PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Holmes Jr (ranked 305 p4p, 617 weight class) and Arthur Pendragon (ranked 51 p4p, 90 weight class). Holmes Jr kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Red - Damage. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Holmes Jr
vs
Pendragon

194 cm
34
205
23 - 15 - 0

189 cm
38
213
27 - 21 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Holmes Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arthur Pendragon!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pendragon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Holmes Jr manages to avoid it.
Pendragon scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Holmes Jr connects with a solid leg kick.
Pendragon slips a straight right by Holmes Jr.
Good leg kick by Holmes Jr.
Pendragon throws an overhand right that lands on Holmes Jr's shoulder, as Holmes Jr tries to avoid the shot.
Pendragon misses the shot to the body.
Pendragon has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch up.
Pendragon's corner calls for a 1-2. Pendragon obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A lazy left from Pendragon finds it's target.
Pendragon misses with a looping right.
Holmes Jr avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Holmes Jr is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Pendragon.
Arthur Pendragon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Holmes Jr tenderised Pendragon's leg. Pendragon is trying to keep his angry face on.
Holmes Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pendragon.
Pendragon misses with a left hand

and Holmes Jr counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pendragon pushes Holmes Jr back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holmes Jr decides to pull guard.
Pendragon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Holmes Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pendragon is aware though and is defending well.
Pendragon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holmes Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pendragon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Holmes Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pendragon looking to pass the guard.
Pendragon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Holmes Jr looking for a guillotine here but Pendragon defends easily.
Pendragon trying to control but Holmes Jr is working from the bottom.
Pendragon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pendragon wants to pass the guard but Holmes Jr is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holmes Jr wants to sweep here but Pendragon controlling him for the moment.

Holmes Jr working for a triangle but Pendragon defends it easily.
Pendragon passes into half guard.
Holmes Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Holmes Jr regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pendragon defends it easily.

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

Holmes Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pendragon is aware though and is defending well.
Pendragon slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Holmes Jr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pendragon is one step ahead there.

Holmes Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pendragon forces his way into half guard.
Pendragon tries to pass to full mount but Holmes Jr defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pendragon trying to control from half guard but Holmes Jr is working away.
Pendragon is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Holmes Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Pendragon is working for a submission of some sort.

Holmes Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pendragon has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pendragon controlling from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arthur Pendragon will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Pendragon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Holmes Jr to score with a decent uppercut.
Holmes Jr misses with the combination.
Holmes Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pendragon.
Holmes Jr seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Holmes Jr scores with a decent looking hook.
Holmes Jr lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Pendragon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Holmes Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Pendragon.
Pendragon throws the left hand but Holmes Jr avoids the punch easily.
Pendragon misses the jab.
Holmes Jr lands a nice looking kick to the body. Pendragon takes a step back to recover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pendragon with a nice cross.
Holmes Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Holmes Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes Jr tried to score with a low kick but Pendragon checks it.
Pendragon lands a nice hook to Holmes Jr's body. Holmes Jr takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Holmes Jr looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pendragon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Pendragon tries to keep at a distance but Holmes Jr has taken the fight into the clinch.
I was talking to Holmes Jr's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Pendragon tries a body shot but Holmes Jr blocks it.
Holmes Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pendragon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pendragon can't find room to land a body shot as Holmes Jr controls the action.
Holmes Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pendragon struggles to land a body shot inside as Holmes Jr controls his hands.
Pendragon misses with a punch to the body.
Holmes Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pendragon's elbow.
Pendragon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Holmes Jr blocking some punches.
Holmes Jr blocks a body shot from Pendragon.
Holmes Jr prevents a body shot from Pendragon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pendragon throws a head punch that misses.
Pendragon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holmes Jr jumps guard but Pendragon stands there with Holmes Jr around his waist. Holmes Jr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Holmes Jr.
Holmes Jr lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pendragon backwards.
Pendragon swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Holmes Jr drags the fight down to the ground.
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 Jr keeping moving, preventing Pendragon from controlling successfully.
Pendragon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Holmes Jr keeping moving, preventing Pendragon from controlling successfully.

