense here.
Holmes is in bad spot here.
Holmes rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Hagen is looking for a kimura but Holmes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hagen to get the leverage.
Holmes is pressing down on Hagen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hagen tries to free his leg and advance position but Holmes is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hagen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes looking for a sweep. Not yet Holmes, not yet.
Holmes working a defensive guard here.

Hagen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hagen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hagen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hagen preventing the sweep.

Hagen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Holmes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hagen, into his guard.

Holmes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Holmes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hagen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Holmes!

Hagen is working for a guillotine from mount but Holmes frees his head quite easily.
Holmes tries to control the position but Hagen now has his back.
Holmes is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Hagen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Hagen working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Holmes tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Hagen 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.

Holmes tries to clinch but Hagen moves away

and Hagen counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Hagen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hagen stands and throws Holmes's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Hagen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Holmes is trying to control Hagen's posture but Hagen avoids it.

Hagen is trying to get an arm triangle but Holmes is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holmes is trying to control Hagen's posture but Hagen avoids it.
Hagen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holmes can do to turn this around?

Hagen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holmes, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes tries to bench press Hagen off him but Hagen keeps the position.

Hagen has hold of Holmes's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Holmes seems comfortable defending it but Hagen has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Holmes is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Holmes is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Hagen couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tom Hagen!
During a confident post fight interview, Tom Hagen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.