PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rock Roll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mycroft Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Roll
vs
Holmes

190 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rock Roll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mycroft Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roll shoots for a takedown but Holmes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Holmes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Roll throws a head kick that misses.
Roll looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holmes is fending him off so far but Roll persists. Nope, Holmes circles away and we're back to standing.

Roll drives through with a takedown into Holmes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Roll trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roll postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Roll postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Roll has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roll drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Holmes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Roll has Holmes in his guard.

Holmes won't allow Roll to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holmes postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Roll is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Holmes, into his guard.

Holmes is working an open guard so Roll takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Holmes stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Roll. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Roll forces Holmes back against the cage and clinches.

Roll tightens his grip and picks Holmes up, before dumping him to the ground. Holmes manages to land in guard.
Holmes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Holmes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roll is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roll wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Holmes is on top in guard.

Holmes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roll. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holmes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holmes throws a big right hand that misses.
Holmes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Roll not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Roll is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Roll prevents Holmes from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roll tries to pass to full mount but Holmes defends it.
Roll sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Holmes is holding on to half guard well.
Roll is nestled in close to Holmes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Holmes looking for submissions off his back.

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.

Holmes kicks off Roll and gets to his feet.
Roll tries to clinch up.
Roll gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Holmes counters with a three punch combo that has Roll backing up. Roll nods at Holmes to acknowledge the strikes.

Holmes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Roll tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Holmes is in Roll's guard.
Holmes tries to free his leg and advance position but Roll is retaining full guard.
Roll trying to strike off his back.
Roll is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Holmes is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mycroft Holmes will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roll shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roll circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roll shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Holmes sprawls well. Holmes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roll gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Roll with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Roll. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roll shoots in for a takedown but Holmes shows good takedown defense.
Roll misses with a head kick.

Holmes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Holmes controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes wants to control but Roll is keeping him busy.

Holmes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Holmes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Roll is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holmes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holmes swinging wildly here.
Roll lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rock Roll seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmes tries to keep at a distance but Roll has taken the fight into the clinch.

Holmes turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Holmes manages to end up in side control.
Holmes working the ground and pound from side control.

Holmes tries for a kimura but Roll is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Holmes goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Roll rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Holmes's guard! Nice work there by Roll!
Holmes working a defensive guard but Roll passes into half guard.
Roll is looking to take a break and control but Holmes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is looking to improve his position.
Roll is taking a breather. Holmes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Roll prevents Holmes from improving his position.

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.
Holmes is pressing down on Roll's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Roll trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Holmes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roll looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Roll wants to control from the top but Holmes keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mycroft Holmes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Holmes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Roll's waist but Roll gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Holmes off to one side.

Holmes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Roll to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Holmes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Roll dives into side control.

Roll cracks Holmes with a big right hand but Holmes just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roll is chipping away with strikes.
Roll wants to stand but Holmes has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roll wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holmes keeps working.
Holmes tries to bench press Roll off him but Roll keeps the position.
Roll landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Holmes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Roll wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holmes on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Holmes prevents Roll from improving position.

Roll swings around for an armbar but Holmes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Roll's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roll is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Roll pulls Holmes in to control the position.
Holmes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Holmes won't allow Roll to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roll pulls Holmes in close to his closed guard and prevents Holmes from doing any damage or advancing position.
Roll is trying to control the position but Holmes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes content to stall in guard here.
Holmes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Holmes connects with a couple of short punches.
Holmes is pushing down on Roll's leg trying to pass to half guard. Roll is fighting to maintain full guard but Holmes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Roll wants to get back to his feet.

Roll looking for submissions off his back.
Roll is refusing to be controlled, as Holmes sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Holmes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Holmes is trying to work for a kimura but Roll is defending well.
Roll wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Holmes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Roll's waist but Roll gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Holmes off to one side.
Roll appears to be looking for a big counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rock Roll.
I think Holmes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight for Mycroft Holmes!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Rock Roll!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Mycroft Holmes!

Mycroft Holmes wins by split decision!