PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Karim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Abdul Karim enters the cage!

Holmes
vs
Karim

177 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bryan Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Karim!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karim fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Holmes to the ground. Karim is now in Holmes's guard.
Holmes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Holmes thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Karim looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Holmes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Holmes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Holmes trying to strike off his back.
Karim landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karim's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Holmes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Karim sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karim gets a clinch.

Karim breaks the clinch.

Karim rushes Holmes and presses him up against the cage.
Karim dodges an elbow strike from Holmes.
Holmes tries to land knees in the clinch but Karim avoids the damage to the body.

Karim pulls guard effortlessly.
Karim preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karim seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Karim is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karim has his foot on Holmes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Holmes works his way back into a safe position though.
Holmes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Karim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Karim throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karim pulls Holmes in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holmes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Karim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holmes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holmes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Karim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holmes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Holmes with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Karim is looking to sweep but instead, Holmes has passed into half guard.
Karim regains full guard. Nicely done.
Holmes throws a strike but Karim rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Holmes trying to keep a closed guard but Karim is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karim won't allow Holmes to sweep him here.
Karim looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Karim dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karim misses with a wild body shot.
Holmes slips under a jab from Karim.
Karim works over Holmes's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Bryan Holmes has been cut.
Abdul Karim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holmes is looking to clinch but Karim is avoiding it.

Karim gets tackled into the cage by Holmes. Holmes maintains the clinch.

Karim breaks from the clinch.
Holmes dives in for a single leg takedown but Karim sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Holmes sets himself, and Karim steps forward looking for the clinch! Holmes avoids it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Karim.
Holmes tries to clinch but Karim is having none of it.
Karim stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Karim wants it to stay on the feet.

Karim scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Holmes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Karim working the ground and pound.
Holmes is trying to work for a sweep but Karim has mounted him!
Holmes tries to hold on but Karim postures up.
Holmes is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karim sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Holmes sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Karim is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karim blocks the strikes from Holmes.

Karim is looking for a kimura but Holmes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Karim to get the leverage.

Karim is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holmes defends it well.
Holmes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Karim scores with a couple of nice shots.
Karim content to control rather than advance.
Holmes trying to hold on to Karim's head to control him but Karim postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Holmes is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Karim moves into the clinch.

Karim gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Karim content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like Karim is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Karim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bryan Holmes's cut.
That's time! Holmes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Karim looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Karim is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Karim is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holmes defends it well.
Holmes strikes from the bottom but Karim uses the opportunity to move to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes is looking for a sweep.
Karim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Karim looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Karim wants to stand but Holmes has his arm trapped.
Karim working the ground and pound from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Karim stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Karim shoots in and gets a takedown into Holmes's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karim slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Holmes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karim wants to stand but Holmes is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes has an active guard here but Karim has managed to pass into half guard.
Karim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Holmes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Holmes looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karim is controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Karim shoots in and gets a takedown into Holmes's guard.
Karim sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Abdul Karim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holmes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Holmes is looking for a triangle but Karim pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Karim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Karim has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Karim!