PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marco Kolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjorn Skaldssen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kolo comes to the cage accompanied by As I Lay Dying - This Is Who We Are. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kolo
vs
Skaldssen

164 cm
18
149 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

180 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Kolo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bjorn Skaldssen!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kolo. Skaldssen shrugs it off though.
Kolo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kolo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Skaldssen tries to clinch but Kolo is having none of it.

Skaldssen clinches with his opponent.

Skaldssen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Skaldssen moves into range and clinches up with Kolo.
Kolo has Skaldssen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Skaldssen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kolo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Skaldssen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Kolo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skaldssen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Skaldssen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from Kolo does no damage.
Kolo misses with a body shot.

Kolo gets a clinch.
Kolo is looking to break free of the clinch but Skaldssen has double underhooks.

Skaldssen manages to break the clinch.
Kolo misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolo misses with a wild combination.

Kolo clinches with his opponent.
Skaldssen connects with a knee to the head.
Skaldssen misses with a hook from the clinch.

Kolo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Skaldssen is trying to keep an underhook but Kolo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Kolo seems content to control.
Skaldssen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kolo is working away from the top position though.
Skaldssen is controlling Kolo's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Kolo is tying to control. Skaldssen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Skaldssen is doing well to control the position and prevent Kolo from advancing to side control.
Skaldssen tries to roll over but Kolo keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skaldssen trying to control here.
Skaldssen throws a strike from the bottom but Kolo passes into side control!
You can see the frustration on Skaldssen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kolo trying to control the position but Skaldssen is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kolo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kolo is breathing heavily.

Skaldssen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kolo is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolo trying to remain calm as Skaldssen controls from the top position.

Skaldssen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kolo, who protects the arm well.
Skaldssen wants to control but Kolo is keeping him busy.
Kolo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Skaldssen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Skaldssen works his way into full mount!
Kolo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Skaldssen looking to finish with strikes here!
Kolo is desperately trying to improve his position but Skaldssen has a good base and remains in mount.
Skaldssen wants to get back to his feet but Kolo is holding on tight.
Kolo wants to hold on but Skaldssen pushes him away.

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.
Skaldssen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Skaldssen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skaldssen with good strikes from the mount here!

Skaldssen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kolo can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Skaldssen controlling his opponent.
Skaldssen manages to capitalize on a mistake by Kolo to take his back!
Skaldssen punches the canvas rather than the man.

Skaldssen seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Kolo's chin but Kolo turns very nicely into Skaldssen's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Kolo.
Kolo trying to control but Skaldssen is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bjorn Skaldssen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Skaldssen wants to clinch but Kolo slips to the side

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

Kolo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Skaldssen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Skaldssen gets back to half guard.
Skaldssen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Skaldssen working a defensive guard here.
Skaldssen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Skaldssen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Skaldssen keeps control of Kolo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Skaldssen misses with a knee to the head.
Kolo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Skaldssen tries a knee to the head but Kolo blocks it.
Kolo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skaldssen is trying to break the clinch but Kolo has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skaldssen tries a knee to the head but Kolo blocks it.

Kolo jumps into guard, dragging Skaldssen to the mat.
Kolo keeping moving, preventing Skaldssen from controlling successfully.
Kolo wants to sweep but no luck.
Kolo trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kolo 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.
Kolo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Skaldssen!
Skaldssen tries to buck Kolo off but he can't manage it.
Skaldssen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skaldssen is staying active underneath Kolo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Skaldssen is holding on to half guard well.
Skaldssen tries to roll over but Kolo keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skaldssen wants to control but Kolo is keeping busy.
Skaldssen is pressing down on Kolo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Skaldssen seems keen to control Kolo's posture.
Skaldssen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kolo prevents Skaldssen from getting back to his feet.
Skaldssen keeping moving, preventing Kolo from controlling successfully.
Skaldssen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kolo is one step ahead there.
Kolo slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolo controlling the action here.
Skaldssen is looking to improve his position.
Kolo wants to free his trapped foot but Skaldssen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kolo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kolo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kolo trying to control from half guard but Skaldssen is working away.
Skaldssen trying to control from the bottom.
Kolo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kolo is keen to just control but Skaldssen is a slippery customer.
Kolo trying to control the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Marco Kolo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kolo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Skaldssen is out of range and Kolo settles back down.
Kolo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Kolo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Skaldssen is looking to chop away at Kolo's legs.
Kolo keeps the fight on the outside.
Kolo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Skaldssen pinned against the cage. Skaldssen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kolo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skaldssen swivels and escapes.
Skaldssen tries to clinch but Kolo moves away
and Kolo counters with a good, hard body kick but Skaldssen shrugs it off.
Skaldssen darts in trying to clinch
and Kolo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown by Kolo or perhaps it was just good defense by Skaldssen which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Kolo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skaldssen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kolo counters with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skaldssen misses with a takedown

and Kolo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kolo decides to return to a standing position.
Marco Kolo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Skaldssen darts in and clinches Kolo up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Skaldssen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kolo gets underhooks to prevent Skaldssen's takedown attempt.
Kolo tries for a takedown but Skaldssen manages to get underhooks.

Skaldssen breaks the clinch.
Marco Kolo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kolo slow jab from Skaldssen misses its intended target.
Kolo looks to land a combination but Skaldssen avoids it well.
Skaldssen avoids a kick to the body.
Kolo staying out of range there.
Skaldssen closes the distance but Kolo moves to the side
and Kolo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Kolo clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolo tries for a takedown. No joy.

Kolo pulls guard successfully.
Kolo trying to control the position.
Kolo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Skaldssen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kolo keeping moving, preventing Skaldssen from controlling successfully.

Kolo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Skaldssen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Skaldssen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kolo is working an open guard so Skaldssen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Kolo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Skaldssen tries to clinch but Kolo moves away

and Kolo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kolo.
Skaldssen is working Kolo over against the cage.
Skaldssen lands an elbow that stopped Kolo in his tracks for a moment.
Kolo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kolo tries for a takedown but Skaldssen manages to get underhooks.

Skaldssen jumps into guard, dragging Kolo to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skaldssen wants to stand and escape but Kolo is having none of it.

Kolo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Skaldssen keeping moving, preventing Kolo from controlling successfully.
Kolo forces his way into half guard.
Skaldssen is trying to get back to full guard.
Kolo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kolo is thwarting Skaldssen's attempts to control the position.
Skaldssen is trying to stand up here but Kolo is controlling him well.
Skaldssen wants to control but Kolo is keeping busy.
Kolo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kolo lands a nice looking kick to the body. Skaldssen takes a step back to recover.
Skaldssen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A good leg kick by Kolo.
Kolo just misses with a punch to the body.
Skaldssen tries to clinch up.
A low kick from Kolo is predictable there

and Skaldssen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kolo wants a takedown but no success here.
Skaldssen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kolo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Kolo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kolo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Skaldssen is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Kolo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kolo 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Kolo!