PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Holmes Jr (ranked 578 p4p, 1137 weight class) and Keijo Maki (ranked 87 p4p, 161 weight class). Holmes Jr kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Red - Damage. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Holmes Jr
vs
Maki

194 cm
29
203
16 - 11 - 0

205 cm
27
220
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Holmes Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Maki!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes Jr lands with a nice body punch.
Keijo Maki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holmes Jr throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Maki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Holmes Jr throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Holmes Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maki avoids the body shot from Holmes Jr.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Maki! But no joy.
Holmes Jr cracks a nice hook into Maki's ribs.
Holmes Jr avoids the body shot from Maki.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Holmes Jr.
Maki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Maki misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki moves out of range of the body kick from Holmes Jr.
Holmes Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Holmes Jr wants to clinch up but Maki keeps it at a distance.
Holmes Jr dips to his left and cracks Maki with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Maki is predictable there
and Holmes Jr counters with a leg kick.
Maki misses the jab.
Holmes Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holmes Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Maki misses with a body shot.
Holmes Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maki manages to avoid it.

Holmes Jr moves into the clinch.

Holmes Jr drags the fight down to the ground.
Maki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Holmes Jr sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Maki is going to stand back up.

Holmes Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Holmes Jr is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maki's back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Holmes Jr 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, Maki has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Maki is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes Jr is hanging on to Maki's back as he tries to escape.
Holmes Jr seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Holmes Jr looking for the RNC.

Maki defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Holmes Jr's arms.

Holmes Jr is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Maki knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Maki for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Holmes Jr is looking for a rear naked choke here but Maki reverses the position brilliantly into Holmes Jr's guard!
Maki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holmes Jr bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Holmes Jr lands a right hook to the body.
Holmes Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Holmes Jr throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

It looks like Keijo Maki has been cut.
Holmes Jr looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki throws an off balance right hand
and Holmes Jr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Maki throws a lazy body kick
and Holmes Jr counters with a body kick that stops Maki in his tracks momentarily.
Holmes Jr scores with a body shot.
Maki is breathing heavily.

Holmes Jr gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holmes Jr jumps guard.
Maki tries to stand but Holmes Jr is controlling from the bottom.
Mike Holmes Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Holmes Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Holmes Jr has his foot on Maki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maki works his way back into a safe position though.
Holmes Jr might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Holmes Jr has his foot on Maki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maki works his way back into a safe position though.
Holmes Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maki's guard.

Holmes Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Maki is retaining full guard.
Maki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki working a defensive guard here.
Holmes Jr passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Maki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Holmes Jr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Holmes Jr tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Holmes Jr is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmes Jr is trying to get an arm triangle but Maki is defending well.
Holmes Jr advances nicely into full mount.
Maki is desperately trying to improve his position but Holmes Jr has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Holmes Jr wants to take Maki's back but he can't do it this time.

Holmes Jr jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Maki is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Maki and Holmes Jr has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Holmes Jr tries to move to mount but Maki blocks the move with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holmes Jr has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Holmes Jr dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Keijo Maki's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Holmes Jr has Maki up against the cage in a clinch.
Holmes Jr tries a body shot but Maki blocks it.

Holmes Jr pulls guard successfully.
Maki stopping the sweep attempt from Holmes Jr.

Holmes Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Holmes Jr wants to sweep here but Maki controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes Jr is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes Jr can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maki controls the pace.

Holmes Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Holmes Jr's guard.
Holmes Jr is trying to get back to full guard.
Keijo Maki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Holmes Jr has a hand on Maki's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Maki takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Maki content just to control the position here.
Holmes Jr holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maki tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Holmes Jr is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki looking to finish with strikes here!
Poor strikes thrown by Maki there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Maki is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Holmes Jr is working to get back to half guard.

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.
Holmes Jr manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Maki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Holmes Jr is looking for a sweep. Maki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Holmes Jr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maki can do to turn this around?
Nice strikes from Maki there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holmes Jr wants to improve his position but Maki is controlling well.
Holmes Jr regains full guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Keijo Maki.
Well Holmes Jr 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Holmes Jr!
Mike Holmes Jr seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.