PBP Commentary

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

Holmes
vs
Etherton

160 cm
20
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Samuel Etherton!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Topper Green and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
No joy there for Holmes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Holmes scores with a takedown into Etherton's guard.
Holmes throwing strikes from guard but Etherton blocks nicely.
Holmes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Etherton is trying to control the position but Holmes postures up.
Holmes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Etherton is keeping the position for now.
Holmes throws a big elbow that misses.
Holmes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Etherton striking from the bottom here.
Holmes slips nicely into half guard.
Holmes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Etherton reverses the position - he's now on top in Holmes's guard.
Holmes looking for a sweep. Not yet Holmes, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Etherton throws a big right hand that misses.
Etherton preventing the sweep.
Holmes keeping moving, preventing Etherton from controlling successfully.
Holmes pulls Etherton in close to his closed guard and prevents Etherton from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Holmes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Etherton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Holmes was covering up waiting for the punch and Etherton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Etherton won't allow Holmes to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Holmes is on top in guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Etherton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Etherton wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes cracks Etherton with a solid left hand.
Holmes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Holmes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Etherton is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Holmes lands strikes from half guard.
Holmes trying to control from half guard but Etherton is working away.
Holmes blocks the strikes from Etherton.
Etherton is looking to improve his position.
Holmes wants to pass the guard but Etherton is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holmes thows a huge punch but Etherton dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Holmes connects with a nice short shot to Etherton's temple.
Holmes is just content to waste time from the top position. Etherton takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Etherton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Etherton has momentary wrist control but Holmes slips an elbow through the middle.
Etherton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holmes is one step ahead there.
Holmes trying to control but Etherton is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holmes stands and throws Etherton's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Etherton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Holmes is trying to control Etherton's posture but Etherton avoids it.
Holmes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Holmes is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Holmes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Holmes tries to get out of the position.
Holmes can't do much from the bottom here.
Etherton tries to advance to mount but Holmes denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes is holding Etherton down, trying to stall.
You can see the frustration on Holmes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Holmes tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Etherton.
Etherton throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Holmes is not content to let Etherton control the position.
Holmes gets back to half guard.
Holmes is doing well to control the position and prevent Etherton from advancing to side control.
Holmes is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Etherton is stalling here. Holmes is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Etherton seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Holmes has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Etherton tries to improve position but can't.
Holmes is staying tight to Etherton's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Holmes working the ground and pound from side control.
Etherton is not content to let Holmes control the position.
Holmes is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Etherton will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Etherton regains half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Holmes in particular looking to stall.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Andrew Holmes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Etherton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Holmes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Etherton won't allow Holmes to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Holmes dominated that second round.
That's time! Holmes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Holmes tries to land a front kick but Etherton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Holmes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Etherton sprawls well initially but Holmes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Holmes content to control rather than advance.
Etherton is trying to stand.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Holmes in particular looking to stall.
Etherton is trying to control but can't.
Holmes is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Holmes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Etherton slips a jab from Holmes.

Etherton drives through and clinches with Holmes against the cage.

Holmes breaks from the clinch.
Etherton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Samuel Etherton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Etherton ducks under a wild hook from Holmes.
Holmes throws a leg kick but Etherton sees it coming and moves out of range.
Etherton slips a straight right by Holmes.

Holmes moves into the clinch.

Holmes jumps guard and drags Etherton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Holmes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Etherton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Etherton trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Etherton being controlled here momentarily.
Etherton looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Etherton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Holmes is proving hard to escape from.
Holmes controlling Etherton's posture.
Andrew Holmes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Etherton won't allow Holmes to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Samuel Etherton.
Etherton checks a leg kick.

Etherton clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Etherton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Holmes misses with the head strike.
Holmes lands a shoulder strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Holmes takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Etherton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Etherton lands an elbow inside that Holmes shrugs off.
Etherton wants to break free but Holmes has control.
Holmes working aggressively here.
Etherton avoids the elbow strike from Holmes, against the cage.
Holmes leaning against his opponent.
Holmes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Holmes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Holmes misses with a body punch.
Etherton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Holmes is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Etherton breaks the clinch.
Holmes misses with an uppercut.

Holmes rushes Etherton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Etherton decides to pull guard.
Holmes sitting in guard here, content to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Samuel Etherton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Etherton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holmes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Holmes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Holmes 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27

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