PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lee Skelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ogbebor Owen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Skelton
vs
Owen

180 cm
22
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lee Skelton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ogbebor Owen!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skelton leaves Owen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Skelton half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Skelton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Skelton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Owen is working an open guard so Skelton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Owen leaves Skelton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Owen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owen dives in for a single leg takedown but Skelton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Owen closes the distance and clinches up with Skelton, looking for a takedown. Owen pushes Skelton against the cage but Skelton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lee Skelton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ogbebor Owen.

Skelton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skelton tries to score a body lock takedown but Owen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Owen prevents Skelton from breaking the clinch.
Skelton displaying some good clinch control by pressing Owen up against the cage.
Owen fails to pull guard.
Skelton lands a left hand.
Skelton leaning his opponent against the cage.
Owen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Skelton successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skelton managing to control the position.
Skelton striking off his back but it's not causing Owen any problems.

Skelton is looking for a triangle but Owen pushes his legs off easily.
Skelton 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.
Owen looking to sit in guard and control but Skelton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Skelton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Skelton is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skelton is standing up over Owen. Owen looks to escape but Skelton dives into side control.
Skelton takes a little break here. Owen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Owen parries the strikes from Skelton easily there. Skelton is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Owen to escape.

Skelton decides to stand back up. Skelton steps back and let's Owen get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Owen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Skelton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skelton is looking for a counter combo.

Skelton rushes Owen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Skelton stalling the fight.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Skelton pushes Owen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Skelton.

Skelton jumps guard and drags Owen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Skelton wriggles free and stands up.

Skelton has taken the fight to the clinch.

Owen lands a takedown into guard.

Skelton wriggles free and stands up.
Skelton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Owen but Owen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Owen tries to clinch
letting Skelton counter with a right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Skelton.
Sloppy strikes from Skelton. Those never looked like landing.

Skelton takes the fight into the clinch.
Skelton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Owen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Skelton has Owen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Owen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Skelton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Owen is working for takedown but Skelton is calmly controlling the position for now.
Owen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skelton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Owen has him pressed against the cage.
Owen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Skelton is defending well.
Owen jumps guard but Skelton stands there with Owen around his waist. Owen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Skelton tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skelton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Skelton stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Skelton tries to score a body lock takedown but Owen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Skelton takes a knee to the side of the body.

Skelton has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Owen uses from the top position.
Owen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Skelton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Skelton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Skelton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skelton is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skelton has a closed guard, preventing Owen from standing up.
Owen throws a big right hand that misses.
Skelton keeping moving, preventing Owen from controlling successfully.

Skelton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Skelton pulls Owen in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skelton scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Skelton closes the distance and pushes Owen back into the cage.
Owen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Skelton fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Skelton closes the distance and pushes Owen back into the cage.
Owen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Skelton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Skelton tries to pull guard but Owen holds him up against the cage and eventually Skelton drops back down to his feet.
Owen missing with knees to the body.
Skelton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skelton tries to circle away but Owen has him pinned against the cage.
Skelton lands a right hand that snaps the head of Owen backwards.
Skelton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Skelton ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Skelton no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Owen trying to control the position from guard on top but Skelton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skelton pulls Owen in to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skelton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Owen.

Skelton is looking for a triangle but Owen pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Skelton.

Skelton takes the fight into the clinch.

Skelton manages to pull guard.
Owen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Skelton's guard.
Owen throwing strikes from guard but Skelton blocks nicely.
Skelton throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Owen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skelton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Skelton stands up and waves to Owen to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skelton has closed the distance and engaged Owen in a clinch.
Owen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Owen trying to control the position but instead, Skelton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Owen into the cage.
Skelton with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Owen taking a breather.
Skelton lands a body punch.
Owen wants to break free but Skelton has control.
Skelton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Skelton working hard to break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Skelton scores with a nice short uppercut.
Owen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Owen looking to stall.
Owen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Owen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Skelton to keep the fight standing.
Owen has Skelton pressed against the cage, preventing Skelton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Skelton stalling against the cage.

Skelton decides to pull guard.
Owen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skelton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Owen has gone for a leg lock! Skelton slips out almost immediately though and dives into Owen's guard.

Skelton trying to control but Owen is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Skelton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Skelton pushing down on Owen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skelton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Owen has his hands clasped together around Skelton's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skelton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Owen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Skelton.
Skelton trying to control from half guard but Owen is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Skelton!