PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rau Utu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thor Skarsgard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Utu
vs
Skarsgard

225 cm
42
278 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

200 cm
42
270 lbs
43 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rau Utu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Thor Skarsgard!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Utu misses
and Skarsgard counters with an inside leg kick.
Utu misses with a body punch
and Skarsgard counters with a nice leg kick.
Utu tries to clinch up
and Skarsgard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Rau Utu has been cut.
Skarsgard drops his hands momentarily and Utu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Utu lands with a hook. Skarsgard tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Skarsgard loads up on a big right hand but Utu slips the punch.
Skarsgard misses with a wild body shot.
Skarsgard swats away the attempt to clinch by Utu.
Skarsgard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Utu throws a right hand that misses
and Skarsgard counters with a stiff right hand.
Utu doesn't manage to clinch there - Skarsgard circles away.
Utu misses with a wild body shot.
Utu misses with a kick to the body.
Skarsgard looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Skarsgard throws a leg kick but Utu checks it.
Utu misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Utu clinches.
A short left from Utu.
Skarsgard misses with some punches.
Skarsgard lands with a left to the head.

Utu breaks the clinch.
Skarsgard keeps the fight on the outside.
Utu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Skarsgard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Skarsgard staying out of range there.
Utu throws a big shot that misses.
Utu missing with a left hand there. Skarsgard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Skarsgard works Utu's body with a nice hook.

Utu closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Skarsgard.

Utu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Utu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Skarsgard moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skarsgard throws a jab but it's blocked by Utu.
Utu throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Skarsgard counters with a nice uppercut.
Utu is looking to land body kicks.
Skarsgard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Utu moves to clinch but Skarsgard breaks away
letting Skarsgard counter with a right hand.
Skarsgard walks into a straight right hand from Utu.
Utu wants to clinch.
Skarsgard tries a quick counter leg kick but Utu is wise to it.
Utu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Skarsgard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Utu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Skarsgard.
Skarsgard circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Utu tries to score with a low kick but Skarsgard moves his leg out of the way.
Skarsgard fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Utu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Utu looks to land a left hand but Skarsgard moved out of range nicely.
Skarsgard throws out a counter right but Utu avoids it with no problem.
Utu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Skarsgard moves away.
Utu throws a sloppy head kick and Skarsgard moves out of range easily.
Skarsgard tries a quick counter leg kick but Utu is wise to it.
Utu blocks a head kick by Skarsgard.
Utu wants to clinch.
A head kick from Utu lands but Skarsgard takes it in his stride.
Skarsgard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Utu loads up on a big right hand but Skarsgard slips the punch.
Utu doesn't manage to clinch there - Skarsgard circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Utu
and Skarsgard counters with a straight right hand.
Utu throws out a loose jab but Skarsgard uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Utu does it's job there.
Skarsgard blocks the body kick.
Skarsgard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Utu missing with a left hand there. Skarsgard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Skarsgard throws a body shot but no joy.
Utu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Skarsgard.
Utu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Skarsgard.
Utu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Skarsgard.
Skarsgard avoids the head kick by Utu.
Skarsgard throws out a counter right but Utu avoids it with no problem.
Utu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Utu connects with a looping right hand.
Utu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Skarsgard momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rau Utu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rau Utu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Utu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Skarsgard.
Skarsgard darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Skarsgard throws a leg kick which misses Utu's front leg but catches the back leg as Utu tries to avoid it.

Utu rushes Skarsgard and presses him up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Skarsgard.

Utu breaks the clinch.
Utu misses with a low kick as Skarsgard jumps back.
Skarsgard shapes to counter with a head kick.
Rau Utu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skarsgard looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Utu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Utu tries to clinch but Skarsgard is having none of it.
Utu throws an overhand right that lands on Skarsgard's shoulder, as Skarsgard tries to avoid the shot.
Skarsgard looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Utu scores with a head kick. Skarsgard tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Utu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Skarsgard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Utu circles away quickly and effectively.
Utu throws a shot from downtown. Skarsgard moves away and avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Skarsgard.
Utu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Utu gets a clinch.
Utu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Utu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Skarsgard has him pressed against the cage.

