PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Manny Skelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fudo Hokoyashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skelton comes to the cage accompanied by Example - Midnight Run. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Skelton
vs
Hokoyashi

176 cm
27
154 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
28
158 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manny Skelton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fudo Hokoyashi!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hokoyashi shoots for a takedown but Skelton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Skelton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Skelton showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Skelton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Skelton trying to mount his opponent but Hokoyashi defends it.
Skelton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Skelton slows the pace down in half guard.
Skelton's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Skelton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hokoyashi is trying to get back to full guard.
Skelton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Skelton prevents Hokoyashi from improving his position.
Skelton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Skelton scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hokoyashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Skelton.
Skelton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Skelton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skelton throwing shots but Hokoyashi is blocking nicely.
Skelton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Skelton looks to land a strike but Hokoyashi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Skelton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Skelton is looking to work some ground and pound but Hokoyashi has wrist control.
Skelton throwing strikes but missing.
Skelton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hokoyashi wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Skelton is now in half guard.
Skelton stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skelton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Skelton with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Skelton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Skelton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hokoyashi defending well though.
Skelton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skelton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Skelton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hokoyashi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skelton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Skelton looks to land a strike but Hokoyashi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Skelton looking to pass the guard.
Hokoyashi is trying to control the position but Skelton postures up.
Skelton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Skelton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hokoyashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hokoyashi working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hokoyashi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skelton blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Skelton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hokoyashi shoots in for a takedown but Skelton shows good takedown defense.

Hokoyashi gets caught napping as Skelton dives in and scores a takedown. Hokoyashi manages to retain guard.
Hokoyashi is looking to stand up but Skelton isn't so interested in that idea.
Skelton showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hokoyashi keeping full guard, as Skelton tries to pass.
Skelton postures up in Hokoyashi's guard and throws a big left but Hokoyashi blocks it.
Skelton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skelton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Skelton works over Hokoyashi with some ground and pound from guard.
Skelton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hokoyashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skelton not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hokoyashi controls Skelton momentarily but Skelton frees himself.
Skelton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skelton looking to pass the guard.
Skelton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hokoyashi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hokoyashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hokoyashi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hokoyashi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skelton as he jumps to the side.

Skelton scores a takedown into full mount!
Skelton is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hokoyashi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hokoyashi taking shots to the head.
Skelton tries to control but Hokoyashi wriggling away.
Skelton scoring with strikes but Hokoyashi is staying in there.
Skelton with good strikes from the mount here!
Skelton with good strikes from the mount here!
Hokoyashi manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skelton lands strikes from half guard.
Skelton winds up and cracks Hokoyashi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hokoyashi is trying to stand up here but Skelton is controlling him well.
Skelton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Skelton lands a nice short elbow.
Skelton trying to mount his opponent but Hokoyashi defends it.
Skelton controlling the action here.
Skelton is stalling here. Hokoyashi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Skelton seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hokoyashi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skelton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hokoyashi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Hokoyashi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Skelton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Skelton on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Skelton tries to get out of the position.

Hokoyashi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Skelton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Skelton is pushing Hokoyashi's head away, looking to escape. Hokoyashi manages to hold on to the position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hokoyashi grinds an elbow into Skelton's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Skelton dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hokoyashi throws a head kick but Skelton moves out of range.

Skelton dives in and scores a takedown into Hokoyashi's guard.
Skelton stopping the sweep attempt from Hokoyashi.
Skelton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Manny Skelton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Skelton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hokoyashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hokoyashi 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hokoyashi is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skelton content to stall in guard here.

Manny Skelton has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hokoyashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skelton paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Skelton scores with a takedown into Hokoyashi's guard.
Hokoyashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Skelton manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hokoyashi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hokoyashi is fighting to break Skelton's control of his arms but Skelton is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hokoyashi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Skelton holds on and takes a little breather.
Skelton wants to stand up but Hokoyashi is controlling him.
Skelton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hokoyashi throwing strikes but missing.
Hokoyashi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Skelton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hokoyashi on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hokoyashi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skelton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hokoyashi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hokoyashi throws an elbow that misses. Skelton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hokoyashi's guard. Nice move by Skelton!
Skelton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three 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 throws an elbow that misses. Hokoyashi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Skelton's guard. Nice move by Hokoyashi!
Skelton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hokoyashi can do to turn this around?
Hokoyashi is looking to work some ground and pound but Skelton has wrist control.
Hokoyashi throwing strikes but missing.
Hokoyashi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hokoyashi throws a big right hand that misses.
Hokoyashi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hokoyashi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hokoyashi stops Skelton from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skelton wants to sweep here but Hokoyashi controlling him for the moment.
Hokoyashi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Skelton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hokoyashi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Skelton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hokoyashi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Skelton looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Skelton looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Skelton!
The referee asks Skelton politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Skelton prefers to stall for the moment though.
Skelton looks up at the clock and then as Hokoyashi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Skelton smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hokoyashi is not content to let Skelton control the position.
Fudo Hokoyashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hokoyashi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Skelton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Skelton 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Skelton!
A relieved looking Manny Skelton thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.