PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by Oasis - Fuckin' In The Bushes. Holmes has chosen SBB - Memento z banalnym tryptykiem as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Thompson
vs
Holmes

186 cm
22
200 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
32
198 lbs
12 - 20 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, David Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jon Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Aafke Stam and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thompson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Holmes fails with a takedown attempt.
Holmes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thompson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Holmes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Holmes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Thompson counter with a right hand.
David Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Holmes.

Holmes gets a takedown into half guard.

Holmes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thompson is just riding it out for now. Holmes eventually gives up the hold.

Holmes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thompson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Holmes on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Holmes.

Holmes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thompson is just riding it out for now. Holmes eventually gives up the hold.
Thompson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two 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 is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Thompson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thompson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Holmes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Holmes is working for a kimura but Thompson is defending it quite comfortably.

Holmes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thompson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holmes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes winds up and cracks Thompson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Holmes is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holmes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thompson defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

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

Holmes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thompson is just riding it out for now. Holmes eventually gives up the hold.

Holmes is working for a kimura but Thompson is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Holmes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Holmes is looking to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Thompson misses the target.
Holmes with a poor takedown
and Thompson counters with a nice body shot.
Holmes shoots in for a double leg but Thompson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Oooooh!!! Holmes has knocked Thompson down with a huge combo! Holmes steps away and waves a wobbly Thompson back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like David Thompson has been cut.
Holmes has his takedown stuffed
and Thompson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
David Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Holmes.

Holmes clinches up with Thompson and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling him.

Thompson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Holmes is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thompson to the mat. Thompson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Holmes trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Thompson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Holmes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Holmes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Holmes controlling Thompson's posture.
Holmes keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson throws an elbow that misses. Holmes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thompson's guard. Nice move by Holmes!

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Holmes working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Holmes throws a big right hand that misses.

Holmes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thompson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Holmes has Thompson in his guard.

Thompson throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Holmes's guard.
Holmes controlling the position.

Holmes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Holmes holds on and takes a little breather.
Holmes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Holmes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson 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.
Holmes is pulling down on Thompson's head to control his posture.

Thompson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
David Thompson is winning the standup battle so far.
Holmes fails with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a nice uppercut.
Thompson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thompson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Holmes fails with the takedown
and Thompson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Holmes has his takedown stuffed
and Thompson counters with a straight right hand.
Holmes tries for a takedown but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Holmes is breathing heavily.
Holmes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thompson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Holmes thinking.
Holmes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thompson stops a takedown attempt from Holmes.
Thompson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Thompson looking to slow down the pace here.
Holmes is looking to take this one to the mat.
Holmes misses with a body punch.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Holmes walks into a straight right hand from Thompson.
Thompson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thompson counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holmes tries to clinch up
and Thompson counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Thompson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on David Thompson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Thompson. No joy for Holmes on that attempt.
Thompson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Thompson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thompson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thompson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Holmes tries for a takedown but Thompson manages to get underhooks.
Thompson has had enough of the clinch but Holmes keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thompson.
Thompson tries to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling the position.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thompson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Holmes wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Thompson. No joy for Holmes on that attempt.
Thompson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
David Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Holmes.
Holmes tries to clinch but Thompson moves out of range.
Holmes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thompson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Holmes.
It looked like Thompson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
David Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Holmes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Holmes fails with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a series of strikes. Holmes will be more careful next time no doubt.

Holmes is rocked!

Oooh a lovely combination from Thompson sends Holmes down but not out. Thompson dives into side control looking to finish.
Holmes is still in real trouble! Can Thompson finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thompson decides to stand back up.
Holmes misses with a takedown
and Thompson counters with a huge left! Holmes is in big trouble! He's backing up but Thompson isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Holmes from any more damage. A dominating finish by Thompson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). David Thompson!
After winning the bout, David Thompson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Jon Holmes had this to say: 'You know, shit happens...'.