PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nate Skate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saint Assassin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Skate
vs
Assassin

182 cm
26
182 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nate Skate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Saint Assassin!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skate defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Assassin.
Some bone on bone action there as Assassin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Skate tries for a takedown but Assassin circles away easily

and Assassin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Skate!
Assassin looking to ground and pound but Skate is blocking nicely.
Skate tries to hold on but Assassin pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Assassin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Assassin.

Assassin jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Skate manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Skate pushes Assassin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Assassin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Skate is working to avoid the ground and pound but Assassin connects with a decent elbow.
Assassin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Skate is trying to control Assassin's posture but Assassin avoids it.
Assassin landing strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skate tries to bench press Assassin off him but Assassin keeps the position.
Assassin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin cracks Skate with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Skate tries to escape but Assassin is in control.
Assassin is trying to ground and pound but Skate uses the momentary lack of control by Assassin to regain half guard.
Assassin throwing shots but Skate is blocking nicely.
Assassin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Assassin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Assassin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Assassin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Assassin wants to work for an arm triangle but Skate is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Skate misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Assassin stops Skate from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skate wants to get back to full guard.
Assassin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Skate is controlling Assassin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Assassin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Assassin stops Skate from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Assassin with a poor takedown

and Skate counters with a single leg into guard. Assassin didn't expect that.
Skate is breathing heavily.
Assassin looking for a sweep. Not yet Assassin, not yet.
Skate passes into half guard.
Assassin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Assassin is trying to stand.
Assassin wants to get back to full guard.

Assassin kicks Skate off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skate rushes Assassin and presses him up against the cage.

Skate gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Assassin pushes Skate off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Skate scores with a takedown into Assassin's guard.
Assassin is looking to stand up but Skate isn't so interested in that idea.

Skate thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Assassin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Skate's guard.
Assassin landing with the ground and pound.
Skate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Assassin is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Assassin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Skate manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Assassin has Skate in his guard.
Skate connects with a couple of short punches.
Assassin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Assassin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Assassin landing strikes, looking to finish!
Assassin lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Assassin 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.

Skate changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Assassin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Skate working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Assassin manages to get back to half guard.
Assassin is pressing down on Skate's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Assassin keeping moving, preventing Skate from controlling successfully.
Assassin 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.
Skate content to stall in guard here.
Skate stops Assassin from standing up.

Skate 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Assassin wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skate avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Assassin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Skate manages to get himself to full guard.
Assassin throws a big right hand that misses.
Assassin is looking to work some ground and pound but Skate has wrist control.
Assassin stands and throws Skate's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Skate is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Assassin off and has taken his back!
Skate tries to get the hooks in deep but Assassin pushed the leg off.

Skate working for a choke but Assassin reverses nicely into Skate 's guard.
Assassin lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assassin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Skate looking for a sweep. Not yet Skate, not yet.
Assassin with a nice head shot there.
Assassin thows a big elbow that misses.
Assassin is working Skate over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Assassin landing some decent shots from guard.
Assassin cracks Skate with a solid left hand.
Assassin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Assassin connects with a couple of short punches.
Assassin is looking to work some ground and pound but Skate has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assassin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Skate avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Skate escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Assassin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Skate trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Assassin is working Skate over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Skate avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Assassin won't allow Skate to get back to his feet.
Assassin lands a couple of digs.
Skate wants to stand and escape but Assassin is having none of it.
Assassin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Assassin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Skate's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Assassin tries for a takedown but Skate circles away easily

and Skate counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin is looking to stand up but Skate isn't so interested in that idea.
Skate has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Skate pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Assassin is keeping the position for now.
Skate preventing the sweep.
Assassin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Skate manages to get himself to full guard.
Assassin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Assassin thows a big elbow that misses.
Assassin throws a strike but Skate rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Skate seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Skate dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Skate lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Skate tries to close the distance and clinch but Assassin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Skate motions for Assassin to come forward. Skate throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Assassin ducks under a wild hook from Skate.
Assassin blocks the body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skate fails with the takedown

and Assassin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Assassin lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Assassin is nestled in close to Skate, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Skate wants to get back to his feet.
Assassin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Assassin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Skate's head.
Assassin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Assassin not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Assassin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Assassin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Skate knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Skate misses with a low kick.
Skate fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

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.
Assassin fails with the takedown
and Skate counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Assassin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Skate counters by clinching up.
A bit of stalling here from Skate.
Assassin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Skate pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nate Skate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saint Assassin.
Skate lands with a light punch inside.

Skate has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Assassin regains guard immediately.
Assassin wants to sweep here but Skate controlling him for the moment.
Assassin wants to stand and escape but Skate is having none of it.

Assassin looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Skate has picked Assassin up and slammed him! Assassin can't keep hold of the triangle and Skate manages to pass to side control!

Skate tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Skate has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Skate thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assassin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Skate sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Assassin defending well though.
Assassin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Assassin keeping full guard, as Skate tries to pass.
Assassin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Skate.
Skate stopping the sweep attempt from Assassin.
Skate thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Assassin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Assassin fails with the takedown

and Skate counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Assassin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Assassin tries to score a body lock takedown but Skate shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Skate is trying to trip Assassin. He has hold of a leg but Assassin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Skate persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Assassin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Skate puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Assassin wants to get back to full guard but Skate has passed into side control.
Assassin working to try and regain half guard.
Skate landing punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Skate showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Skate 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Skate!