PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martin Skellebre (ranked 3996 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Souza (ranked 23877 p4p, 519 weight class). Ronaldo Souza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Skellebre
vs
Souza

182 cm
24
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 28 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Skellebre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronaldo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza tries to clinch but Skellebre is having none of it.
A punch combination from Skellebre misses.
Souza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skellebre is fending him off so far but Souza persists. Nope, Skellebre circles away and we're back to standing.

Souza gets a clinch.
Souza is trying to pull guard but Skellebre turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Souza is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Skellebre can't fight it off and eventually Souza manages to take the fight to the floor. Skellebre looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Skellebre is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skellebre stops Souza from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skellebre loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skellebre controls the pace.
Skellebre pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Souza is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Skellebre controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Skellebre throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Skellebre content to stall in guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Souza swats away the attempt to clinch by Skellebre.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Skellebre.
Skellebre pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Skellebre throws a series of punches but Souza avoids them all with ease.
Skellebre wants to clinch up but Souza keeps it at a distance.
Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Skellebre sprawls well. He's pushed Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Martin Skellebre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Skellebre sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Souza tries to clinch but Skellebre moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Souza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skellebre rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Souza moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Skellebre throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Skellebre throws a series of punches but Souza avoids them all with ease.
Souza with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Skellebre to counter with a crisp jab.
Souza dives in and grabs Skellebre's left leg, looking for a takedown. Skellebre pushes down on Souza's head and hops out.

Skellebre scores with a takedown into Souza's guard.
Souza is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Skellebre dives into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Skellebre controls the position from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Skellebre dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Skellebre sizes up Souza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Souza decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Skellebre wants to control but Souza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Skellebre is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skellebre is trying to get back to full guard.
Souza sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Skellebre to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Skellebre pulls Souza in close to prevent any damage.
Souza stopping the sweep attempt from Skellebre.

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.
Skellebre wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Skellebre scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Souza.
Skellebre scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Souza doesn't seem bothered though.
Souza throws a head kick that misses
and Skellebre cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Souza tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Skellebre counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skellebre shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Souza eats them both and turns towards Skellebre to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Skellebre counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Skellebre moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Martin Skellebre is winning the standup battle so far.
A solid leg kick lands there for Skellebre.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souza is defended easily by Skellebre.
Martin Skellebre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.
Skellebre scores with a head kick. Souza tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt
and Skellebre counters with a series of strikes. Souza will be more careful next time no doubt.
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!
Souza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Skellebre seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Skellebre lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Souza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skellebre defends it nicely.
Skellebre throws a big counter combination but Souza scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Skellebre looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Skellebre defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Souza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Skellebre dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Skellebre lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Souza has closed the distance and engaged Skellebre in a clinch.
Souza wants to take the fight to the mat but Skellebre manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Souza has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Skellebre is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Souza managing to block the knees to the body from Skellebre.
Skellebre stalls.
Skellebre is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Souza can do to turn this around?
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Skellebre takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Skellebre avoids it.
Skellebre trying to stall but Souza improves his position.
Souza jumps guard but Skellebre turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Martin Skellebre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skellebre pressing his opponent against the cage.
Skellebre is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Martin Skellebre.
Souza tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Skellebre defends well and Souza ends up having to push Skellebre into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Souza with a poor takedown

and Skellebre counters by moving into the clinch.

Skellebre pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Souza fails to land the takedown.
Skellebre throws a big counter combination but Souza scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Skellebre connects with a body shot that sends Souza's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to clinch up but Skellebre circles away and keeps his distance.
Skellebre is looking to clinch but Souza is avoiding it.
Souza doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Martin Skellebre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skellebre delivers a nice body kick.
Skellebre leaves Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Souza looks to move away, Skellebre throws a big counter combo but Souza just gets out of the way.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Souza tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skellebre swivels and escapes.
Souza misses with a takedown
and Skellebre counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Skellebre lands a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Souza there as he acknowledges the shot.
Skellebre looks to land a body kick but Souza moved away.
Souza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Skellebre pinned against the cage. Skellebre gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Souza with a poor takedown
and Skellebre counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Skellebre manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Souza on his heels. He'll look to pass Souza's guard now, I'm sure.
Skellebre controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Skellebre postures up and lands a big shot to Souza's brow.
Skellebre content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skellebre seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Souza for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Souza isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Skellebre stacks Souza on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Skellebre!
Ronaldo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martin Skellebre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Skellebre moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Skellebre showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Skellebre 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Skellebre!