PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Biff Boneham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boneham has chosen Relax And Ride It as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Skjelbred
vs
Boneham

175 cm
27
124 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

168 cm
23
147 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Biff Boneham!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boneham misses with a hook
and Skjelbred counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boneham tries for a takedown but Skjelbred circles away easily

and Skjelbred counters with a right hand that sends Boneham tumbling to the canvas! Can Skjelbred finish him? He dives into Boneham's guard looking to do just that!

Boneham is rocked!
Boneham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boneham is still in real trouble! Can Skjelbred finish him?
Boneham has Skjelbred pulled in close to control his posture.
Boneham seems to have recovered his senses.
Skjelbred trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boneham is controlling Skjelbred's posture.

Biff Boneham has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Boneham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Skjelbred as he avoids it easily.

Skjelbred shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Skjelbred trying to pass the guard but Boneham defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boneham on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Skjelbred is looking for a kimura but Boneham is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Skjelbred to get the leverage.
Boneham is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Skjelbred scores with a couple of nice shots.
Skjelbred moves nicely into side control.
Skjelbred postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Skjelbred is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Boneham is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Skjelbred passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Boneham!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boneham manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Skjelbred trying to mount his opponent but Boneham defends it.

Skjelbred is trying to work for a kimura but Boneham is defending well.
Skjelbred trying to pass the guard but Boneham defending well.

Skjelbred is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boneham has managed to free his arm - good work.
Skjelbred wants to advance to full mount but Boneham doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boneham kicks Skjelbred off and gets to his feet.
Boneham throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Skjelbred's waist but Skjelbred gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Boneham off to one side.
John Skjelbred has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Biff Boneham.
Boneham tries for a takedown but Skjelbred circles away easily

so Skjelbred counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Boneham looks gassed!
Boneham looking for a sweep. Not yet Boneham, not yet.
Skjelbred pushing down on Boneham's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Skjelbred passes the guard and advances to mount!
A nice elbow there by Skjelbred.
Skjelbred connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Boneham can't escape the position.
Skjelbred sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boneham wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Skjelbred working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Skjelbred unloading with bombs!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skjelbred raining down hammerfists from mount.
Boneham wants to hold on but Skjelbred pushes him away.
Skjelbred is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Boneham misses with a series of wild punches.
Boneham looks for a takedown but Skjelbred sprawls well.
Skjelbred is looking to clinch.
Skjelbred really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Skjelbred scores a takedown into full mount!
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Skjelbred here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Boneham avoids a series of strikes thrown by Skjelbred.
Skjelbred raining down shots from the mount!
Skjelbred unloads with some shots from mount but Boneham bucks and avoids them well.
Skjelbred misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
John Skjelbred overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boneham is breathing heavily.
Skjelbred lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred looking to finish with strikes here!
Skjelbred 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.
Boneham suckers Skjelbred into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Boneham is now in Skjelbred's guard!
Boneham stopping the sweep attempt from Skjelbred.
Skjelbred is working hard here to advance position.
Boneham engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boneham works over Skjelbred with some ground and pound from 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.
Skjelbred lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Boneham!
Boneham is looking to improve his position but Skjelbred isn't that keen on the idea.

Skjelbred goes for an armbar but Boneham turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Boneham.
Boneham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Boneham trying to control but Skjelbred is working from the bottom.
Boneham won't allow Skjelbred to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boneham is working Skjelbred over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Boneham preventing the sweep.
Boneham with a nice head shot there.
Boneham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skjelbred is keeping the position for now.
Boneham is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Boneham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boneham cracks Skjelbred with a solid left hand.
Skjelbred lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Boneham!
Skjelbred won't let Boneham get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred lands with some strikes.

Skjelbred goes for an armbar but Boneham turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Boneham.
Skjelbred looking to hit a scissor sweep but Boneham is one step ahead there.
Boneham trying to control the position from guard on top but Skjelbred is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Boneham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Skjelbred looking for a sweep. Not yet Skjelbred, not yet.
Boneham content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred dominated that second round.
That's time! Skjelbred's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Boneham shoots for a takedown but Skjelbred saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boneham misses with an uppercut

and Skjelbred counters by clinching up.

Skjelbred lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Skjelbred passes to side control.

Skjelbred tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Skjelbred cracks Boneham with a big right hand but Boneham just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Skjelbred tries to advance to mount but Boneham instead regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred trying to pass the guard but Boneham defending well.
Boneham is trying to stand.
Skjelbred looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Boneham has one foot on Skjelbred's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Skjelbred moves forwards but Boneham connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boneham throws an off balance right hand

and Skjelbred holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Boneham ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Boneham no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Boneham keeping full guard, as Skjelbred tries to pass.
Boneham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boneham is trying to keep Skjelbred in close.

Skjelbred drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Boneham dives on top into guard.
Boneham pushing down on Skjelbred's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Skjelbred tries to roll over but Boneham keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boneham has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Boneham.
Skjelbred sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Skjelbred wants to get back to full guard.
Boneham drops an elbow to the side of Skjelbred's head.
Skjelbred moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boneham working some strikes from top position.
Biff Boneham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boneham is in close to Skjelbred's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Boneham is working Skjelbred over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Boneham stopping the sweep attempt from Skjelbred.
Boneham wants to pass the guard but Skjelbred is keeping the position.
Skjelbred looking to hit a scissor sweep but Boneham is one step ahead there.
John Skjelbred is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Skjelbred working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Boneham.
Boneham working some strikes from top position.
Skjelbred tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Skjelbred is trying to control the position but Boneham postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Biff Boneham.
Well Skjelbred has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Skjelbred!