PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ismael Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Horacio Barnard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Holt
vs
Barnard

188 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ismael Holt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Horacio Barnard!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holt clinches with his opponent.
Holt lands a nice knee to the body.
The referee calls for Holt to work.
Holt keeps control of Barnard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barnard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holt pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Barnard is trying to break the clinch but Holt is controlling him.
Barnard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Holt prevents it.

Holt gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Barnard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Holt.
Barnard is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Holt scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holt not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Holt throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Holt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Holt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barnard is looking to improve his position.
Holt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Holt.
Barnard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barnard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holt.
Barnard looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnard looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnard, not yet.
Holt throwing strikes from guard but Barnard blocks nicely.
Barnard is trying to control the position but Holt postures up.
Holt sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Barnard wants to stand but Holt is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnard looks winded!
Barnard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barnard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Holt throwing strikes from guard but Barnard blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barnard on the ground.
Holt with a nice head shot there.
Holt cracks Barnard with a solid left hand.
Holt throwing strikes from guard but Barnard blocks nicely.
Holt landing some decent shots from guard.
Holt cracks Barnard with a solid left hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Holt works over Barnard with some ground and pound from guard.
Holt working some strikes from top position.
Holt connects with a couple of short punches.
Holt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Holt postures up and lands a big shot to Barnard's brow.
Holt throwing strikes but missing.
Holt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barnard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barnard trying to keep a closed guard but Holt is proving a slippery customer.
Holt chips away with some ground and pound.
Holt throwing strikes but missing.
Holt postures up.
Holt working some strikes from top position.
Holt throwing strikes from guard but Barnard blocks nicely.
Holt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holt is one step ahead there.
Holt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Holt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barnard wants to stand but Holt is controlling the position.
Holt throwing strikes but missing.
Barnard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holt cracks Barnard with a solid left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holt throws a big elbow that misses.
Holt has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Holt lands a couple of elbows.
Holt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Holt lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Holt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismael Holt dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ismael Holt's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barnard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Holt has picked Barnard up - he's going for a ride! Holt dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Barnard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holt's back!

Holt defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Holt sitting in guard here, content to control.
Holt stopping the sweep attempt from Barnard.
Ismael Holt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Holt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barnard is trying to keep Holt in close.
Holt lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barnard is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barnard wants to stand up but Holt is controlling him.
Holt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Holt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Holt throwing strikes from guard but Barnard blocks nicely.
Barnard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Holt postures up in Barnard's guard and throws a big left but Barnard blocks it.

Barnard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Holt defends it easily.
Barnard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holt is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Holt landing some decent shots from guard.
Holt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barnard working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holt is in close to Barnard's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holt distracts Barnard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Holt is working Barnard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Holt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Holt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holt landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Holt's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Holt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Holt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Holt with a nice head shot there.
Holt scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Holt throws a big right hand that misses.
Holt is working Barnard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Holt landing some decent shots from guard.
Holt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barnard's head.
Holt distracts Barnard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Holt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holt is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnard can do to turn this around?
Holt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barnard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnard has momentary wrist control but Holt slips an elbow through the middle.
Holt connects with a couple of short punches.
Holt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barnard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Holt controls the pace.
Holt connects with a couple of short punches.
Holt postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Holt with a nice head shot there.
Holt is looking to work some ground and pound but Barnard has wrist control.
Holt keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Barnard's head.
Holt postures up and lands a big shot to Barnard's brow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Holt chips away with some ground and pound.
Holt throwing strikes from guard but Barnard blocks nicely.
Holt is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismael Holt dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ismael Holt's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Holt looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Holt throws a strike but Barnard avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Holt content to stall in guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holt throws a big right hand that misses.
Holt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barnard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Holt works over Barnard with some ground and pound from guard.
Barnard is looking to stand up but Holt isn't so interested in that idea.
Barnard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holt stands up over Barnard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Barnard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holt is one step ahead there.
Holt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Holt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barnard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Holt scoring with punches to the head and body.
Holt engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Holt scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnard wants to stand but Holt is controlling the position.
Holt with a nice head shot there.
Holt scoring with some ground and pound.
Holt lands a couple of elbows.
Holt landing some decent shots from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Holt chips away with some ground and pound.
Holt lands a couple of elbows.
Holt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Holt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Holt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holt scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Holt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Holt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holt scoring with punches to the head and body.
Holt working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Holt with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Holt's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Holt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holt cracks Barnard with a solid left hand.
Barnard has momentary wrist control but Holt slips an elbow through the middle.
Holt scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Holt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holt throwing strikes from guard but Barnard blocks nicely.
Barnard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Holt controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Barnard's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Holt working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Barnard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holt working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Holt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Holt is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Holt is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holt is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Holt lands a couple of digs.
Horacio Barnard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ismael Holt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holt landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ismael Holt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Holt 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ismael Holt!