PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Daud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Holmen (ranked 0 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.

Daud
vs
Holmen

185 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ahmad Daud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sami Holmen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmen throws a right hand that Daud ducks under and follows up with a left that Daud also avoids with ease.
Holmen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Daud tries to clinch there but Holmen circles away.
Daud shoots and misses
and Holmen counters with a three punch combo that has Daud backing up. Daud nods at Holmen to acknowledge the strikes.
Holmen misses with a looping left.

Daud shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Holmen's guard.
Holmen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holmen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Holmen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Holmen wants to sweep here but Daud controlling him for the moment.
Holmen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Daud. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Daud trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Daud trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Holmen working for a triangle but Daud defends it easily.
Holmen keeping moving, preventing Daud from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Holmen checks a low kick from Daud.
Holmen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Daud counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Holmen!
Daud fails to take his opponent's back.
Holmen holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Daud tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Holmen is trying to escape the mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Daud there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Holmen is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daud can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Holmen is looking to escape.
Daud could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Daud controlling the position easily from mount.
Holmen is working to get back to half guard.
Holmen looks gassed!
Daud trying to control but Holmen is having none of it.
Holmen can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmen is in a horrible position here. Daud smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Holmen gets back to half guard.
Daud trying to control the action but Holmen is working from the bottom.
Daud trying to control the pace.
Holmen trying to control from the bottom.
Holmen is looking to improve his position.

Holmen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Holmen tries to get to full guard but Daud has control of the leg.

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

and Daud counters by clinching up.
Ahmad Daud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sami Holmen.

Holmen lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Holmen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Daud.
Daud slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Holmen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Daud looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holmen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Holmen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Daud dominated that round.
That's time! Daud's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Daud misses with a jab to the body
and Holmen counters with a solid body kick.
Holmen looks for a takedown but Daud sprawls well.
Daud closes the distance looking to clinch

and Holmen counters with a takedown into side control.
Daud parries the strikes from Holmen easily there. Holmen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Daud to escape.
Daud gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Holmen wants to control but Daud is keeping him busy.
Daud gets full guard.
Holmen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Daud is keeping the position for now.
Holmen is breathing heavily.
Daud bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holmen's guard.

Holmen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Daud passes into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmen parries the strikes from Daud easily there. Daud is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Holmen to escape.
Holmen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Holmen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Daud.
Holmen working a defensive guard here.
Daud in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Daud avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Daud gets to his feet. Holmen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmen misses with a takedown attempt - Daud sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Daud throws a lazy head kick

and Holmen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Holmen.

Holmen manages to break the clinch.
Holmen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Daud swivels and escapes.
Ahmad Daud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sami Holmen.
Daud wants to clinch but Holmen slips to the side

and Holmen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Daud wants to improve his position but Holmen is controlling well.

Holmen is trying to work for a kimura but Daud is defending well.

Holmen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Daud defends it well.
Holmen is looking to advance position but Daud won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daud is trying to control but can't.
Daud regains full guard. Nicely done.
Daud is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Daud pushes Holmen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Daud fails with the takedown

and Holmen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Holmen tries to pass to full mount but Daud defends it.
Daud missing with punches from the bottom.
Daud wants to control but Holmen is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daud gets back to full guard.
Daud lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Holmen passes Daud's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Holmen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Daud's head.
Holmen lands with a punch from half guard.

It looks like Ahmad Daud has been cut.
Daud keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Daud punching from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Daud is holding on to half guard well.

Holmen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Daud is refusing to be controlled, as Holmen sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Holmen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ahmad Daud's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Daud throws a head kick that misses.
Daud throws a sloppy head kick and Holmen moves out of range easily.

Daud bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Daud trying to control the position but Holmen is working away.
Holmen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Holmen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Daud's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Holmen is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holmen is not content to let Daud control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daud thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holmen's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Holmen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Daud counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ahmad Daud overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Holmen looking for a guillotine here but Daud defends easily.
Holmen keeping moving, preventing Daud from controlling successfully.

Holmen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Daud is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Holmen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Daud's back instead.
Holmen lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Daud is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Daud has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Oh Daud is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Holmen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Daud has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Daud tries to escape but Holmen has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Daud fending off the submission attempt from Holmen.
Holmen misses with an elbow to the head.
Daud just trying to survive but Holmen is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Daud seems to have got his legs back now.

Holmen is persistently looking for the submission but Daud is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daud turns into Holmen and is now in his guard.

Daud avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holmen misses with a takedown attempt

and Daud counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Daud.
Daud wants to control from the top but Holmen keeps moving.
Daud preventing the sweep.
Holmen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Daud controls the pace.
Holmen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Holmen looking for a sweep. Not yet Holmen, not yet.

Holmen working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Daud has passed into half guard!
Daud thows a huge punch but Holmen dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Holmen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Daud is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Holmen is on top in guard.
Holmen pushing down on Daud's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Holmen is trying to control the action in half guard but Daud is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Holmen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Daud knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Holmen thows a huge punch but Daud dodges it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Holmen wants to work for an arm triangle but Daud is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Daud moves into full guard.

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 Ahmad Daud.
I think Daud 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmad Daud!