PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Holmes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holmes
vs
Evans

187 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

200 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aaron Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Evans slaps away a takedown attempt from Holmes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Evans instigates a clinch.

Evans decides to pull guard.

Evans is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Holmes defends well.
Holmes looking to sit in guard and control but Evans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evans is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Evans's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rashad Evans.
Holmes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Evans sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holmes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Evans counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Evans.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Holmes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Holmes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Evans doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Evans manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holmes trying to strike off his back.
Holmes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Holmes is keeping the position.
Evans postures up.
Evans 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.
Holmes striking off his back but it's not causing Evans any problems.
Holmes throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Evans is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rashad Evans wasn't active enough on the ground.

Evans clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Evans is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Evans closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Holmes is trying to control but can't.
Holmes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Holmes is defending well.
Holmes is trying to escape back to his feet but Evans uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Evans controlling from side mount.
Holmes is not content to let Evans control the position.
Evans looks gassed!

Evans stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Evans gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Evans has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Holmes is trying to keep an underhook but Evans manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Holmes actively working from the bottom here.
Holmes manages to get to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holmes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Evans circles away.
Holmes shoots and misses

and Evans counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Evans controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Holmes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans is taking a breather. Holmes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rashad Evans was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Evans scores with a body shot.

Evans scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Evans scores with punches from side control.
Holmes is trying to control Evans's posture but Evans avoids it.
Holmes stops Evans from passing to mount.
Evans taking a breather here.
Holmes struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Evans politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Evans prefers to stall for the moment though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Holmes struggling a bit here.
Holmes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Evans has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Holmes is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Holmes tries for a takedown but Evans circles away easily

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Holmes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.

Holmes looking for a triangle here. Evans is fighting it but it looks tight! Holmes pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Evans is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Aaron Holmes!