PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Who Da (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Skelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skelton has chosen Example - Midnight Run as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Da
vs
Skelton

170 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

176 cm
26
154 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Who Da!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manny Skelton!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skelton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Skelton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Da sprawls well initially but Skelton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Skelton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Da with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Skelton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Da is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skelton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Da has hold of Skelton's hands but Skelton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Da wants to control but Skelton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Da makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Da.
Skelton throws a big elbow that misses.

Da throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Da looking to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skelton preventing the sweep.
Skelton throws a big elbow that misses.
Da not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Skelton defends well.
Da keeping full guard, as Skelton tries to pass.
Da tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Da is working hard here to advance position.
Skelton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Skelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Da is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skelton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Da trying to control the position.
Da 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.
Skelton stands up over Da, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Da looking for a guillotine here but Skelton defends easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Skelton wants to pass the guard but Da is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da 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.
Skelton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Da is looking for a triangle but Skelton pushes his legs off easily.
Da avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skelton landing some decent shots from guard.
Skelton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Da lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Skelton!
Da throws some wild stikes that Skelton manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da prevents Skelton from getting the reversal.
Skelton holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Da tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Skelton wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Da.
Skelton can't escape the position.
Da sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Da thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Da with shots to the head and body - Skelton looks very uncomfortable down there.
Da working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skelton is in all sorts of trouble here.
Da 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.
Da breaks from Skelton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Da looking to control but Skelton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Skelton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Da. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Da looking to ground and pound but Skelton is blocking nicely.
Skelton working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da avoids the attempt from Skelton to control.
Skelton is trying to escape the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da misses with a head shot.
Da thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Who Da will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Skelton shoots in and gets a takedown into Da's guard.
Skelton wants to pass the guard but Da is keeping the position.
Skelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Da is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da wants to sweep but no luck.
Da manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Skelton manages to get himself to full guard.
Skelton wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Da manages to pass to side control.
Skelton is staying active underneath Da, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Skelton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Da prevents Skelton from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da trying to control the action but Skelton is working from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Da lands a nice short elbow.
Da not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Skelton is staying active underneath Da, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Da missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Da throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Skelton wants to improve his position but Da is controlling well.
Da missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Skelton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Da won't allow Skelton to get back to his feet.
Da wants to control from the top but Skelton keeps moving.
Da is looking to work some ground and pound but Skelton has wrist control.
Da throwing strikes from guard but Skelton blocks nicely.
Da stops Skelton from standing up.
Skelton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Da is one step ahead there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da prevents Skelton from getting back to his feet.
Da is looking to advance position but Skelton has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
BOOM! Skelton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Skelton wants to control the pace but Da is squirming around nicely.
Da wants to try and get back to his feet.
Da can't escape the position.
Skelton lands a nice shot to the head.
BOOM! Skelton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Skelton avoids the attempt from Da to control.
Skelton has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Da's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da is squirming around, avoiding Skelton's attempts to control the action.
Da is bucking up trying to escape but Skelton cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skelton lands a big elbow.
Da tries to hold on but Skelton postures up.
Da keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Skelton has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Da's face.
The referee warns Da that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Da is desperately trying to improve his position but Skelton has a good base and remains in mount.
Skelton lands a nice shot to the head.
Skelton avoids the attempt from Da to control.
Da sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Skelton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Da is trying to get back to full guard.
Skelton throwing shots but Da is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Skelton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Skelton shoots in and drives through. Da sprawls well.
Who Da is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skelton tries to move into range but Da moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Skelton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Da sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Da displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Skelton.
Who Da has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Skelton.
Da moves into range and connects with a jab.
Manny Skelton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skelton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Da paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Da shoots for a takedown but Skelton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Skelton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Da defends it nicely.
Skelton shoots for a double leg takedown but Da sprawls well. He's pushed Skelton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Skelton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Da fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Skelton avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da misses with the combination.

Skelton shoots in and bounces Da off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Skelton landing some decent shots from guard.
Skelton wants to control from the top but Da keeps moving.
Da trying to keep a closed guard but Skelton is proving a slippery customer.

Da had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Skelton defends it easily.
Skelton looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Skelton postures up in Da's guard and throws a big left but Da blocks it.
Da not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Da is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Skelton is controlling him.
Skelton distracts Da with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Skelton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Skelton stays in close to Da's body and controls the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Da has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Skelton off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Skelton shoots in looking for a takedown. Da tries to sprawl out of it but Skelton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Da manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Da stuffs the takedown attempt from Skelton. Skelton gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Da lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Da moves out of range of the strikes.
Skelton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Da manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skelton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Da avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Da is defended easily by Skelton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skelton is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Skelton shoots and misses
and Da counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Da keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Da stuffs the takedown.
Skelton takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Da fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Skelton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Da napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da is trying to get back to his feet.
Skelton working away.
Da wants to get back to his feet but Skelton drags him back down.
Skelton lands some shots froms side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Manny Skelton.
I think Skelton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Skelton!
An out of breath Manny Skelton thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.