Holmes Jr has his foot on Pendragon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pendragon works his way back into a safe position though.
Mike Holmes Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Holmes Jr has his foot on Pendragon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pendragon works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Holmes Jr keeping moving, preventing Pendragon from controlling successfully.

Holmes Jr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pendragon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holmes Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pendragon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pendragon moves nicely into side control.
Holmes Jr prevents Pendragon from improving position.
Holmes Jr regains half guard.
Holmes Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pendragon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pendragon is continuing to stall.
Holmes Jr is refusing to be controlled, as Pendragon sits in half guard.
Pendragon wants to pass to mount but Holmes Jr is defending the position.
Holmes Jr is in trouble now - Pendragon has advanced to mount!
Pendragon controlling the position easily from mount.
Holmes Jr is trying desperately to improve position.
Pendragon looking to control but Holmes Jr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Holmes Jr will probably get the nod.
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 Jr scores with a push kick.
Holmes Jr moves out of range as Pendragon strikes.
A combination from Holmes Jr does no damage.
Holmes Jr throws a leg kick
and Pendragon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Holmes Jr uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pendragon.
Holmes Jr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Holmes Jr is looking to slow Pendragon down with leg kicks.
Holmes Jr moves out of range of the strikes.
Holmes Jr is looking to counter the offense by Pendragon and move into the clinch.
Holmes Jr throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pendragon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Holmes Jr ducks under a wild hook from Pendragon.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Pendragon.
Pendragon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holmes Jr displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pendragon throws out the jab.
Pendragon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Holmes Jr sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch but Pendragon is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pendragon avoids a kick to the body.
Holmes Jr slips a straight right by Pendragon.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch there but Pendragon circles away.
Holmes Jr scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pendragon doesn't seem bothered though.
Pendragon throws a jab when Holmes Jr was well out of range.
Pendragon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pendragon connects with a looping right hand.
Holmes Jr throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Holmes Jr throws a series of punches but Pendragon moves out of range.
Holmes Jr blocks a jab.
Holmes Jr tries to counter by clinching up but Pendragon breaks away and moves out of range.

Holmes Jr instigates a clinch.
Holmes Jr lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pendragon backwards.
Pendragon misses with a hook to the ribs.

Pendragon breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pendragon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Holmes Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Pendragon.
Holmes Jr connects with a crisp jab.
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!
Pendragon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pendragon connects with a single shot there.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pendragon counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pendragon loads up on a big right hand but Holmes Jr slips the punch.
Holmes Jr wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Pendragon scores with a jab to the jaw.
Holmes Jr tries to move into range but Pendragon moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pendragon misses with a body shot.
Arthur Pendragon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slapping leg kick lands for Holmes Jr.
Holmes Jr thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Pendragon if he has to take too many more of those.
Holmes Jr is looking to clinch but Pendragon is avoiding it.
Holmes Jr is looking to clinch.
Pendragon scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch up but Pendragon circles away and keeps his distance.
Pendragon misses with an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Holmes Jr.
Pendragon on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Pendragon looks to throw the jab but Holmes Jr is out of range.
Pendragon throws a right hand that misses

and Holmes Jr moves into the clinch.
Holmes Jr makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Holmes Jr stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pendragon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mike Holmes Jr has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Holmes Jr blocking some punches.
Holmes Jr misses with some punches.
Pendragon misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Pendragon fails to land.
Holmes Jr jumps guard but Pendragon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Pendragon breaks from the clinch.
Holmes Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pendragon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Pendragon circles away.

Holmes Jr closes the distance and clinches.

Holmes Jr pulls Pendragon into guard.
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 Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pendragon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pendragon trying to control but Holmes Jr is working from the bottom.

Holmes Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Pendragon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Holmes Jr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pendragon has managed to get both his arms back between Holmes Jr's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arthur Pendragon.
I think Pendragon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Pendragon!
After the fight, Arthur Pendragon was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.