Utu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Utu looks for the body kick but Skarsgard saw that one coming.
Utu just misses with a punch to the body.
Skarsgard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Utu's head backwards.
Utu misses with a hook
and Skarsgard counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick misses from Skarsgard.
Utu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Skarsgard.
Utu darts in trying to clinch
and Skarsgard counters with a nice uppercut.
Utu misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Skarsgard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Skarsgard closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
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!
Utu throws a head kick that half lands.
Skarsgard avoids the head kick by Utu.
It seemed like Skarsgard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Utu cracks Skarsgard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A jab from Utu misses.
Utu loads up on a big right hand but Skarsgard slips the punch.
Utu backing away here, and Skarsgard unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Skarsgard blocks the body kick.
Skarsgard checks a low kick from Utu.
Utu missing with a left hand there. Skarsgard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Skarsgard scores with a jab. Utu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Skarsgard moves away from the strike by Utu.
Utu with a hook.
Utu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Skarsgard was well out of range. Poor timing from Utu.
Skarsgard is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Utu throws a looping overhand right but Skarsgard ducks down to avoid it.
Skarsgard is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Utu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Utu moves in looking to clinch but Skarsgard pushes him off.
Utu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice defenses there by Skarsgard.
Skarsgard moves out of range of the body kick.
Utu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Skarsgard moves away.
Skarsgard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Skarsgard backs away, Utu returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Utu misses with a low kick.
Skarsgard ducks under a wild hook from Utu.
Utu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Skarsgard rushes Utu and presses him up against the cage.
Utu working aggressively here.
Skarsgard stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Skarsgard lands with a left to the head.
Utu lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skarsgard holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Skarsgard pushes Utu back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Utu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Utu blocks an uppercut.
Utu throws a head punch that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skarsgard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Utu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Skarsgard misses with the head strike.
Skarsgard stalling.
Utu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Utu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Skarsgard tries to throw a body punch but Utu avoids it by throwing Skarsgard back against the cage.
Utu blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Skarsgard.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Skarsgard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rau Utu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rau Utu'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. This is the final round!

Utu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Skarsgard takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Skarsgard tries a head kick but it misses.
Utu tries a head kick but it misses.
Utu doesn't manage to clinch there - Skarsgard circles away.
Utu is looking to clinch but Skarsgard is avoiding it.
Skarsgard looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Utu throws a looping overhand right but Skarsgard ducks down to avoid it.
Skarsgard swings for the body but Utu moves out of range.
Utu lands a nice shot that snaps Skarsgard's head back.
Skarsgard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Utu jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Utu misses with an uppercut. Skarsgard saw that one coming.
Utu tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Skarsgard makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Skarsgard checks a leg kick.
Skarsgard slips a straight right by Utu.
Skarsgard lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skarsgard blocks the body kick.
Skarsgard takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Utu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Utu misses with a right hand
and Skarsgard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Utu 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.
Utu throws a body shot but no joy.
Despite the aggression on Skarsgard's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Utu misses with an uppercut.
Utu tries a low kick but Skarsgard avoids it.
Skarsgard swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Utu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Skarsgard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Utu tries to clinch up.
Utu connects with a right hand. Skarsgard shakes it off.
Utu tries to move into range but Skarsgard moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Utu throws a leg kick but Skarsgard checks it.
Skarsgard lands a jab to the nose.
Thor Skarsgard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rau Utu is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skarsgard throws a good cross that connects.
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!
Utu tries to close the distance and clinch but Skarsgard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Utu with a jab.
Utu is looking to clinch but Skarsgard is avoiding it.
Utu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Skarsgard lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Utu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Utu throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Skarsgard counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Utu blocks a head kick by Skarsgard.
Skarsgard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Utu throws a nice head kick!

Skarsgard rushes Utu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Utu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Skarsgard slowing the pace effectively.
Utu is trying to break free.
A shot in the inside from Utu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skarsgard has Utu pressed against the cage.
Skarsgard has Utu pushed against the cage.
Utu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Utu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Skarsgard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Utus head.
Utu throws a punch but it's blocked by Skarsgard.
Still in the clinch, Skarsgard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Utu wants to break free but Skarsgard has control.
Skarsgard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Utu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Utu blocks a body shot from Skarsgard.
Utu wants to break free but Skarsgard has control.
Skarsgard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Utu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skarsgard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Utu tries to throw a body punch but Skarsgard avoids it by throwing Utu back against the cage.
Skarsgard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Utu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Skarsgard's elbow.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Skarsgard.
Skarsgard lands with a short shot to the head.
Skarsgard tries to stall but Utu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Thor Skarsgard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hand to the body from Skarsgard.
Utu being controlled against the cage.
Skarsgard cracks Utu with a nice body shot.
Skarsgard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Utu tries to circle away but Skarsgard has him pinned against the cage.
Utu prevents a body shot from Skarsgard.
Utu misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thor Skarsgard.
I think Utu 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rau Utu!
After the big win, Rau Utu made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors MayheM sportswear and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
Thor Skarsgard was interviewed post fight and said 'At HW, all it takes is one lucky punch. Congrats to the new champion, I will be back stronger than ever. Thank you to all my fans, coaches, and my team back home.'.