UGP 68 BEFORE THE WALK: SERENITY HOLMES
Post Fight
Miami, Florida
[Suffering the loss against Victoria Marshall was harsh and even after the acknowledgement of respect between the two, Serenity had to taste defeat after a long winning streak in the Union Grand Prix. The Kaseya Center was supportive of her, recognizing her performance, and understanding that she put in a lot of work. Although the camera was following her every move as she was walking backstage, her team followed her and she had a towel around her head plus medical equipment was accompanying her due to the visible bruises and blood on her face.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “I’m very proud of you. It’s not the end, just the beginning. You did amazing and we can only grow from here, okay?”
[The close up view of Serenity Holmes being consoled by her team-mates and also some of her friends who showed up to support. It’s pretty emotional for her. Suffering a loss like that does hurt but having the support makes it up. She held onto her father and sobbed, it was a lot to handle but they embraced in a hug and her head coaches joined in to show they are here for her. Eventually, they were released and she kept walking to their locker room, to change and leave the Kaseya Center.]
JOHN KARTMAN: “You’ve shown a lot of improvement in such a short time and there’s a lot of things we’ll need to work on. Take your time to recover, refocus and when you’re ready, we’ll immediately get to work, okay?”
[She’s sitting on the chair having her gloves removed and the tape cut by a staff member. Serenity nods, listening to her coach try his best to encourage her, and at that moment, all she’s thinking is getting back in the cage.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “This isn’t over. I’m not going to quit. I’m going to make sure I become a champion.”
JOHN KARTMAN: “You will but after you recover. Let’s listen to what the doctors have to say, get you checked out and make sure you’re alright. One thing at a time.”
SERENITY HOLMES: “…It’s not over.”
[She slowly stands up after getting her gloves and hand wraps removed, grabbing her belongings with the help of her team and storms out of the assigned locker room. Her coaches look at each other, wondering if this will ignite a fire or drive her to a different place but her father nods reassuring them everything is okay.]
Holmes MMA and Wrestling Academy
Houston, Texas
[The gym in Houston, Texas, has received a boom in it’s reputation breaking international waters. Combat athletes from around the world are visiting the renowned facility, improving in it’s coaching, staff and volume of talent that has graduated, continued training or visiting to acquire some knowledge. Speaking of continued training, that’s the environment for Serenity Holmes after her fight has been announced against 4da Mandem at UGP 68. Her coaches are watching from the cageside and inside the cage is the newly crowned Featherweight Champion, Verona Jimenez, sparring with her. John Karthan, head striking coach, is shouting instructions and overall owner of the gym, Andre Holmes, is inside the cage keeping a close eye.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “He’s going to come at you with a lot of pressure, range, and boxing combinations. I want you to use what John has been teaching you. Disrupt his pressure and focus on mixing up the targets.”
[Verona’s moving forward in the orthodox position, Serenity in the southpaw and Verona continues to pressure her. Serenity’s footwork moved to her left side to avoid the right hand but every time she came forward, she threw an oblique kick to her lead leg, halting her. Verona threw long jabs, almost peppering Serenity who moved back and to the side. She pressed forward using her range and Serenity threw a one-two which made Verona use head movement but Serenity followed with a body kick.]
JOHN KARTHAN: “Very nice! Use the punches to set up the kicks. Each combination ends with a kick but keep the kicks basic and straight! He can time the distance and not make it flashy. Swift and short!”
[The boxing combinations from Verona are starting off with a long jab or coming in with hooks. Serenity’s starting to understand, using her footwork to get out, improving her head movement mostly in ducking or sidestepping and countering with switch kicks to the leg or body. She continues to use the oblique kicks even though Verona keeps coming forward.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “You need to get on the inside but be careful, he’s fast with his hooks and uppercuts. Use the takedowns to either drive or get inside for the clinch!”
[When Verona presses forward, Serenity shoots for the single leg and Verona attempts to sprawl but Serenity gets into the clinch, double underhooks to a body lock before sweeping her leg for a takedown into side control. She attempts the Kimura after shifting to her right hip to be more in a crucifix position but the timer comes to an end. A final shot of the footage shows Serenity sitting against the cage wall, sweaty in her gym gear and breathing normally.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “We’re working on a game plan, training for every outcome. I’m ready.”
