PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Finisher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virgil Skinner has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Skinner
vs
Finisher

150 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Virgil Skinner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Finisher!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Donatello Bradman and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Skinner has taken the fight to the clinch.

Skinner jumps guard.

Skinner working for a triangle but Finisher defends it easily.
Skinner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Skinner has a closed guard, preventing Finisher from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Skinner has his foot on Finisher's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Finisher works his way back into a safe position though.
Skinner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finisher postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Finisher decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Skinner, up you get!
Finisher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Skinner wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Finisher tries to close the distance and clinch but Skinner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Finisher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Skinner tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Finisher manages to circle out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finisher darts in looking for a takedown but Skinner gets double underhooks and turns Finisher into the cage.

Finisher has taken the fight to the clinch.

Skinner pulls guard successfully.
Finisher controlling from the top position.
Finisher advances position into side control!
Finisher working away.
Skinner tries to buck Finisher off but Finisher is having none of it.
Skinner is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Finisher decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Finisher closes this distance looking for a takedown but Skinner circles away.
Virgil Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Finisher.
Skinner tries to clinch but Finisher is having none of it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Finisher.
Finisher shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skinner as he jumps to the side.
Skinner is looking to counter the offense by Finisher and move into the clinch.
Finisher fails to land the takedown.
Finisher shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Skinner pinned against the cage. Skinner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Skinner attempts a counter takedown but Finisher avoids it well and moves away.
Finisher looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finisher fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Skinner, pushing him back against the cage.
Finisher tries to pull guard but Skinner won't allow it.

Finisher pulls guard successfully.
Finisher is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Skinner dives into side control.
Finisher can't do much from the bottom here.
Finisher is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Skinner is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner prevents Finisher from getting the reversal.
Skinner could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Finisher tries to hold on but Skinner pushes him away.
Skinner controlling from mount.
Finisher is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finisher tries to hold on but Skinner postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgil Skinner dominated that round.
That's time! Skinner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Skinner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Finisher is looking to regain half guard here but Skinner keeps moving and retains side control.
Finisher wants to control but Skinner postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finisher is trying to improve his position.
The strikes coming from Skinner are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finisher tries to bench press Skinner off him but Skinner keeps the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Finisher tries to pull guard but Skinner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Finisher pulls guard.
Finisher is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Skinner dives into side control.
Finisher tries to buck Skinner off but Skinner is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner landing a few strikes.
Skinner landing strikes.
Virgil Skinner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Skinner looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Finisher is avoiding damage well.
Finisher is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Finisher bucks up and tries to throw Skinner off but instead Skinner has got his back!
Skinner punishes Finisher with strikes from the back mount.
Finisher tries to escape but Skinner has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finisher is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Finisher trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Finisher is breathing heavily.
Finisher is covering up but some of the strikes from Skinner are getting through and doing damage.
Skinner keeps control of the position as Finisher tries to break free.
Skinner not allowing Finisher to control his hands.
Finisher wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Finisher fending off the submission attempt from Skinner.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Skinner's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Skinner punishes Finisher with strikes from the back mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finisher wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgil Skinner dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Skinner tries to sprawl but Finisher drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Skinner wants to control but Finisher is keeping busy.
Skinner is refusing to be controlled, as Finisher sits in half guard.
Skinner wants to control but Finisher is keeping busy.
Finisher throwing shots but Skinner is blocking nicely.
Finisher wants to take a breather but Skinner is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Finisher is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Skinner is just riding it out for now. Finisher eventually gives up the hold.
Skinner is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skinner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Finisher pulls his head out easily.
Skinner wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Finisher circles away from the clinch attempt.

Skinner looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Finisher!
Finisher tries to improve position but can't.
Skinner trying to control the action but Finisher is working from the bottom.
Finisher is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skinner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Finisher, who protects the arm well.
Finisher trying to control but Skinner flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Finisher tries to escape but Skinner has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finisher wants to control his opponent's hands but Skinner gets his hands free.
Finisher turns into Skinner and is now in his guard.
Skinner is trying to control the position but Finisher postures up.
Skinner throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Skinner thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Finisher wants to control from the top but Skinner keeps moving.

Skinner working for submissions but it's allowed Finisher to get to half guard.
Finisher is looking to advance position but Skinner won't allow it.
Skinner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Finisher can do to turn this around?
Finisher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Skinner gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner wants to sweep but no luck.
Skinner keeping moving, preventing Finisher from controlling successfully.
Finisher stops Skinner from standing up.

Skinner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Finisher defends well.
Skinner trying to strike off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Frank Finisher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finisher throws a head kick but Skinner moves out of range.
Frank Finisher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Virgil Skinner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Finisher drives through and clinches with Skinner against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Finisher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Skinner 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Virgil Skinner!