PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Douglas Skinner (ranked 7820 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Holmes (ranked 6037 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Holmes will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Skinner
vs
Holmes

151 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Douglas Skinner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darren Holmes!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Skinner has closed the distance and engaged Holmes in a clinch.
Skinner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Holmes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Skinner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Holmes tries to score a body lock takedown but Skinner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Skinner stalls.

Skinner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Holmes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Skinner wants to stand and escape but Holmes is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Holmes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Skinner looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Skinner looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Skinner!

Holmes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Skinner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes wants to get back to full guard.
Skinner is thwarting Holmes's attempts to control the position.
Holmes is positioning himself well to prevent Skinner advancing to mount.
Holmes is trying to maintain the position but Skinner is very close to passing his half guard.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet.
Skinner throwing shots but Holmes is blocking nicely.

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.
Holmes wants to get back to full guard but Skinner has passed into side control.
Holmes tries to buck Skinner off but Skinner is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skinner misses with the ground and pound.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet but Skinner drags him back down.
Skinner lands an elbow.
Holmes looking for a sweep but Skinner has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Holmes is looking to improve his position but Skinner isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Holmes is desperately trying to improve his position but Skinner has a good base and remains in mount.
Holmes manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Skinner working Holmes over with strikes.
Holmes is not content to let Skinner control the position.

Holmes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Skinner pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is looking to control Skinner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Holmes avoid being mounted?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Skinner lands a nice short elbow.
Skinner lands with a punch from half guard.
Holmes tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Skinner has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Skinner landing strikes from the mount and Holmes is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Douglas Skinner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Douglas Skinner's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Holmes misses with a jab, cross combination.

Skinner closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Holmes quickly recovers to half guard.
Holmes wants to improve his position but Skinner is controlling well.
Skinner really is a fat lump.
Skinner not doing much here.
Skinner is trying to control. Holmes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Holmes misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Holmes wants to get back to full guard.
Skinner wants to stand but Holmes has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ground and pound from Skinner.
Holmes wants to control but Skinner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Douglas Skinner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Skinner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Skinner working Holmes over with strikes.

Holmes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Holmes is looking for a sweep. Skinner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holmes is doing well to control the position and prevent Skinner from advancing to side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Skinner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holmes darts in looking for a takedown but Skinner gets double underhooks and turns Holmes into the cage.
Darren Holmes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holmes with a poor takedown
and Holmes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Holmes is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is looking to clinch.
Holmes looks for a takedown but Skinner sprawls well.
It looked like Skinner was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Holmes.
Douglas Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Holmes.
Holmes is looking to clinch but Skinner is avoiding it.
Skinner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Holmes.
A leg kick checked by Holmes.

Skinner fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Holmes to the ground. Skinner is now in Holmes's guard.
Holmes is looking to stand back up but Skinner counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Holmes.

Skinner tries to stand but can't do so whilst Holmes controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes trying to control here.
Skinner working Holmes over with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Skinner connects with a nice short shot to Holmes's temple.
Holmes is looking to get back to full guard here but Skinner has managed to pass to side control instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skinner trying to control the action but Holmes is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Douglas Skinner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Douglas Skinner's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Holmes has a takedown stuffed.
Holmes tries to clinch but Skinner moves out of range.
Holmes doesn't manage to clinch there - Skinner circles away.
A low kick from Holmes misses
and Skinner counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Holmes thinking.
Holmes is looking to clinch.
Skinner drops down looking for a counter takedown but Holmes sprawls and moves away.
Holmes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Skinner as he avoids it easily.
Skinner thinks about countering with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skinner but Skinner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Skinner swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Douglas Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Holmes.
Holmes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Skinner has Holmes up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Holmes trying to land knees to the body.
Skinner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Skinner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holmes can do to turn this around?
Holmes prevents Skinner from breaking the clinch.
Skinner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Skinner wants to break free but Holmes has control.

Skinner ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Skinner no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Skinner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Skinner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skinner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Holmes trying to control the position from guard on top but Skinner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Skinner pushes Holmes off and scrambles back to his feet.

Skinner shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Holmes's guard.

Holmes scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Skinner looking to score a takedown here. Holmes is defending well but Skinner drives through and ends up in Holmes's guard.
Skinner is in close to Holmes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Holmes has momentary wrist control but Skinner slips an elbow through the middle.

Holmes working for a triangle but Skinner defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Skinner working some strikes from top position.
Skinner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Skinner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Skinner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Holmes is looking to sweep but instead, Skinner has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Skinner is trying to control the action in half guard but Holmes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Holmes tries to roll over but Skinner keeps him under control.
Skinner drops an elbow to the side of Holmes's head.
Skinner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Holmes has hold of Skinner's hands but Skinner slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ground and pound from Skinner.
Darren Holmes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Douglas Skinner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holmes trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Douglas Skinner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Skinner 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Douglas Skinner!