PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arveids Skabene (ranked 24542 p4p, 504 weight class) and Blake Demust (ranked 24325 p4p, 519 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Demust's choice of entrance music: Slow Hands. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Skabene
vs
Demust

202 cm
23
260 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
237 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arveids Skabene!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Demust!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skabene slips a jab and a cross from Demust.

Skabene clinches up against the cage.
Demust working aggressively here.

Skabene has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Demust uses from the top position.
Skabene pulls Demust in close to prevent any damage.
Skabene trying to keep a closed guard but Demust is proving a slippery customer.

Skabene throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skabene has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Skabene keeping moving, preventing Demust from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skabene pushes Demust off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Demust takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Demust throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Skabene was covering up waiting for the punch and Demust finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Skabene kicks Demust off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skabene tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Demust closes the distance and pushes Skabene back into the cage.

Demust gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Skabene manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skabene shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Demust sprawls well. Demust wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Skabene gets slowly back to his feet.
Demust drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Skabene defends it well.
Skabene blocks a head kick by Demust.
Skabene pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Demust blocks a head kick by Skabene.

Demust closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Skabene throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Skabene gets caught flat footed, as Demust shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Skabene pushes Demust off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Skabene is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Skabene, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Skabene shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Demust but Demust pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demust misses with a few strikes there.
Skabene is looking for a counter combo.
Demust moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Skabene throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Demust.

Demust moves into range and clinches up with Skabene.

Demust has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Skabene uses from the top position.
Skabene stops Demust from standing up.
Skabene throws a big elbow that misses.
Demust is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Skabene is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Skabene has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demust doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Skabene will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Demust wants to improve his position but instead Skabene has moved into half guard.
Still in half guard, Skabene seems content to control.

Demust has one foot on Skabene's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Skabene darts in and clinches Demust up against the cage.
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!

Demust's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Demust feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Skabene pushes Demust off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skabene thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Demust if he has to take too many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arveids Skabene dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Skabene rushes Demust and presses him up against the cage.

Demust pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Skabene lands a big head kick that sends Demust tumbling to the mat! Skabene takes a step backwards and waves Demust back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Blake Demust has been cut.
Arveids Skabene is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Skabene lands a big head kick that sends Demust tumbling to the mat! Skabene takes a step backwards and waves Demust back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Demust is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Demust clinches up with Skabene and pushes him back against the cage.

Demust breaks the clinch.
Demust throws a jab but it's blocked by Skabene.
Skabene throws a head kick but Demust moves out of range.
Demust drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Skabene defends it well.
Skabene looks to land a body kick but Demust moved away.

Demust clinches with his opponent.
Skabene jumps guard but Demust turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Demust breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Skabene is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Demust can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skabene throws a head kick that Demust semi-blocks.
Skabene tries a head kick but it misses.
Demust avoids the head kick by Skabene.
Demust wants to counter the offense by Skabene and move into the clinch position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Skabene pushes Demust up against the cage in a clinch.

Demust pulls guard.
Skabene is stalling in the full guard.

Demust had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Skabene defends it easily.
Demust is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Skabene is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skabene is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Demust looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Skabene passes into half guard.
Demust is looking for a sweep. Skabene is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Skabene is controlling the pace.
Demust tries to kick Skabene off but Skabene keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Skabene frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Skabene throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demust wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Skabene.
Demust really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Skabene. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Skabene looking to control and managing it successfully.

Skabene working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Skabene content just to control the position here.
Demust is in all sorts of trouble here.
Skabene takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Skabene punching from mount but Demust doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Arveids Skabene overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Skabene has control of Demust's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Demust regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Demust throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skabene throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Demust tries to lock up and control but Skabene gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Skabene looking to control and managing it successfully.
Demust is trying desperately to improve position.
Demust is still trying to improve position.
Demust holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Skabene tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Skabene controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arveids Skabene dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Blake Demust'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Skabene moves into the clinch successfully.
Demust is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Skabene is keeping busy.

Skabene ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Skabene no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Demust throwing strikes from guard but Skabene blocks nicely.
Demust trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skabene tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Demust stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skabene swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Skabene is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Skabene looking for a guillotine here but Demust defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Demust decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Arveids Skabene seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skabene avoids the head kick by Demust.

Skabene has managed to clinch.
Demust trying to control the position but instead, Skabene has worked for underhooks and has pushed Demust into the cage.
Skabene can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Demust ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Demust no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Demust is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Demust 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.
Demust is trying to keep Skabene in close.
Demust takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Skabene sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Demust looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Skabene's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Demust looking for a sweep. Not yet Demust, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demust not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Demust avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skabene missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Skabene loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Skabene drives through and clinches with Demust against the cage.
Demust struggles to land a body shot inside as Skabene controls his hands.

Skabene gets control of Demust's arms and successfully pulls guard. Skabene will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Skabene pushes Demust off and gets back to his feet.
Skabene lands with a slapping head kick.
Skabene keeps Demust at a distance using the push kick.
Skabene throws a head kick but Demust moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Skabene.

Skabene dives in and scores a takedown into Demust's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skabene is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Skabene passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Demust takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Demust is looking to regain half guard here but Skabene keeps moving and retains side control.
Skabene content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Demust tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arveids Skabene showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Skabene 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arveids Skabene!
During a confident post fight interview, Arveids Skabene thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Blake Demust stepped up to the mic, saying 'Dang. Whatever man.'.