PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Holmes Jr (ranked 1154 p4p, 163 weight class) and DeMar DeRozan (ranked 1137 p4p, 160 weight class). Holmes Jr comes into the arena with Red - Damage blaring out of the sound system. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Holmes Jr
vs
DeRozan

194 cm
27
203 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

201 cm
27
210 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear

Park Place Pharmaceutical

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 13 - 9 - 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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, DeMar DeRozan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes Jr connects with a solid leg kick.

Holmes Jr forces DeRozan back against the cage and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Holmes Jr.

Holmes Jr jumps guard.
Holmes Jr keeping moving, preventing DeRozan from controlling successfully.
Holmes Jr trying to control the position.
Holmes Jr keeping moving, preventing DeRozan from controlling successfully.

Holmes Jr working for a triangle but DeRozan defends it easily.

Holmes Jr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeRozan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Holmes Jr 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.
DeRozan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes Jr is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Holmes Jr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but DeRozan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

DeRozan is defending against the submission attempts here by Holmes Jr.
DeRozan trying to hold on to Holmes Jr's head to control him but Holmes Jr postures up.
Holmes Jr is keen to just control but DeRozan is a slippery customer.
DeRozan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
DeRozan wants to control but Holmes Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.
DeRozan wants to get back to full guard.

Holmes Jr is working for a kimura but DeRozan is defending it quite comfortably.
DeRozan is trying to maintain the position but Holmes Jr is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Holmes Jr is looking for a kimura here.
DeRozan holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Holmes Jr trying to mount his opponent but DeRozan defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, DeRozan has managed to free his arm - good work.
DeRozan is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
DeRozan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Holmes Jr is working away from the top position though.
DeRozan is controlling Holmes Jr's trapped leg to prevent Holmes Jr from advancing to side control.
Holmes Jr is looking to advance position but DeRozan won't allow it.
DeRozan tries to roll over but Holmes Jr keeps him under control.
DeRozan holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Holmes Jr is looking for a kimura here.

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

Holmes Jr wants to work for an arm triangle but DeRozan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
DeRozan wants to control but Holmes Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Holmes Jr is looking for a kimura here.
Holmes Jr wants to control but DeRozan is keeping him busy.
DeRozan keeping hold of Holmes Jr's head, controlling as best he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Holmes Jr is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and DeRozan defends it well.
DeRozan trying to hold on to Holmes Jr's head to control him but Holmes Jr postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Holmes Jr dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Holmes Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
DeRozan misses with a body shot.
Holmes Jr is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from DeRozan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holmes Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Holmes Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
DeRozan throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. DeRozan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
DeRozan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

DeRozan gets tackled into the cage by Holmes Jr. Holmes Jr maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeRozan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holmes Jr has DeRozan pressed against the cage, preventing DeRozan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holmes Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by DeRozan.
DeRozan stalling against the cage.

DeRozan breaks from the clinch.
DeRozan throws a body shot but no joy.
Holmes Jr wants to clinch up but DeRozan keeps it at a distance.
DeRozan flicks out a counter leg kick but Holmes Jr steps away.
DeRozan misses with an uppercut
and Holmes Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Holmes Jr moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
DeRozan misses with a left hand
and Holmes Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeRozan throws a quick inside leg kick.
A lazy body kick from DeRozan
and Holmes Jr counters with a low kick, right behind DeRozan 's knee.
Holmes Jr ducks under a wild hook from DeRozan.
DeRozan swings for the body but Holmes Jr moves out of range.
DeRozan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Holmes Jr.
DeRozan looks to throw a body kick
letting Holmes Jr counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch but DeRozan moves out of range.
Holmes Jr throws a right hand that DeRozan ducks under and follows up with a left that DeRozan also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeRozan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Holmes Jr half committed to a counter leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Holmes Jr blocks the low kick.
Holmes Jr looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Holmes Jr swings away with a leg kick that misses.
DeRozan misses with a shot to the body
and Holmes Jr counters with a nice leg kick.
Holmes Jr looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
DeRozan throws a poor cross that misses
and Holmes Jr counters with a nice leg kick.
DeRozan swings widly with a right hand
and Holmes Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Holmes Jr closes the distance and clinches.
Holmes Jr lands a right hand.
Holmes Jr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that DeRozan can do to turn this around?
DeRozan working aggressively here.
Holmes Jr is trying to pull guard but DeRozan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holmes Jr.
DeRozan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Holmes Jr misses with a body punch.
Holmes Jr pushes DeRozan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
DeRozan taking a breather.
DeRozan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

DeRozan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. DeRozan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Holmes Jr has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
DeRozan scores with a hook to the body. Holmes Jr takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
This has been an exciting period of action!
DeRozan missing with a left hand there. Holmes Jr was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Holmes Jr slips under a jab from DeRozan.
Holmes Jr feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nice body punch from DeRozan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Holmes Jr dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from DeRozan misses the target.
DeRozan swings widly with a right hand
and Holmes Jr counters with a slapping leg kick.
Holmes Jr lands a jab to the head.
DeRozan throws a nice inside leg kick.
DeRozan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holmes Jr moves away.
DeRozan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holmes Jr moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeRozan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Holmes Jr is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
DeRozan throws a leg kick
and Holmes Jr counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
DeRozan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Holmes Jr rather than just go for the knockout.
Holmes Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but DeRozan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A countering left hand to the body from DeRozan misses.
Holmes Jr scores with a spinning back kick!
DeRozan ducks right into an uppercut from Holmes Jr.
DeRozan connects with a body shot.
Holmes Jr with a body punch. A glancing blow.
DeRozan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
DeRozan lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr moves into the clinch.

Holmes Jr manages to pull guard.
DeRozan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Holmes Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. DeRozan is aware though and is defending well.
DeMar DeRozan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holmes Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holmes Jr keeping moving, preventing DeRozan from controlling successfully.

Holmes Jr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
DeRozan sitting in guard here, content to control.
DeRozan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

DeRozan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
DeRozan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeRozan stopping the sweep attempt from Holmes Jr.
Holmes Jr keeping moving, preventing DeRozan from controlling successfully.

Holmes Jr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
DeRozan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Holmes Jr's guard.
DeRozan stalling.

Holmes Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
DeRozan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Holmes Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
DeRozan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Holmes Jr blocking the ground and pound attempt from DeRozan.
Holmes Jr is controlling DeRozan's position as best he can from this difficult position.
DeRozan is trying to control the action in half guard but Holmes Jr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
DeRozan trying to pass the guard but Holmes Jr defending well.

Holmes Jr actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holmes Jr is trying to get back to full guard.
DeRozan trying to pass the guard but Holmes Jr defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Holmes Jr showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Holmes Jr has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Holmes Jr!
During a confident post fight interview, Mike Holmes Jr thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.