PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernard Bruce (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.

Skinner
vs
Bruce

186 cm
21
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bobby Skinner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bernard Bruce!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bruce stuffs the takedown attempt from Skinner. Skinner gets slowly back to his feet.
Bruce is looking to clinch.

Skinner closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Skinner wants to take a breather but Bruce is having none of it.
Bruce tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bruce wants to improve his position but Skinner is controlling well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bruce can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bruce is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Skinner stops Bruce from getting back to his feet.
Bruce trying to hold on to Skinner's head to control him but Skinner postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skinner is tying to control. Bruce wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bruce is controlling Skinner's trapped leg to prevent Skinner from advancing to side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bruce tries for a takedown but Skinner circles away easily

and Skinner counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Skinner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce goes for a takedown in the clinch but Skinner prevents it.

Bruce breaks from the clinch.

Bruce shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Skinner's guard.

Skinner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Skinner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bruce's guard.
Bruce scores with a nice shot.
Bruce keeping moving, preventing Skinner from controlling successfully.

Bruce has his foot on Skinner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Skinner works his way back into a safe position though.
Bruce looks gassed!
Skinner wants to pass the guard but Bruce is keeping the position.

Skinner gets to his feet. Bruce looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skinner pushes Bruce up against the cage in a clinch.
Skinner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bruce just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bruce tries for a takedown but Skinner manages to get underhooks.
Bobby Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernard Bruce.
Bruce tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Skinner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Skinner stalling in the clinch.
Skinner misses with a knee to the head.

Skinner turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Skinner manages to end up in side control.
Bruce is trying to control Skinner's posture but Skinner avoids it.
Skinner controls the position from side control.
Skinner is looking to take a break and control but Bruce is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bruce really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Skinner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bruce wants to control but Skinner postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skinner has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Skinner swinging wilding here.
Skinner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Skinner moves into the clinch successfully.

Bruce manages to break the clinch.

Skinner closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bruce is trying to control but can't.
Bruce moves into full guard.

Bruce looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Skinner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bruce has control of Skinner's left arm, preventing Skinner from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce wants to control but Skinner passes easily into half guard.
Bruce is positioning himself well to prevent Skinner advancing to mount.
Bruce is trying to get back to full guard.
Bruce regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bruce pulls Skinner in close to his closed guard and prevents Skinner from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bruce tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Skinner dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bruce clinches up with Skinner and pushes him back against the cage.
Skinner tries to score a body lock takedown but Bruce shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bruce has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Skinner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bruce on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bruce looking to stall.

Bruce successfully pulls guard.
Bruce not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bruce can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skinner controls the pace.
Skinner throwing strikes but missing.
Skinner looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Skinner manages to get himself to full guard.
Skinner keeping moving, preventing Bruce from controlling successfully.
Bruce pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skinner is keeping the position for now.
Skinner working a defensive guard but Bruce passes into half guard.
Bruce is thwarting Skinner's attempts to control the position.
Bruce is looking to stall here but Skinner recovers full guard.

That's two 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.
Skinner pulls Bruce in close to prevent any damage.
Skinner looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Bruce puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Skinner is staying active underneath Bruce, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Skinner wants to get back to full guard.
Skinner moves into full guard.

Bruce has gone for a leg lock! Skinner slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bruce's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bruce scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Bruce fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Skinner sprawls well initially but Bruce persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Skinner pushes Bruce off looking to stand but Bruce dives back in and keeps control.
Bobby Skinner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bruce is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Skinner is trying to control but can't.
Bruce tries to stand but can't do so whilst Skinner controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner is trying to get back to full guard.
Skinner is refusing to be controlled, as Bruce sits in half guard.
Bruce lands with a punch from half guard.
Bruce tries to stand but can't do so whilst Skinner controls his leg.
Skinner tries to kick Bruce off but Bruce keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bruce is thwarting Skinner's attempts to control the position.
Skinner is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Bruce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Skinner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bruce tries to avoid it but Skinner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bruce to the ground. Bruce escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Bruce closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Skinner can't get the takedown.

Skinner is trying to trip Bruce. He has hold of a leg but Bruce is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Skinner persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bruce controls Skinner momentarily but Skinner frees himself.
Skinner looking to pass the guard.
Bruce is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Skinner is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skinner looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Skinner wants to pass the guard but Bruce is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce is looking to sweep but instead, Skinner has passed into half guard.
Bruce is trying to control but can't.

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

Skinner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Skinner controls the position.
Bruce struggling a bit here.
Skinner tries to advance to mount but can't.

Bruce sneaks out the side door and pushes Skinner away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruce throws a jab when Skinner was well out of range.

Skinner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Skinner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bruce does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Skinner connects with a nice short shot to Bruce's temple.

Skinner is looking for a kimura here.
Nice strikes from Skinner there.
Skinner lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner trying to mount his opponent but Bruce defends it.
Skinner with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Skinner stands up out of the half guard.

Skinner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bruce is trying to control but can't.
Bruce gets full guard.
Bruce trying to control the position.
Skinner is fighting to break Bruce's control of his arms but Bruce is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Bruce misses

and Skinner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Skinner.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bruce trying to control the position.
Skinner trying to control the position from guard on top but Bruce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skinner landing some decent shots from guard.
Bruce not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skinner wants to control from the top but Bruce keeps moving.
Skinner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Skinner passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Skinner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Skinner 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight for Bobby Skinner!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Bobby Skinner!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Bobby Skinner!

Bobby Skinner wins by unanimous decision!