PBP Commentary

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

Khabilov
vs
Holmes

191 cm
25
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 Montreal, Ruslan Khabilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Casey Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khabilov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Holmes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khabilov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Holmes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Holmes tries to clinch up.
Holmes wants to clinch up but Khabilov keeps it at a distance.
Khabilov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Holmes gets caught napping as Khabilov dives in and scores a takedown. Holmes manages to retain guard.

Khabilov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Khabilov 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.
Holmes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khabilov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Holmes is working an open guard so Khabilov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes wants to clinch up but Khabilov keeps it at a distance.
Holmes wants to clinch

and Khabilov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Holmes won't be happy with that.
Holmes is looking to get back to his feet here but Khabilov is keeping cool and he's managed to take Holmes's back.
Khabilov controls the position.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but Khabilov has full control of the position and if anything, Holmes has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Khabilov really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Holmes.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Holmes is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Khabilov.
Holmes trying to get back to his feet but Khabilov is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Khabilov scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Holmes is looking for a way out.

Holmes is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Holmes defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Khabilov controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is trying to stand back up.
Khabilov biding his time, looking for the opening.

Khabilov looking for the choke but no joy.

Holmes showing good submission defense here.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but Khabilov has full control of the position and if anything, Holmes has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Khabilov trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Holmes doesn't escape.
Khabilov misses with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Khabilov throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Holmes trying to get back to his feet but Khabilov is in full control for now.
Khabilov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Holmes showing good submission defense here.
Khabilov controls the position.
Holmes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Khabilov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holmes is trying to stand back up.
Khabilov controlling the position well here. Holmes rolled but Khabilov kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Khabilov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Holmes for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holmes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khabilov lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Khabilov clinches up with Holmes and pushes him back against the cage.

Khabilov decides to pull guard.
Khabilov is pulling down on Holmes's head to control his posture.
Holmes cracks Khabilov with a solid left hand.
Khabilov is pulling down on Holmes's head. It's preventing any offense from Holmes, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holmes throws a big elbow that misses.
Holmes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Khabilov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holmes can do to turn this around?
Holmes throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes wanted to stand there but Khabilov had control of the position.
Holmes is fighting to break Khabilov's control of his arms but Khabilov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Khabilov manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Holmes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Khabilov's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes pushes off an throws an elbow but Khabilov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Holmes fails to land.
Holmes letting Khabilov take a breather here.

Khabilov pulls guard.

Khabilov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Holmes is aware though and is defending well.

Khabilov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Holmes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Holmes throws an elbow that misses. Khabilov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Holmes's guard. Nice move by Khabilov!

Khabilov is standing up over Holmes. Holmes looks to escape but Khabilov dives into side control.
Holmes wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Khabilov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Khabilov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Khabilov lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is staying tight to Holmes's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet.
Holmes bucks up and tries to throw Khabilov off but instead Khabilov has got his back!

Khabilov patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Holmes wants to get back to his feet.

Khabilov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Khabilov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but Khabilov has full control of the position and if anything, Holmes has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Khabilov controls the position.

Khabilov looking to break Holmes's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Holmes remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Khabilov will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Khabilov is riding his opponent, not letting Holmes buck him off.
Holmes covers up after that shot from Khabilov.
What can Holmes do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Khabilov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but Khabilov has full control of the position and if anything, Holmes has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Khabilov has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Holmes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes trying to get back to his feet but Khabilov is in full control for now.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Ruslan Khabilov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Khabilov thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Khabilov has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Holmes has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov scores with strikes from the back.
Holmes is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Khabilov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Holmes is looking to clinch but Khabilov is avoiding it.
A nice combination there by Khabilov.
Holmes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Khabilov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Holmes is looking to clinch but Khabilov is avoiding it.
Holmes moves in looking to clinch but Khabilov pushes him off.
Ruslan Khabilov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khabilov scores with a head kick.
Khabilov circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Khabilov is defended easily by Holmes.
Holmes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khabilov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khabilov throws a big counter combination but Holmes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Holmes wants to clinch up but Khabilov keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes wants to clinch.
Holmes tries to clinch but Khabilov moves away
and Khabilov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Khabilov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holmes tries to clinch but Khabilov moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes is looking to clinch but Khabilov is avoiding it.
Khabilov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Holmes tries to clinch there but Khabilov circles away.

Khabilov feints and as Holmes raises his hands in defense, Khabilov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Khabilov stops Holmes from standing up.
Khabilov wants to pass the guard but Holmes is keeping the position.
Khabilov prevents Holmes from getting back to his feet.
Holmes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khabilov controls the pace.
Khabilov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Khabilov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Khabilov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Khabilov swats away the attempt to clinch by Holmes.
Holmes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holmes tries to clinch up.
Casey Holmes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holmes tries to clinch up.
Holmes wants to clinch.
Khabilov swats away the attempt to clinch by Holmes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holmes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Holmes has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Khabilov misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes wants to clinch.
Casey Holmes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holmes tries to clinch up.
Holmes is looking to clinch.
Holmes tries to close the distance and clinch but Khabilov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khabilov attempts a counter takedown but Holmes avoids it well and moves away.
Khabilov takes a swing at Holmes's ribcage but misses.
Holmes wants to clinch up but Khabilov keeps it at a distance.

Khabilov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Khabilov lands in his opponent's guard.
Holmes is looking to stand up but Khabilov isn't so interested in that idea.
Khabilov slips nicely into half guard.
Khabilov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khabilov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Khabilov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Khabilov prevents Holmes from standing back up.
Khabilov wants to pass the guard but Holmes is defending well.
Khabilov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Khabilov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Holmes defending well though.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Holmes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Khabilov thows a huge punch but Holmes dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Khabilov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Khabilov 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Khabilov!