PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jon Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ismail Saidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saidov has chosen Shamhan Daldaev - Eto Kavkaz as his entrance music. Jon Holmes had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. 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
Saidov

190 cm
25
198 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

188 cm
29
196 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jon Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ismail Saidov!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saidov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Holmes quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Saidov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Saidov is working for a submission of some sort.

Saidov is working for a submission of some sort.
Holmes trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saidov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holmes has managed to free his arm - good work.

Saidov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holmes defends it well.

Saidov is trying to work for a kimura but Holmes is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saidov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Holmes sees it coming and defends easily.
Holmes tries to roll over but Saidov keeps him under control.
Holmes is trying is best to control the position here.

Saidov 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.
Holmes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saidov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Saidov is looking for a kimura here.
Holmes wants to control but Saidov is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.

Saidov 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.

Saidov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holmes defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismail Saidov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Holmes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saidov is fending him off so far but Holmes persists. Nope, Saidov circles away and we're back to standing.
Saidov fails to land the takedown.
Holmes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saidov tries to avoid it but Holmes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saidov to the ground. Saidov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Saidov.

Saidov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saidov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Holmes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Holmes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Holmes tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saidov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Saidov is trying to get an arm triangle but Holmes is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is looking for a sweep.

Saidov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Saidov swings around for an armbar but Holmes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Saidov's guard.
Saidov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes drops back looking for a leg! Saidov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saidov manages to kick Holmes off! Holmes jumps back into Saidov's guard.
Saidov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Holmes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Saidov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Saidov has escaped and now he's on top!
Saidov is standing up over Holmes. Holmes looks to escape but Saidov dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes tries to improve position but can't.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saidov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Saidov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holmes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Saidov is trying to get an arm triangle but Holmes is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismail Saidov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Saidov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holmes is fending him off so far but Saidov persists. Nope, Holmes circles away and we're back to standing.
Holmes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saidov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Holmes is looking to clinch.
Holmes fails with a takedown attempt.
Holmes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saidov closes the distance and clinches up with Holmes, looking for a takedown. Saidov pushes Holmes against the cage but Holmes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Saidov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Holmes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Holmes is trying to improve his position.

Saidov is trying to get an arm triangle but Holmes is defending well.

Saidov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Holmes rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Saidov's guard! Nice work there by Holmes!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saidov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holmes is one step ahead there.

Holmes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Saidov dives on top into guard.
Saidov throws an elbow that misses. Holmes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saidov's guard. Nice move by Holmes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saidov looking for a guillotine here but Holmes defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saidov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Saidov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Saidov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Holmes is aware though and is defending well.
Saidov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holmes is one step ahead there.
Saidov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Saidov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Holmes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Saidov but great work by Holmes.
Saidov is looking for a sweep.

Holmes tries for a kimura but Saidov is defending well.

Holmes goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Saidov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Holmes but great work by Saidov.
Ismail Saidov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Saidov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Saidov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holmes has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holmes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jon Holmes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Holmes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ismail Saidov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saidov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Ismail Saidov!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Ismail Saidov!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Ismail Saidov!

Ismail Saidov wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Ismail Saidov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.