PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aiden Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Marchione (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marchione comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Let The Bodies Hit The Floor-Drowning Pools kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Holmes
vs
Marchione

182 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
173 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aiden Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alex Marchione!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holmes closes the distance and pushes Marchione back into the ropes.
Marchione looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Holmes goes for a takedown attempt but Marchione pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marchione fails with a takedown attempt.

Holmes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Marchione's half guard.
Marchione tries to get to full guard but Holmes has control of the leg.
Holmes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marchione knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marchione tries to get to full guard but Holmes has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchione blocking the ground and pound attempt from Holmes.
Holmes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marchione's head.
Marchione is staying active underneath Holmes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Marchione tries to roll over but Holmes keeps him under control.
It looks like Holmes is going to stand back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marchione misses with a takedown

and Holmes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Holmes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marchione keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Holmes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marchione really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Holmes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holmes is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Marchione tries to get to full guard but Holmes has control of the leg.
Marchione desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marchione is trying to stand back up but Holmes is controlling him
Holmes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marchione trying to control from the bottom.
Holmes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Marchione is trying to maintain the position but Holmes is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Holmes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Holmes is breathing heavily.
Holmes trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Holmes swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Marchione is now in Holmes's guard. A big mistake from Holmes there, giving up the dominant position!
Marchione wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aiden Holmes 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 leaves Marchione with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Holmes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Holmes wants a takedown.

Marchione is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Holmes can't fight it off and eventually Marchione manages to take the fight to the floor. Holmes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Holmes trying to keep a closed guard but Marchione is proving a slippery customer.
Marchione trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.
Holmes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchione loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marchione trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marchione has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Holmes is proving hard to escape from.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marchione accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Holmes looking for a guillotine here but Marchione defends easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Holmes takes a swing at Marchione's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Marchione gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Marchione lands a takedown into guard.
Marchione trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.
Holmes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marchione has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Holmes is proving hard to escape from.
Marchione wants to pass the guard but Holmes is keeping the position.
Marchione wants to get up but he can't break Holmes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marchione forces his way into half guard.
Marchione wants to stand up but Holmes is controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Marchione feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Marchione stands up and waves to Holmes to follow him.
Marchione ducks right into an uppercut from Holmes.
Alex Marchione seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marchione moves into the clinch.
Marchione can't break the clinch.
Marchione scores with a nice hook to the head.

Holmes has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Marchione regains guard immediately.
Holmes wanted to stand there but Marchione had control of the position.
Marchione working a defensive guard here.
Marchione looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holmes is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Marchione showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Holmes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Marchione moves into the clinch.

Marchione manages to break the clinch.
Holmes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Marchione moves in looking to clinch but Holmes pushes him off.
Marchione fails to land the takedown.
A jab from Holmes does it's job there.
Marchione wants to clinch

and Holmes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Holmes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Holmes prevents Marchione from standing back up.
Marchione is trying to maintain the position but Holmes is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes is keen to just control but Marchione is a slippery customer.
Marchione trying to control here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Holmes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marchione is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marchione looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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 shoots in for a double leg but Marchione sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Marchione tries for a takedown but Holmes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marchione tries to clinch but Holmes is having none of it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Holmes lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Marchione has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Marchione and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Marchione with a poor takedown

and Holmes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Aiden Holmes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Marchione.
Marchione pulls Holmes in close to prevent any damage.
Holmes trying to control the position from guard on top but Marchione is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marchione looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes looking to sit in guard and control but Marchione gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Marchione stays in close to Holmes's body and controls the position.
Marchione wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Holmes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marchione stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holmes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marchione forces his way into half guard.
Marchione throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aiden Holmes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Holmes 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aiden Holmes!