PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cornell Gibbs (ranked 23689 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Skelington (ranked 5225 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Skelington has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gibbs
vs
Skelington

200 cm
23
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

210 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cornell Gibbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Skelington!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Skelington.
Skelington lands a jab.

It looks like Cornell Gibbs has been cut.

Skelington looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gibbs!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skelington in side control, just content to control the action for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skelington wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gibbs keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Skelington seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gibbs is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gibbs is looking for a sweep.
Gibbs can't do much from the bottom here.
Gibbs seems a little lost for a moment, as Skelington dominates the positioning.
Skelington wants to control for a moment but Gibbs uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Gibbs is concentrating on defense, preventing Skelington from advancing position.

That's two 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.
Gibbs is looking to escape.
Gibbs works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gibbs lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Skelington can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gibbs controls the pace.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Skelington is on top in guard.

Skelington must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Skelington is looking to stand up but Gibbs won't let him.

Skelington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Skelington is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Skelington passes Gibbs's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gibbs is trying to get back to full guard.
Skelington throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gibbs desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Gibbs wants to control but Skelington is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Skelington missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gibbs moves into full guard.
Skelington engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skelington won't allow Gibbs to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Skelington dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cornell Gibbs's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Skelington shoots in looking for a takedown but Gibbs manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Skelington's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice body punch from Skelington.
Skelington shoots in looking for a takedown but Gibbs manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Skelington's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jack Skelington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Skelington clinches with his opponent.
Skelington changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gibbs fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cornell Gibbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Skelington.
Skelington shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gibbs as he jumps to the side.
Gibbs throwing a counter right hand but Skelington manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skelington looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Skelington shoots in looking for a takedown but Gibbs manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Skelington's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Skelington is breathing heavily.

Gibbs moves into range and clinches up with Skelington.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gibbs takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Skelington keeps control of Gibbs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Skelington working hard to break the clinch.
Skelington can't break the clinch.

Gibbs jumps into guard, dragging Skelington to the mat.
Gibbs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Skelington.
Skelington is fighting to break Gibbs's control of his arms but Gibbs is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jack Skelington has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gibbs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Skelington.
Skelington stops Gibbs from standing up.
Gibbs looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Skelington is looking to stand up but Gibbs won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gibbs is adopting a defensive guard.
Gibbs continues to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Skelington clinches up with Gibbs and pushes him back against the cage.

Gibbs jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gibbs holds on and takes a little breather.
More hug and hope from Gibbs.
Gibbs's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Skelington looking to sit in guard and control but Gibbs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gibbs is stalling in the full guard.

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.
Gibbs wants to stand and escape but instead Skelington has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cornell Gibbs dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cornell Gibbs'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!

Skelington scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Skelington moves into the clinch.
Skelington trying to control the position but instead, Gibbs has worked for underhooks and has pushed Skelington into the cage.
Skelington being controlled against the cage.
Gibbs tries to circle away but Skelington has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibbs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A bit of stalling here from Gibbs.
Gibbs is trying to force a seperation but Skelington has the dominant position.
Gibbs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gibbs stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibbs stalling.

Gibbs breaks from the clinch.
Skelington misses with a double jab.
Gibbs blocks a head kick by Skelington.
Skelington fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Skelington instigates a clinch.
Gibbs is trying to break the clinch but Skelington is controlling him.
Gibbs controlling the action here for a moment.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skelington fails with the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Gibbs misses the target.
Skelington shoots in for a takedown but Gibbs shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gibbs is looking for a counter combo.
Cornell Gibbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Skelington.
Skelington fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Gibbs misses its target.
Skelington takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gibbs moves into range and clinches up with Skelington.

Gibbs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Skelington throws a nice looking combination but Gibbs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gibbs appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs dives in and grabs Skelington's left leg, looking for a takedown. Skelington pushes down on Gibbs's head and hops out.

Skelington has taken the fight to the clinch.
Skelington is looking to break free of the clinch but Gibbs has double underhooks.

Gibbs pulls Skelington into guard.
Gibbs wants to get back to his feet but Skelington passes into half guard.
Gibbs is trying to stand back up but Skelington is controlling him
Gibbs wants to control but Skelington is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gibbs preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs is pressing down on Skelington's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gibbs pulls Skelington in to control the position.
Gibbs keeping moving, preventing Skelington from controlling successfully.
Skelington stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gibbs swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gibbs keeping moving, preventing Skelington from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skelington looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cornell Gibbs.
I think Gibbs 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Cornell Gibbs!