PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ulf Minutsak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and tony skins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Minutsak
vs
skins

173 cm
26
171 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

190 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 17 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ulf Minutsak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, tony skins!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
skins fails with the takedown

and Minutsak counters with a shoot takedown. skins fights it but they end up in guard.
skins is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Minutsak cracks skins with a solid left hand.
skins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minutsak wants to improve his position but skins is controlling well.
It looks like skins is going to stand back up.
skins is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Minutsak on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Minutsak tries to get out of the position.
Minutsak has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. skins is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minutsak is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
skins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minutsak wants to improve his position but skins is controlling well.
Minutsak on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Minutsak is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

skins decides to return to a standing position.
Minutsak lands a high kick!
Minutsak tries to clinch up but skins circles away and keeps his distance.
Minutsak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
skins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from skins.
skins slips a jab from Minutsak.
Minutsak feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits skinss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
skins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

skins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak tries to control skins's body but skins pushes him off. Minutsak squirms to his side and now skins has his back!
skins has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Minutsak's body.
Minutsak looking very determined here, making life difficult for skins.
Minutsak trying to control the hands but skins breaks the grip.
skins thows a strike but Minutsak uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Minutsak as he ends up in skins 's guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Minutsak accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
skins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Minutsak thows a big elbow that misses.
Minutsak thows a big elbow that misses.
Minutsak distracts skins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Minutsak looking to sit in guard and control but skins gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
skins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
skins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulf Minutsak dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

skins throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from Minutsak. Those never looked like landing.
skins dives in and grabs Minutsak's left leg, looking for a takedown. Minutsak pushes down on skins's head and hops out.
Minutsak misses with a straight right.
Minutsak looking to land some kicks to the body here.

skins clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Minutsak's face as he tries to break the clinch.
skins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Minutsak's efforts to push away.

Minutsak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Minutsak scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

skins pulls guard effortlessly.
skins keeping moving, preventing Minutsak from controlling successfully.
Minutsak wants to stand but skins has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

skins working for a triangle but Minutsak defends it easily.
Minutsak throwing strikes from guard but skins blocks nicely.
skins controls Minutsak momentarily but Minutsak frees himself.
Minutsak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. skins is keeping the position for now.
Minutsak content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Minutsak trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
skins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Minutsak has his hands clasped together around skins's back. He's all about the action.
Minutsak wants to improve his position but skins is controlling well.
Minutsak wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Minutsak wants to sweep but skins has passed to side control!
Minutsak prevents skins from moving into mount.
Minutsak might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
skins wants to control but Minutsak is keeping him busy.

skins decides to stand up, so the ref orders Minutsak to his feet.

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.
Minutsak waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract skins.
skins doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Minutsak moves into the clinch.
Minutsak is looking to control skins's arms but skins gets an underhook and turns him. Now Minutsak has his back to the cage.
The referee calls for skins to work.

Minutsak breaks from the clinch.
tony skins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
skins wants to clinch up but Minutsak keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
skins has his takedown stuffed
and Minutsak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ulf Minutsak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of tony skins.
skins tries to clinch but Minutsak is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but tony skins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

skins wants to clinch but Minutsak slips to the side
and Minutsak counters with a left and a right that stings skins.
skins throws a head kick but Minutsak moves out of range.
skins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minutsak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
skins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Minutsak as he avoids it easily.
Minutsak stuffs the takedown.
Minutsak missing with a left hand there. skins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Minutsak throws a head kick but skins moves out of range.
Minutsak throws a big shot that misses.
skins closes the distance and clinches up with Minutsak, looking for a takedown. skins pushes Minutsak against the cage but Minutsak circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ulf Minutsak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of tony skins.
skins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
skins on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Minutsak is looking to clinch but skins is avoiding it.
skins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Minutsak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
skins with a poor takedown
and Minutsak counters with a flying knee. Nice.
skins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Minutsak.
skins with a poor takedown

and Minutsak counters by moving into the clinch.
skins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Minutsak lands with a left to the head.
skins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
skins is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Minutsak scores with an uppercut up the middle.
skins has Minutsak pressed against the cage, preventing Minutsak from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Minutsak lands an elbow that stopped skins in his tracks for a moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Minutsak wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Minutsak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
skins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Minutsak smiles and moves away.

Minutsak closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minutsak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Minutsak throws an off balance right hand

and skins counters by clinching up.
skins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Minutsak's efforts to push away.
Minutsak tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
skins looking for a takedown.
Minutsak is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
skins has Minutsak pressed against the cage, preventing Minutsak from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Minutsak avoiding damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Minutsak creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Minutsak throws an elbow but it's blocked.
skins avoiding damage as Minutsak throws knees to the body.

skins gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Minutsak regains guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Minutsak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Minutsak is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

skins gets to his feet. Minutsak looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Minutsak tries to clinch up but skins circles away and keeps his distance.
skins with a lazy takedown attempt
and Minutsak counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Minutsak throws a jab when skins was well out of range.

skins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Minutsak looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Minutsak managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by skins.
Minutsak is not content to let skins control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak is trying to get back to half guard.
skins with the ground and pound but Minutsak regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Minutsak won't allow skins to pass to mount.
skins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ulf Minutsak showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Minutsak 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ulf Minutsak!