PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Austin Holmes (ranked 6328 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kerei Kotomine (ranked 6338 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
Kotomine

171 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Austin 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, Kerei Kotomine!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kotomine shoots in but no luck this time.
Kotomine throws a push kick but Holmes slaps the foot to one side.
Kotomine tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holmes swivels and escapes.
Kotomine tries to clinch up but Holmes circles away and keeps his distance.

Kotomine clinches up against the cage.
Holmes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kotomine to keep the fight standing.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kotomine.
Kotomine wants to break free but Holmes has control.
Holmes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kotomine is trying to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling him.
Kotomine leaning against his opponent.
Kotomine fails to pull guard.
Austin Holmes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kerei Kotomine.
Holmes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Holmes has Kotomine pressed against the cage, preventing Kotomine from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kotomine lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kotomine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kotomine tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Holmes blocks a body shot from Kotomine.
Kotomine is working for takedown but Holmes is calmly controlling the position for now.

Holmes jumps guard and drags Kotomine to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Holmes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Holmes working for a triangle but Kotomine defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotomine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kotomine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holmes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kotomine preventing the sweep.
Holmes keeping moving, preventing Kotomine from controlling successfully.
Holmes wants to stand but Kotomine is controlling the position.
Holmes keeping moving, preventing Kotomine from controlling successfully.
Holmes pulls Kotomine in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotomine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Holmes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kotomine rushes Holmes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Holmes misses with a knee strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Holmes throws an elbow but misses.

Kotomine has clasped his hands together around Holmes's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Holmes sneaks out the side door and pushes Kotomine away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Holmes shoots in and gets a takedown into Kotomine's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kotomine manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holmes jumps guard but Kotomine turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Holmes pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotomine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Holmes is pulling down on Kotomine's head. It's preventing any offense from Kotomine, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holmes continues to stall.
Kotomine works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Holmes trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kerei Kotomine will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kotomine changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holmes tries to avoid it but Kotomine manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holmes to the ground. Holmes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Holmes is looking to clinch.
Kotomine lands a lovely overhand right.
Kotomine shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Holmes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kotomine, pushing him back against the cage.

Kotomine breaks the clinch.
Holmes with a poor takedown
and Kotomine counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Holmes is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kotomine doesn't manage to clinch there - Holmes circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kotomine tries to clinch but Holmes moves out of range.

Kotomine gets caught flat footed, as Holmes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kotomine is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Holmes dives into side control.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kotomine wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Holmes stalls from top position.
You can see the frustration on Kotomine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Holmes controlling the position.
Kotomine is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

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.
Kotomine takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Holmes gets to mount! Kotomine was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Kotomine tries to hold on but Holmes pushes him away.
Kotomine might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Holmes haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Holmes controlling from the full mount.
Kotomine is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kotomine is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes lands a couple of good shots and Kotomine has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Holmes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Kerei Kotomine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Austin Holmes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

This is a sustained period of stalling by Holmes.

Kotomine keeps trying to improve his position.

Kotomine is still trying to improve position.

Holmes continues to hold on tight.

Holmes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kotomine for as long as he can get away with.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Holmes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

More hug and hope from Holmes.

Further stalling from Holmes.

Holmes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kotomine can do to turn this around?