The Holmes Residence
Houston, Texas
SERENITY HOLMES: “No, the fight has been announced and I’m honestly looking forward to it. I’m tired of him running his mouth and I’m glad I get to shut him up. He’s been talking ever since I surpassed him and it’s time someone knocks him down because he’s annoying. He acts like a little bi-”
KAITLYN HOLMES: “Not at the table please.”
SERENITY HOLMES: “…Sorry.”
[Different angles of the Holmes family at their dining table inside the kitchen. Andre Holmes, her father and head coach sitting next to her, her step-mother, Kaitlyn Holmes sitting across with her sister, Athena Holmes, and her twin brothers, Travis and Dean, seated at both ends. She’s enjoying the family environment, it’s refreshing from all the back and forth with her opponent, the change in the mood to be a positive one. Another close up angle showing Serenity enjoying her dinner cooked by Kaitlyn and speaking on her thoughts.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Even though I train, fight, wrestle and do a lot of traveling, media, and whatever, my core is here. My family, and my home. This is what keeps me focused, calm, level-headed and just helps me understand why I do what I love to do. I don’t think many people understand that but we all fight for something and this is what I fight for.”
[Dinner is done but spending time in the living room with her family is what she loves to do. Serenity and her family, mostly her, her sister and her father, is watching some of the UGP events. Serenity leans against the couch, clutching the pillow, and rewatching her last fight against Victoria Marshall. Watching the loss was hard but she looked focused, like a fire had been lit even bigger. Another close up showing her sister, Athena, appreciating her sister visiting as always.]
ATHENA HOLMES: “It was hard to watch my sister lose. She really wanted to be champion but she handled the loss very well. No one likes to lose but like my dad says, it defines what you do afterwards and ever since, she’s been in the gym training hard and she’s changed like she’s gotten stronger. I’ve seen her dedicate more time to MMA so I’m sure we’ll see her back in the main event again.”
[Serenity slowly stands up and walks out of the living room, the camera follows behind her all the way to her room until she closes the door behind her. The final shot is her father and sister looking at each other concerned about her reaction after seeing the footage of her heartbreaking loss in Miami.]
Holmes MMA and Wrestling Academy
Houston, Texas
[Another day in the facility, the cage isn’t a new environment. Serenity is inside the cage with her striking and grappling coaches, the Johns, standing by the cage wall watching their fighter move around against her sparring partner but this time, she’s pressing forward but shooting at angles with combinations that always ends in a kick. The known southpaw stance, her punches firing off like pistons, straight and mixing targets but the key is using them to mask her kicks to the body and legs.]
JOHN KARTMAN: “Good! Keep it simple! Move, footwork, angle, go and stay in the center. He’s going to keep pressing forward, he wants to make it a dogfight but frustrate him when he makes mistakes and use that opening to initiate the clinch!”
[Serenity ducks under a short check hook and underhooks both arms of her sparring partner, pushing her head against his chin to keep it close to his chest and drive him against the cage wall. Serenity uses a couple of shoulder strikes, leaping upwards, head pressed to his chest and reaches for the back of the thigh while overthrowing her other underhook to sweep him down into side control with his back pressed against the wall.]
JOHN HARTMAN: “Very nice! Keep control of his underhooks, wrist and he’ll tire out! We want control, short strikes and top pressure. He will be strong on the ground so anticipate and keep him in control. Use his reach against him on the ground.”
[The struggling sparring partner tries to shrimp and use his arms to create space. The little opening unleashes the instinct to separate the right arm and place her other leg over his head to apply the Kimura submission. He immediately taps out and Serenity stands up but also offers a hand which he takes to get up. They both hug and the footage cuts to a closeup of Serenity discussing with her coaches off the mat.]
JOHN KARTMAN: “Very good training. You’re improving a lot and you’re mixing up your striking and grappling. You need to work on the clinch, using the cage and using takedowns as feints.”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Yeah, I think we have a great game plan for MANDEM. I’m not taking him lightly at all, and I think frustrating him is a very smart play. He doesn’t know how to stay composed especially when things aren’t going his way plus he’s too emotionally invested.”
