PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Skellington (ranked 1126 p4p, 656 weight class) and Sami Rantanen (ranked 164 p4p, 94 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Skellington
vs
Rantanen

185 cm
28
185
10 - 2 - 0

186 cm
29
185
7 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Skellington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sami Rantanen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skellington goes for a double leg but Rantanen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rantanen continues to drive forward.

Skellington jumps guard and drags Rantanen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Skellington seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Rantanen won't allow Skellington to sweep him here.

Skellington is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rantanen defends well.

Skellington escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rantanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Skellington had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rantanen defends it easily.
Skellington being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Rantanen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Skellington had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rantanen defends it easily.
Skellington tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rantanen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Skellington has an active guard here but Rantanen has managed to pass into half guard.

Skellington actively working from the bottom here.
Rantanen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rantanen wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Skellington tries to get to full guard but Rantanen has control of the leg.
Skellington is pressing down on Rantanen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Skellington working for a triangle but Rantanen defends it easily.
Rantanen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rantanen is looking to stand up but Skellington won't let him.
Rantanen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Skellington working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rantanen has passed into half guard!
Skellington is looking to improve his position.
Skellington is pressing down on Rantanen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen won't allow Skellington to sweep him here.

Skellington is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rantanen is aware though and is defending well.
Skellington looking for a sweep. Not yet Skellington, not yet.
Rantanen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rantanen wanted to stand there but Skellington had control of the position.
Rantanen sitting in guard here, content to control.

Skellington has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rantanen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Skellington.

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.
Skellington is being controlled here.
Rantanen is continuing to stall.
Rantanen tries to move to mount but Skellington blocks the move with his legs.
You can see the frustration on Skellington's face as Rantanen controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skellington tries to improve position but can't.
Skellington is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rantanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Skellington. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Skellington works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jack Skellington will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Skellington with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rantanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jack Skellington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rantanen lands a nice hook to Skellington's body. Skellington takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Skellington shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rantanen gets full guard.
Skellington is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rantanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jack Skellington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rantanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rantanen keeping full guard, as Skellington tries to pass.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rantanen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Skellington throws an elbow that misses. Rantanen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Skellington's guard. Nice move by Rantanen!

Rantanen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skellington is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rantanen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rantanen prevents Skellington from improving his position.
Rantanen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Skellington won't allow Rantanen to pass to mount.
Rantanen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Skellington is trying to get back to full guard.
Skellington gets full guard.
Rantanen stopping the sweep attempt from Skellington.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rantanen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Skellington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rantanen is one step ahead there.

Skellington throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rantanen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skellington looking for a guillotine here but Rantanen defends easily.
Skellington can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rantanen controls the pace.
Skellington tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rantanen content to stall in guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Skellington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rantanen is one step ahead there.

Skellington is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rantanen defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Skellington manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rantanen manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skellington won't allow Rantanen to sweep him here.
Skellington landing some decent shots from guard.
Skellington postures up in Rantanen's guard and throws a big left but Rantanen blocks it.
Rantanen has momentary wrist control but Skellington slips an elbow through the middle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rantanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skellington accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Skellington with a flurry of punches that miss.
Skellington throws a big right hand that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Skellington dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rantanen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Rantanen. No joy for Skellington on that attempt.

Skellington feints and as Rantanen raises his hands in defense, Skellington changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rantanen wants to sweep here but Skellington controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skellington accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Skellington landing some decent shots from guard.
Skellington looking to pass the guard.
Skellington throwing strikes from guard but Rantanen blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skellington is looking to work some ground and pound but Rantanen has wrist control.
Skellington postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rantanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Skellington.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skellington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Skellington postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rantanen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Skellington, into his guard.

Rantanen won't allow Skellington to sweep him here.
Skellington has a closed guard, preventing Rantanen from standing up.

Skellington has an active guard here but Rantanen has managed to pass into half guard.
Skellington is trying to get back to full guard.
Skellington tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rantanen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Sami Rantanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen controlling the position easily from mount.
Skellington 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.
Skellington is trying to escape the mount.
Rantanen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skellington working to try and regain half guard.
Rantanen controlling from mount.
Skellington regains half guard.
Rantanen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jack Skellington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rantanen is taking a breather. Skellington says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rantanen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Skellington trying to control but Rantanen postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Skellington regains full guard. Nicely done.
Skellington seems keen to control Rantanen's posture.
Rantanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rantanen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Skellington trying to keep a closed guard but Rantanen is proving a slippery customer.
Rantanen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skellington working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rantanen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Rantanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Skellington 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jack Skellington!
After winning the bout, Jack Skellington thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.