PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machado
vs
Holmes

177 cm
29
265 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

172 cm
30
265 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, John Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hank Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Machado shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Machado trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.
Machado is stalling in the full guard.
Holmes is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Holmes looking for a guillotine here but Machado defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machado trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.
Holmes told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Machado stopping the sweep attempt from Holmes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.

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

Machado got a little sloppy there for a moment and Holmes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Machado has managed to get both his arms back between Holmes's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado controls from within his opponent's guard.

Holmes working for a triangle but Machado defends it easily.

Holmes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Machado is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Holmes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Machado.
Holmes is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machado is working for a kimura but Holmes is defending it quite comfortably.
Holmes tries to roll over but Machado keeps him under control.

Holmes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Machado pulls his head out easily.
Machado is controlling the pace.

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

Holmes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Machado pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado 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.
Holmes is trying to get back to full guard.

Machado is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Machado is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Holmes sees it coming and defends easily.

Machado is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Holmes is just riding it out for now. Machado eventually gives up the hold.
Holmes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Machado is working away from the top position though.
Holmes tries to get to full guard but Machado has control of the leg.

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.

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

Machado is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Machado is thwarting Holmes's attempts to control the position.
Holmes wants to get back to full guard.
Machado is keen to just control but Holmes is a slippery customer.
Holmes is looking to control Machado's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Holmes avoid being mounted?
Machado wants to take a breather but Holmes is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Holmes tries to roll over but Machado keeps him under control.
Holmes wants to control but Machado passes into side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Machado dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Machado feints and as Holmes raises his hands in defense, Machado changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Machado trying to control but Holmes is working from the bottom.
Machado stands and throws Holmes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Holmes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
John Machado overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Machado is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holmes has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Holmes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Machado tries for a kimura but Holmes is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes tries to bench press Machado off him but Machado keeps the position.

Machado is trying to get an arm triangle but Holmes is defending well.
Holmes struggling a bit here.

Machado tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Machado has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Machado tries for a kimura but Holmes is defending well.
Holmes gets back to half guard.

Machado is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Holmes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Machado pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado is looking to take a break and control but Holmes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Machado is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holmes defends it well.
Holmes trying to control from the bottom.

Holmes is defending against the submission attempts here by Machado.

Holmes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Holmes is trying to maintain the position but Machado is very close to passing his half guard.
Holmes gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado passes into half guard.

Holmes actively working from the bottom here.

Machado maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Holmes could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Machado has cracked it and Holmes is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Machado!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). John Machado!
John Machado thanked the fans post fight for their support.