PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Clapton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Clapton
vs
Holmes

182 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Clapton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Clapton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Holmes's guard.
Clapton throwing strikes from guard but Holmes blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clapton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet but Clapton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Clapton wants to pass the guard but Holmes is keeping the position.
Holmes wants to stand but Clapton is controlling the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Holmes is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Clapton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Clapton stops Holmes from standing up.
Clapton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holmes looks to land a right hand but Clapton moved out of range.
Clapton connects with a jab.
Clapton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Holmes circles away.

Clapton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Clapton wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clapton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Clapton is working Holmes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet but Clapton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Clapton pushing down on Holmes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Clapton is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Holmes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Clapton prevents Holmes from standing back up.

Clapton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Clapton is breathing heavily.
Holmes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Clapton.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Clapton lands a nice short elbow.
Holmes is looking to escape.
Clapton throwing shots but Holmes is blocking nicely.
Clapton stops Holmes from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holmes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Holmes throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Clapton's head.

It looks like Eric Clapton has been cut.
Holmes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clapton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Holmes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Holmes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Clapton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holmes wants to stand up but Clapton is controlling him.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Clapton throws a big right hand that misses.
Clapton is looking to work some ground and pound but Holmes has wrist control.
Holmes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes wants to stand but Clapton is controlling the position.
Holmes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Clapton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Clapton throws a big right hand that misses.
Clapton passes into half guard.
Clapton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Holmes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Clapton stops Holmes from getting back to his feet.
Clapton wants to control but Holmes is keeping him busy.
Clapton stops Holmes from getting back to his feet.
Clapton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Clapton clinches up with Holmes and pushes him back against the cage.
Clapton prevents Holmes from breaking the clinch.
Holmes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Clapton has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Holmes tries to break the clinch but Clapton is controlling the position.
Clapton has Holmes pressed against the cage, preventing Holmes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Clapton prevents Holmes from breaking the clinch.
Holmes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Clapton.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Clapton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clapton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holmes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Holmes prevents the takedown attempt.

Clapton pulls guard.
Holmes wants to stand but Clapton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Clapton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holmes's guard.
Holmes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holmes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holmes wants to stand up but Clapton is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Clapton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eric Clapton's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Holmes looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Holmes throws a head kick that Clapton semi-blocks.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Clapton.
Holmes is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Clapton is controlling him well.

Clapton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holmes, who protects the arm well.
Holmes is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Clapton is controlling him well.
Holmes bucks up and tries to throw Clapton off but instead Clapton has got his back!
Clapton cracks Holmes with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Holmes from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Clapton lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Clapton tightening his grip on Holmes, looking for the choke.
Holmes avoids the strikes from Clapton.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes is trying to stand back up.
Clapton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Clapton throwing sloppy strikes.
Holmes controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Clapton working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Clapton lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clapton struggling to land strikes to the head as Holmes covers up.
Holmes trying to get back to his feet but Clapton is in full control for now.
Clapton lands a shot to the head.
Holmes is trying to stand back up.

Clapton looking for the RNC.
Holmes controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clapton has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Holmes.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but Clapton has full control of the position and if anything, Holmes has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Clapton punches the canvas rather than the man.
Clapton throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Holmes showing good submission defense here.
Holmes looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Clapton is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clapton missing with punches from the back.
Holmes controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Holmes is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Clapton missing with strikes from the back.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Clapton looking for the RNC.

Clapton is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Clapton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eric Clapton's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Holmes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clapton avoids the head kick by Holmes.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Clapton crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Holmes - the referee stops the clock and Clapton gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Holmes. Clapton manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Eric Clapton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Clapton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Holmes!
Holmes tries to buck Clapton off but he can't manage it.
Clapton throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Clapton punching from mount but Holmes doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Holmes tries to buck Clapton off but he can't manage it.
Clapton sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Clapton punching from mount but Holmes doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holmes holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Clapton tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Clapton misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Eric Clapton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Clapton throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Clapton throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Clapton jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Holmes manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holmes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Holmes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Clapton avoids the head kick by Holmes.
Clapton throws a series of strikes that have Holmes backpedaling.
Holmes throws a head kick but Clapton moves out of range.
Holmes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Clapton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Holmes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Holmes wants to get back to his feet.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clapton misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Clapton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Clapton working the head with strikes.
Holmes tries to escape but Clapton is in control.
Holmes managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Clapton.
Clapton prevents Holmes from escaping the position.
Clapton misses with the ground and pound.

Clapton decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Holmes dips to his left and cracks Clapton with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes throws a head kick that misses.
Holmes throws a head kick but Clapton moves out of range.
Holmes looks to land a body kick but Clapton moved away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Clapton.
Clapton throws a strike aimed at the side of Holmes's head but Holmes avoids it well.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet but Clapton is dominant here and he's now got Holmes's back!
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Clapton punches the canvas rather than the man.

Holmes is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Holmes is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but Clapton has full control of the position and if anything, Holmes has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clapton is landing with strikes from the back.

Clapton working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Holmes is doing well to defend. Clapton seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Holmes is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Eric Clapton!