PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hector Holmes (ranked 2583 p4p, 2224 weight class) and Eduardo Takamura (ranked 384 p4p, 332 weight class). Hector Holmes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holmes
vs
Takamura

191 cm
25
189
2 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
190
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

Beachside Supplements

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hector Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eduardo Takamura!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes tries for a takedown but Takamura circles away easily

and Takamura counters with a shoot takedown. Holmes fights it but they end up in guard.
Holmes looking for a sweep. Not yet Holmes, not yet.
Holmes is working hard here to advance position.
Takamura is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Holmes definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Holmes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takamura's guard.

Holmes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takamura is keeping the position for now.
Holmes wants to stand but Takamura is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes wants to pass the guard but Takamura is keeping the position.

Holmes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Holmes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Takamura tries to roll over but Holmes keeps him under control.
Takamura is trying is best to control the position here.

Holmes wants to work for an arm triangle but Takamura is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Takamura preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Takamura actively working from the bottom here.

Holmes 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Takamura sees it coming and defends easily.

Holmes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Takamura doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Holmes.
Holmes trying to control from half guard but Takamura is working away.

Takamura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Holmes pulls his head out easily.
Takamura is trying to maintain the position but Holmes is very close to passing his half guard.

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.
Takamura won't allow Holmes to pass to mount.

Takamura looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Takamura wants to sweep but Holmes has passed to side control!

Holmes goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Takamura rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Holmes's guard! Nice work there by Takamura!
Takamura content to stall in guard here.

Holmes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Holmes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takamura manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holmes wants to control from the top but Takamura keeps moving.
Holmes postures up in Takamura's guard and throws a big left but Takamura blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hector Holmes will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Holmes fails with the takedown

and Takamura counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Takamura is trying to control. Holmes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Takamura is thwarting Holmes's attempts to control the position.
Holmes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Takamura's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Takamura's back!
Holmes keeps control of the position as Takamura tries to break free.
Takamura trying to control but not successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takamura avoids the strikes from Holmes.
Hector Holmes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holmes gets his hands free as Takamura looks to control.

Holmes looking for the RNC.

Holmes seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Takamura's chin but Takamura turns very nicely into Holmes's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Takamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Takamura looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Takamura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Takamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holmes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takamura is one step ahead there.
Holmes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takamura's guard.

Holmes drops back looking for a leg! Takamura is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Takamura manages to kick Holmes off! Holmes jumps back into Takamura's guard.
Takamura has momentary wrist control but Holmes slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takamura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Takamura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Takamura can do anything to dispel that myth.
Holmes wants to pass the guard but Takamura is keeping the position.

Holmes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Takamura has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Holmes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Takamura.

Holmes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Takamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Holmes wants to control but Takamura is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Takamura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Holmes goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Takamura has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Holmes but great work by Takamura.
Holmes tries to bench press Takamura off him but Takamura keeps the position.
Holmes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Takamura off and has taken his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Holmes has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Takamura wants to escape the position.

Takamura defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Holmes's arms.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holmes is looking for the choke from the back position but Takamura is controlling his hands well.
Takamura looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Takamura is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Holmes off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamura tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Takamura wants to control but Holmes is having none of it.
Takamura is trying desperately to improve position.
Takamura 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.
Takamura wants to hold on but Holmes pushes him away.

Holmes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Takamura tries to reverse the position but Holmes maintains control.

Holmes looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Holmes has hold of Takamura's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Takamura manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Holmes dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Holmes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Takamura counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Takamura is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Takamura's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Holmes keeping moving, preventing Takamura from controlling successfully.
Holmes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes 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.
Takamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura is stalling in the full guard.
Let's hope that Takamura has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Takamura won't allow Holmes to sweep him here.
Holmes trying to control the position.
Takamura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Holmes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Takamura controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Takamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holmes is keeping the position for now.
Takamura won't allow Holmes to sweep him here.
Holmes being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Holmes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takamura swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Holmes dives in for a single leg takedown but Takamura sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Takamura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Holmes is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hector Holmes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Takamura has clasped his hands together around Holmes's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Holmes is looking to regain half guard here but Takamura keeps moving and retains side control.
Takamura is staying tight to Holmes's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Takamura wants to control but Holmes is keeping him busy.
Holmes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takamura actively working from the bottom here.

Holmes seems to be looking for submissions.

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

Takamura looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Takamura desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Holmes is keen to just control but Takamura is a slippery customer.
Takamura is trying to get back to full guard.

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 is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Holmes seems to be working for a kimura but Takamura defends the submission attempt.
Takamura controlling the position well.
Holmes wants to free his trapped foot but Takamura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Takamura is pressing down on Holmes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

Holmes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Takamura has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Holmes has managed to get both his arms back between Takamura's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eduardo Takamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

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