PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Holman (ranked 5465 p4p, 4359 weight class) and Eric San Nicholas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyler Holman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holman
vs
San Nicholas

188 cm
25
195
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Holman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eric San Nicholas!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
San Nicholas is looking to clinch but Holman is avoiding it.
San Nicholas with a poor takedown

and Holman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
San Nicholas misses with the head strike.
San Nicholas wants to get back to striking at distance but Holman won't allow it.
Holman has San Nicholas pressed against the cage, preventing San Nicholas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
San Nicholas misses with a hook to the ribs.
San Nicholas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Holman manages to break the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as San Nicholas blocks the leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Holman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San Nicholas tries to clinch up but Holman circles away and keeps his distance.
Holman looks to land a combination but San Nicholas avoids it well.
San Nicholas is trying to counter with his kicks.
San Nicholas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Holman counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Nicholas is trying to break free.
San Nicholas tries to break the clinch but Holman is controlling the position.

Holman manages to break the clinch.
Holman keeps the fight on the outside.
Holman lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Holman shoots in looking for a takedown but San Nicholas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Holman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
It seemed like San Nicholas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
San Nicholas motions for Holman to come forward. San Nicholas throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Holman throws a counter high kick but San Nicholas was just alert enough to avoid it.
San Nicholas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Holman counters with a two punch combo.

San Nicholas is rocked!
Tyler Holman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric San Nicholas.
Holman tries to score a power double leg takedown but San Nicholas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holman somewhat.
San Nicholas throws a poor cross that misses

and Holman counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Holman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
San Nicholas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Holman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from San Nicholas.
Holman shoots for a double leg takedown but San Nicholas sprawls well. He's pushed Holman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
San Nicholas follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Holman rushes San Nicholas and presses him up against the cage.
Holman avoiding damage as San Nicholas throws knees to the body.
Holman lands with a right to the head.
San Nicholas goes for a takedown attempt but Holman pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
San Nicholas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holman shoots in for a takedown but San Nicholas shows good takedown defense.
San Nicholas thows a leg kick but Holman checks it
and Holman counters with a three punch combo that has San Nicholas backing up. San Nicholas nods at Holman to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Nicholas shoots for a takedown but Holman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
San Nicholas looks winded!
San Nicholas fails with the takedown

and Holman counters with a crisp one two that drops San Nicholas! Holman thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves San Nicholas to his feet! San Nicholas is in big trouble!
San Nicholas is still on wobbly legs! Can Holman finish him?
San Nicholas throws a right hand that Holman ducks under and follows up with a left that Holman also avoids with ease.
Holman shoots in for a takedown but San Nicholas shows good takedown defense.

Holman drives through and clinches with San Nicholas against the cage.
San Nicholas seems to have recovered his senses.
San Nicholas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Holman has San Nicholas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. San Nicholas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Holman ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Holman no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
San Nicholas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
San Nicholas pushes down on Holman's leg and manages to get into half guard.
San Nicholas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Holman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San Nicholas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Holman defending well though.
San Nicholas wants to control but Holman is keeping him busy.
San Nicholas working Holman over with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
San Nicholas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
San Nicholas is trying to control. Holman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
San Nicholas is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Holman trying to control but San Nicholas postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Holman dominated that round.
That's time! Holman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Holman feints and as San Nicholas raises his hands in defense, Holman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
San Nicholas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
San Nicholas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Holman haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
San Nicholas controlling the position.
San Nicholas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Holman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Holman postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Nicholas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
San Nicholas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Holman's waist but Holman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing San Nicholas off to one side.
Holman throws a head kick but San Nicholas moves out of range.
Holman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that San Nicholas can do to turn this around?
Holman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with San Nicholas but San Nicholas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Holman is defended easily by San Nicholas.
San Nicholas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Holman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
San Nicholas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Holman avoids it really well and circles away.
Tyler Holman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric San Nicholas.
San Nicholas is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
San Nicholas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Holman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
San Nicholas jumps guard but Holman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Holman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Holman moves into range and clinches up with San Nicholas.

Holman pulls guard effortlessly.
San Nicholas being controlled here momentarily.
San Nicholas wants to control from the top but Holman keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holman pulls San Nicholas in close to his closed guard and prevents San Nicholas from doing any damage or advancing position.
San Nicholas wants to control from the top but Holman keeps moving.
Holman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
San Nicholas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Holman is looking to reverse the position.
Holman striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Holman tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but San Nicholas presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Holman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Holman tries to get out of the position.
San Nicholas looking to control but Holman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
San Nicholas lands with some strikes.
Holman tries to reverse the position but San Nicholas maintains control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Holman dominated that second round.
That's time! Holman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Holman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Holman sets himself, and San Nicholas steps forward looking for the clinch! Holman avoids it this time.
Tyler Holman is winning the standup battle so far.
Holman scores with a hook.
Holman throws the kick towards the body but San Nicholas avoids it.
San Nicholas wants to clinch.
San Nicholas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Holman tries to counter with a takedown but San Nicholas is quick to defend against it.
San Nicholas misses with a takedown attempt - Holman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Holman.
Despite the aggression on San Nicholas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
San Nicholas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Holman as he jumps to the side.
Tyler Holman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric San Nicholas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Nicholas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Holman moves into range and clinches up with San Nicholas.
San Nicholas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Holman has him pressed against the cage.
Holman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. San Nicholas just stands there and leans against the cage.

San Nicholas manages to pull guard.
San Nicholas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holman's guard.

San Nicholas trying to control the position from guard on top but Holman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
San Nicholas with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holman trying to control the position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holman is trying to keep San Nicholas in close.
San Nicholas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
San Nicholas trying to control the position from guard on top but Holman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Nicholas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
San Nicholas wants to control from the top but Holman keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A solid body kick from Holman.
Holman shoots in but San Nicholas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
San Nicholas misses with a takedown attempt - Holman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Holman moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holman lands a shoulder strike.
Holman digs a right hand into San Nicholas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on San Nicholas's gas tank.
Holman leaning against his opponent.
San Nicholas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Holman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
San Nicholas shoots and misses

and Holman counters by moving into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Holman blocking some punches.
Eric San Nicholas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tyler Holman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
San Nicholas is trying to pull guard but Holman has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Holman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Holman!