PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Grim Darkshadow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darkshadow kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Another one bites the dust. Larry Holmes is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Darkshadow
vs
Holmes

178 cm
24
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
149 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Grim Darkshadow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Larry Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Holmes misses with a series of wild punches.

Darkshadow 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 working for a triangle but Darkshadow defends it easily.
Darkshadow trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Darkshadow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Holmes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Darkshadow defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Darkshadow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Holmes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Holmes keeping moving, preventing Darkshadow from controlling successfully.
Darkshadow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Holmes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Holmes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Darkshadow gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Darkshadow's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Darkshadow not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Darkshadow wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.

Holmes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Darkshadow defends well.
Darkshadow is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Darkshadow stands up from Holmes's guard - Darkshadow perhaps looking for a knockout.
Holmes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Darkshadow closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Holmes is looking to regain half guard here but Darkshadow keeps moving and retains side control.
Holmes is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Darkshadow works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Holmes is trying to get back to half guard.
Darkshadow content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Darkshadow in side control lands a decent elbow.

Darkshadow is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holmes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Darkshadow trying to control the position but Holmes is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darkshadow creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Holmes sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Holmes tries to buck Darkshadow off but Darkshadow is having none of it.
Holmes can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holmes tries to bum rush Darkshadow with a series of wild strikes but Darkshadow uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Darkshadow instigates a clinch.

Darkshadow lands a takedown into guard.
Darkshadow would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Holmes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Darkshadow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Darkshadow displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Holmes throws out the jab.
Holmes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Holmes works over Darkshadow's head and body with a nice combination.
Holmes throws a right hand that Darkshadow ducks under and follows up with a left that Darkshadow also avoids with ease.
Darkshadow showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holmes.
Holmes misses with a two punch combination.
Larry Holmes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Darkshadow fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Holmes, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Darkshadow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Darkshadow pulls guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holmes looking to pass the guard.

Darkshadow kicks Holmes off and gets to his feet.

Darkshadow darts in and clinches Holmes up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Darkshadow is trying to trip Holmes. He has hold of a leg but Holmes is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Darkshadow persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Darkshadow landing with the ground and pound.

Holmes has his foot on Darkshadow's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Darkshadow works his way back into a safe position though.
Darkshadow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Darkshadow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Holmes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Darkshadow gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Darkshadow has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Holmes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Holmes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

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

Holmes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Holmes misses with a wild combination.

Darkshadow looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darkshadow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holmes keeps working.
Darkshadow thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holmes's head.

Holmes actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Holmes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Holmes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darkshadow pulls his head out easily.
Darkshadow wants to take a breather but Holmes is having none of it.
Grim Darkshadow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holmes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Darkshadow seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Holmes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holmes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Darkshadow looks to land a combination. Holmes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Holmes looks to clinch

and Darkshadow counters with a single leg into guard. Holmes didn't expect that.

Darkshadow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Holmes is trying to control the position but Darkshadow postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Darkshadow accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

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

Holmes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Darkshadow doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Darkshadow manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grim Darkshadow dominated that second round.
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 tries to clinch

and Darkshadow counters with a nice double leg into side control. Holmes won't be happy with that.
Holmes regains half guard.

Darkshadow wants to work for an arm triangle but Holmes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Holmes actively working from the bottom here.

Holmes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darkshadow pulls his head out easily.
Darkshadow is trying to control. Holmes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Holmes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Darkshadow pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Darkshadow is trying to control. Holmes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Darkshadow is working for a kimura but Holmes is defending it quite comfortably.

Holmes looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A punch combination from Holmes misses.

Darkshadow has Holmes up against the cage in a clinch.
Darkshadow prevents a takedown attempt there.
Darkshadow keeps control of Holmes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Holmes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Darkshadow is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Holmes to the mat. Holmes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Holmes working for a triangle but Darkshadow defends it easily.

Holmes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Darkshadow gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darkshadow lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Holmes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Darkshadow defends well.

Holmes looking for a guillotine here but Darkshadow defends easily.

Holmes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Darkshadow gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darkshadow is stalling in the full guard.

Holmes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

Darkshadow is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Holmes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Darkshadow makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four 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 is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Holmes is looking for a triangle but Darkshadow pushes his legs off easily.
Grim Darkshadow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Darkshadow trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Holmes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Darkshadow wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Larry Holmes.
I think Darkshadow has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grim Darkshadow!