JOHN HARTMAN: “Yeah, that’s obvious but you need to stay calm no matter what. I know this is a lot for this fight but I don’t want you making careless mistakes. You’re better than that.”
[The final shot is Serenity nodding and thanking her coaches for the training.]
Calgary International Airport
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
[Her rise in popularity in the MMA industry had its perks. The flight from Houston to Calgary was long but comfortable due to the better viable first class option for her team. She remembered how she rode a coach but now her rise in the industry was recognizable. After the team came off the plane, they were at baggage claim awaiting their bags and equipment. Serenity was signing autographs, taking pictures and interacting with fans, very appreciative and receptive of the love she was getting. A close up angle of her father watching his daughter get the love made him smile.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “It’s every father’s dream to see their baby girl really grow and become a leader in today’s world. I knew she had it in her and she never quit. My daughter is someone you can throw in an ocean of sharks and she’ll be the one that’s hunting everyone. Honestly, I’m very proud of her and she’ll continue to make me proud every time.”
[After getting their bags, they walked through the airport and exited to their assigned transportation of SUV’s designated to take them to the Hyatt Regency hotel. Serenity sat in the backseat after their luggage and equipment was carefully loaded, the chauffeur driving them smoothly and safely and she watched through the window the beautiful scenery passing by.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “We’re coming closer to the fight and I have no doubt how much I want to show the world how I want to win this. Either way, when it comes down to the days before the fight, everyone wants to know your mind is and it’s obvious when it comes to the battle of will and spirit, I’ve shown that more than MANDEM every time.”
[The SUV’s made it to the hotel and the team were escorted inside. In a transition to another footage, Serenity, her coaches and some of her training partners, were by the gym designed for the athletes to arrive and train. Serenity’s on the bike station working on her cardio and conditioning, an adjustment from her previous fight and she’s sweating a lot in relation to her weight cut. After that, she’s hitting the pads with her striking coach, John Kartman, working on quick combinations and head movement, shooting off from angles.]
JOHN KARTmAN: “Remember, he has range and boxing experience. Don’t be flashy, keep it straight, quick and move. Use your footwork, head and angles, every time he goes to counter or bob, weave, use his head, go straight for the body. We’ll use his skills against him and make him frustrated.”
[Serenity nods and starts peppering with quick combinations then ends it with a powerful body kick. She moves around throwing one-two-kick, one-kick, and doesn’t stay in the same spot after the combination. After a couple of rounds, she gets a little break to drink a sip of water then hops back into it keeping with the drill.]
Pre-Fight Interview
Hyatt Regency Calgary
[Inside her suite, Serenity Holmes was attended by one of the company’s touring makeup artist for a scheduled interview online to broadcast to promote her upcoming fight with Kayla Chapman. She sits on a chair, the makeup arist puts on the final touches and Serenity Holmes thanks her. After getting the cue, Kayla Chapman joins her on the video call being livestreamed to promote UGP 68.]
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Thank you Serenity Holmes for joining me for this interview. The last time we saw you, you suffered the loss against Victoria Marshall. What has been going through your mind after that?”
[Serenity sighs but it comes with the territory.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I’m not going to lie. I lost. It was a well earned win by Victoria and it sucked. I gave it my all and I gassed out. It’s harsh but it’s a learning lesson. I think I earned a lot of people’s respect and I have nothing but love for Victoria so I wish her all the best in her new decision and yeah, it’s time for get back into the title contention again.”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “You’re still ranked the number one contender and you’re the featured undercard against MANDEM. Are you looking at this fight as a way to say I want another title shot?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Yes. I demanded this fight, I didn’t beg as MANDEM likes to twist it. I wanted to put the biggest talker and bullshitter out of action so I can silence the haters and critics.”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Do you consider this personal for both of you?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I’ll say it’s more personal for him more than myself. I bruised his ego because I’m the only one in the division who calls him what he has. He’s a gatekeeper. He’s only good enough to survive against lower talent in the division but as he said, he can’t stay at the top. He’s only upset that myself, and others are improving beyond him and getting opportunities he can’t get himself. Why? He doesn’t have the talent, skill and even the star power to do so. UGP 68, we get to throw down and I get to embarrass him, really make him humble and pretty much prove my point that you’re nothing more than a man who is insecure, pathetic and trying to be something he’s not.”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “What is that?
