PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brais Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Punk
vs
Skinner

170 cm
23
145 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

165 cm
26
138 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Wolfpack Threadz
Wolfpack Blood Labs Q158-Q155

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brais Punk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Skinner!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Skinner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Skinner on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Skinner closes the distance and clinches up with Punk, looking for a takedown. Skinner pushes Punk against the cage but Punk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Punk is defended easily by Skinner.
Skinner misses with a two punch combination.
Skinner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Punk was well out of range. Poor timing from Skinner.
Skinner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Punk fails with an attempt to clinch.
Skinner swinging wildly here.
Punk shoots in and drives through. Skinner sprawls well.
Skinner throws an overhand right that lands on Punk's shoulder, as Punk tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skinner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Punk sprawls well initially but Skinner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Punk misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Punk trying to control here.
Punk wants to improve his position but Skinner is controlling well.
Punk gets back to full guard.
Skinner pushes down on Punk's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Punk is refusing to be controlled, as Skinner sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skinner is trying to work for a kimura but Punk is defending well.
Punk is not content to let Skinner control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Punk misses with some strikes from the bottom.
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!
Punk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skinner is trying to control the action in half guard but Punk is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Punk avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Skinner.
Skinner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Punk does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Skinner not doing much here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dan Skinner wasn't active enough on the ground.
Punk dives in and grabs Skinner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Skinner pushes down on Punk's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brais Punk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Punk wants it to stay on the feet.
Punk tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Skinner counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Skinner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Punk circles away quickly and effectively.
Punk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skinner but Skinner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Punk shoots in but Skinner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Skinner throws a right and a left that Punk avoids nicely.
Skinner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Punk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Skinner needs to keep his hands up - Punk had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Punk counters with a left and a right that stings Skinner.
Punk fails with an attempt to clinch.
Punk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Punk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Skinner's waist but Skinner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Punk off to one side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Punk drives through with a takedown into Skinner's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Punk drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Skinner manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Punk has Skinner in his guard.
Skinner not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Punk keeping moving, preventing Skinner from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Skinner will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Punk moves in looking to clinch but Skinner pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Skinner. Punk does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circling - Skinner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Brais Punk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Punk.
Punk tries to advance to mount but Skinner denies him.
Skinner tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Punk wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Skinner is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Punk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Skinner defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk stalling away here and it's allowed Skinner to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Skinner is controlling Punk's posture.
Punk trying to control the position from guard on top but Skinner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skinner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Punk's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skinner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Punk is looking to stand up but Skinner isn't so interested in that idea.
Skinner wants to control from the top but Punk keeps moving.
Punk keeping full guard, as Skinner tries to pass.
Punk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Skinner wants to control from the top but Punk keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Skinner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner misses with a body shot
and Punk counters with a stiff right hand.
Punk looks for a takedown but Skinner sprawls well.
Punk throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Skinner.
Skinner misses with a series of wild punches.
Skinner throws a left and a right that both miss
and Punk counters with a three punch combo that has Skinner backing up. Skinner nods at Punk to acknowledge the strikes.
Punk slips a straight right by Skinner.
Punk shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Skinner sprawls well. Skinner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Punk gets slowly back to his feet.
Punk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skinner is fending him off so far but Punk persists. Nope, Skinner circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brais Punk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skinner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner works over Punk's head and body with a nice combination.
Skinner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Punk but Punk pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Punk throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Skinner's head.

It looks like Dan Skinner has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skinner takes a swing at Punk's ribcage but misses.
Skinner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Punk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skinner as he jumps to the side.
Punk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skinner with a poor takedown

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Skinner looking for a guillotine here but Punk defends easily.
Skinner keeping moving, preventing Punk from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Skinner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dan Skinner's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Punk closes the distance and clinches.
Skinner is trying to pull guard but Punk turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Punk taking a breather.
Punk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Skinner prevents it.
Punk prevents a body shot from Skinner.

Skinner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dan Skinner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Skinner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Skinner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Punk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Skinner is tightening it up a little... Punk has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Punk reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Punk taps out! Nice BJJ there by Skinner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Dan Skinner!
After the fight, Dan Skinner was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.