PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aalio Paalio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paalio's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Motörhead - Iron Fist. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Paalio
vs
Holmes

225 cm
27
322 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

210 cm
22
300 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aalio Paalio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hank Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes cracks Paalio with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Aalio Paalio has been cut.
Holmes misses with a body punch
and Paalio counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Hank Holmes has been cut.
Holmes looks to land a combination but Paalio avoids it well.

Paalio closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holmes is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paalio working away.
Holmes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Paalio slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Paalio wants to improve his position but instead Holmes has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes wants to pass the guard but Paalio is defending well.
Holmes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Holmes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Paalio's head.
Paalio tries to get to full guard but Holmes has control of the leg.
Holmes wants to pass the guard but Paalio is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Holmes seems content to control.
Holmes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Paalio's head.
Holmes is looking to advance position but Paalio won't allow it.
Holmes trying to control from half guard but Paalio is working away.
Paalio pushes Holmes off looking to stand but Holmes dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is stalling here. Paalio is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Holmes seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Paalio has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Paalio working the ground and pound but Holmes is defending the strikes.
Holmes wants to control but Paalio postures up.
Paalio landing a few strikes.
You can see the frustration on Holmes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Paalio throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Holmes works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Paalio is looking to work some ground and pound but Holmes has wrist control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Holmes holds on and takes a little breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paalio postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Holmes dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Holmes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Holmes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paalio scores with a hook to the body. Holmes takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Paalio moves out of range as Holmes strikes.
Paalio lands a slapping body shot.
Paalio tries to clinch up but Holmes circles away and keeps his distance.
Holmes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
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!
Paalio looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Holmes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paalio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holmes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Paalio was well out of range. Poor timing from Holmes.

Holmes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Paalio misses with some punches.
Holmes lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Paalio stalling against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holmes.
Paalio leaning his opponent against the cage.
Paalio blocks a body shot from Holmes.
Holmes misses with a body punch.
Paalio looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Holmes lands with a right to the head.
Still in the clinch, Paalio scores with a nice short uppercut.
Paalio tries to land a knee to the head but Holmes blocks with his arms.
Holmes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Holmes.
Paalio throws a knee to the head but misses.
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!
With the fighters up against the cage, Paalio throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Holmes.
Paalio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Holmes throws a punch but it's blocked by Paalio.
Paalio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Holmes dodges an elbow strike from Paalio.
Paalio is trying to maintain a safe position but Holmes gets an underhook and turns Paalio into the cage.
Holmes cracks Paalio with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holmes has Paalio pressed against the cage.
Paalio lands with a right to the head.
Holmes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Holmes has a couple of punches blocked by Paalio.
Holmes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Paalio or not.
Holmes scores with a shoulder strike.
Holmes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Holmes lands a nice shot to the body.
A short left from Holmes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The referee calls for Holmes to work.
Holmes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holmes.
Holmes misses with a body punch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Holmes struggles to land a body shot inside as Paalio controls his hands.
Holmes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Holmes is working Paalio over against the cage.
Hank Holmes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Holmes tries to throw a body punch but Paalio avoids it by throwing Holmes back against the cage.
Paalio misses with a short punch on the inside.
Holmes can't find room to land a body shot as Paalio controls the action.
Holmes avoiding damage.
A body shot lands from Holmes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Paalio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paalio is looking to control Holmes's arms but Holmes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Paalio has his back to the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Holmes fails to land.
A hook to the body from Holmes.
Paalio stalling against the cage.
Holmes lands a right hand.
Holmes pushes Paalio back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Holmes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holmes.
Holmes misses with a punch to the body.
Holmes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Paalio blocking some punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Holmes digs a right hand underneath Paalio's ribcage. Paalio let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Holmes tries a body shot but Paalio blocks it.
Paalio working aggressively here.
Holmes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Holmes in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Paalio blocks a body shot from Holmes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Holmes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Holmes misses with a wild body shot.
Paalio just misses with a punch to the body.
Holmes throws a hook to the side of Paalio's head but Paalio sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Paalio misses with a wild body shot.
Holmes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Paalio at a distance.
Holmes throws a big shot that misses.
Paalio comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Holmes lands a nice looking body shot.
Paalio avoids the body shot from Holmes.
Holmes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paalio ducks under a wild hook from Holmes.

Holmes has managed to clinch.
Paalio throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holmes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holmes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes tries to work over Paalio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Holmes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holmes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paalio prevents a body shot from Holmes.
A short right from Holmes on the inside.
Holmes lands a body punch.
Holmes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Paalios head.
Holmes lands an uppercut.
Holmes tries to throw a body punch but Paalio avoids it by throwing Holmes back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Holmes - that landed with a thud.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Holmes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holmes lands a nice uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Paalio as Holmes tries to tie him up.
Holmes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Holmes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Holmes gets through Paalio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hank Holmes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Holmes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Paalio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paalio misses with an elbow over the top.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Holmes.
Holmes has a couple of punches blocked by Paalio.
Holmes blocks the elbow strike.
Holmes lands a shot to the body.
Holmes managing to block the knees to the body from Paalio.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Holmes.
Paalio tries a body shot but Holmes blocks it.
Paalio lands a right hand.
Aalio Paalio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paalio throws an elbow but it misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Paalio.
Paalio with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Holmes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Paalio can't find room to land a body shot as Holmes controls the action.
Holmes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Paalio throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paalio creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Holmes lands a body shot.
Holmes misses with a body punch.
Holmes blocks a body shot from Paalio.
A head punch on the inside from Paalio fails to land.
Paalio tries a knee to the head but Holmes blocks it.
Paalio throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Holmes blocks a body shot from Paalio.
Holmes struggles to land a body shot inside as Paalio controls his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holmes lands with a right to the head.
Holmes throws a punch but it's blocked by Paalio.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paalio working aggressively here.
Paalio misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Holmes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Holmes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

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