SERENITY HOLMES: “A draw.
Media Day
Scotiabank Saddledome
[Media Day is no different in the environment. A small backstage section, mostly a conference room, has been setup by production for a media day press conference where fighters on the main card have their on one with the local journalist and touring photographers, videographers and other media personnel to get their exclusive content for the upcoming UGP 68 event. Serenity Holmes climbs up the steps to the stage and sits down on the chair in front of the table holding onto a microphone with both hands dressed in a grunge outfit, leather jacket on, hair down and her makeup exquisite. One of the interviewers stands up after acknowledged by Serenity to begin with the questions.]
INTERVIEWER: “Serenity, you and MANDEM, have been building this up for a long time. The social media back and forth is there. It’s clear you two don’t like each other and have a grudge. Where did this all started?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “His girlfriend, no, his master. Look, we all know he’s dating the exile. This all started because he has no balls himself. He follows her every move that’s why I can’t take him seriously in anything he says because he’s her living shadow. Everything he says about me is pointless. He wants to talk about my record, my professional wrestling career, my family, all this stuff but he has nothing to back it up.”
INTERVIEWER: “One of the things you said about the MANDEM is that he’s a gatekeeper but he’s mentioned that you need to put in the work and you’ve been handed opportunities. Do you feel that is the case?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Hell no. Let me say this. He’s been in UGP longer than myself and why hasn’t he gotten more opportunities than me? We both got a championship opportunity around the same time and I’ve had what almost six fights undefeated to get that belt and become pound for pound. He wants to tell me I need to work on Boss Fights? First of all, I came in equal as anyone else. I worked my ass off. He’s had only one performance of the night, I’ve had three. His championship match didn’t even headline, mine did and it was Fight of the Night! And even when I wasn’t in UGP, he didn’t work hard enough to make himself stand out so if anything, he should be ashamed of himself for letting someone like me overshadow him like that.”
INTERVIEWER: “Do you think he is underestimating you and are you underestimating him?:”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I am not underestimating him. My team and I have a really excellent gameplan and it’s going to expose all the holes in his skills. He’s underestimating me by taking me as a joke so let him do so. I promise you when it’s over, he’s never going to want to fight again!
Open Mat
Scotiabank Saddledome
[In a bigger open forum of the large venue, there’s a small stage designed for the open mat area where the athletes show off their current training regime to hype up the audience. Fans of UGP have bought their tickets for this promotional event, local media, journalists and videography teams have set up their stations to capture all the action. Right on cue, Serenity Holmes is no stranger to this type of event and quite frankly, it’s one of her favorite moments in the build up to her fight. She’s dressed in her tight workout gear, sparring the punching pads held by John Kartman, bouncing on her feet, never flat footed and constantly moving.]
JOHN KARTMAN: “I want angles. Stay away from that right hand, in and out, draw him to you and end the combination with a kick! I want each combination to end with the kick!”
[Serenity is in her southpaw stance throwing rapid combinations but they don’t come straight or in front, she keeps her body at an angles to avoid the short hooks and uppercuts. What’s very pertinent is that her striking coach keeps moving forward and she halts his movements with the practical oblique kicks, push kicks but she refuses to throw anything flashy. It’s quick, straight and with designed to pepper to setup for a takedown. Her grappling coach, John Hartman, is standing at stageside yelling over the background music.]
JOHN HARTMAN: “Takedown! Shoot from the angle and go for the single leg, drive, drive, drive!”
[When John Kartman steps in with a the step in jab, Serenity weaves and immediately shoots in to take his right leg before snapping down to the mat to bring him to the mat. She stands by the side delivering hammer fists on the pad before dropping into side control to pepper short elbow strikes.]
JOHN HARTMAN: “KIMURA! KIMURA! KIMURA!”
[She isolates the right arm and turns her body to the right hip to step her leg over the head. Serenity puts her arms deep below her sparring partners to quickly lift his upper back off the mat and apply the Kimura. He taps out and she gets off of him allowing him to stand up. The fans begin to cheer, showing their support and she looks around with a smile appreciating their support from the bottom of heart.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE I BEAT HIS ASS! LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
[The final shot is Serenity Holmes taking pictures with a group of fans.]
