PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Catchy Cartwright (ranked 403 p4p, 268 weight class) and Shug Skinner (ranked 47 p4p, 42 weight class). Cartwright comes to the cage accompanied by Spiders. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cartwright
vs
Skinner

171 cm
31
150
12 - 6 - 0

175 cm
32
153
15 - 13 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Brooklyn Threads

Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Catchy Cartwright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Shug Skinner!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartwright walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A big left from Skinner misses.
Skinner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cartwright shoots for a double leg takedown but Skinner sprawls well. He's pushed Cartwright's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cartwright blocks a jab.
Skinner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Skinner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cartwright.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner misses with a wild body shot.
Skinner throws a body shot but no joy.
Cartwright tries to counter with a takedown but Skinner is quick to defend against it.
Skinner throws a lazy uppercut

and Cartwright counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cartwright definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cartwright postures up in Skinner's guard and throws a big left but Skinner blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Skinner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cartwright is looking to work some ground and pound but Skinner has wrist control.
Cartwright postures up in Skinner's guard and throws a big left but Skinner blocks it.
Cartwright throwing strikes from guard but Skinner blocks nicely.
Cartwright trying to control but Skinner is working from the bottom.
Cartwright loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cartwright throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Skinner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Skinner 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.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Skinner keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cartwright is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Skinner pulls Cartwright in close to his closed guard and prevents Cartwright from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Skinner moves into the clinch.

Cartwright manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Skinner has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Skinner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright keeping full guard, as Skinner tries to pass.
Skinner preventing the sweep.

Cartwright throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cartwright 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.
Cartwright is trying to control the position but Skinner postures up.
Skinner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Cartwright is looking for a triangle here but Skinner uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cartwright is trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Cartwright is working hard here to advance position.
Cartwright is trying to work for a sweep but Skinner has mounted him!
Skinner controlling the pace for now.
Cartwright wants to hold on but Skinner pushes him away.
Cartwright can't escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cartwright looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Skinner is hanging on to Cartwright's back as he tries to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Skinner takes the fight into the clinch.
Cartwright changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Skinner fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Skinner stuns Cartwright with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Skinner fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Cartwright wants to clinch up but Skinner keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright closes the distance and clinches up with Skinner, looking for a takedown. Cartwright pushes Skinner against the cage but Skinner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Skinner looks to land a left hand but Cartwright moved out of range nicely.
Cartwright tries to clinch but Skinner is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skinner has managed to clinch.
Skinner throws an elbow but it misses.
Skinner lands an elbow just above Cartwright 's eye.
A short right from Skinner on the inside.

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

Skinner tries to sprawl but Cartwright drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Skinner tries to get to full guard but Cartwright has control of the leg.
Cartwright is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Skinner reverses the position - he's now on top in Cartwright's guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner passes Cartwright's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cartwright looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Skinner wants to pass to mount but Cartwright is defending the position.
Skinner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Skinner content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cartwright trying to control but Skinner postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cartwright looking for submissions off his back.
Cartwright trying to control here.

Cartwright looking for subs from the bottom but Skinner mounts him!
Cartwright looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Cartwright tries to escape but Skinner has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Skinner avoiding Cartwright 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner controlling well, preventing Cartwright from escaping the position.
Skinner not allowing Cartwright to control his hands.
Cartwright tries to escape but Skinner has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Cartwright trying to control the hands but Skinner won't let him.
Cartwright tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Skinner controlling the position easily from mount.
Cartwright is looking to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shug Skinner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Skinner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cartwright.
Skinner is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Skinner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cartwright paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Skinner connects with a body shot.
Cartwright shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skinner but Skinner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cartwright sets himself, and Skinner steps forward looking for the clinch! Cartwright avoids it this time.
Cartwright staying out of range there.
It looked like Cartwright was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Skinner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Skinner misses.
Skinner misses with a hook.
Skinner throws a body punch but Cartwright moves out of range.
Shug Skinner seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cartwright gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cartwright takes an elbow to the temple.

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

Skinner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cartwright, pushing him back against the cage.
Skinner throws an elbow but it misses.
Skinner lands a damaging elbow.

Skinner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Skinner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Skinner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Skinner looks to land a right hand but Cartwright moved out of range.
Skinner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cartwright tries to counter with a takedown but Skinner is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner stuffs the takedown attempt from Cartwright. Cartwright gets slowly back to his feet.

Skinner instigates a clinch.
Skinner lands an elbow inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cartwright fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Catchy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skinner pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Skinner misses with an elbow strike.
Skinner stalls.
Skinner is struggling to control the position.
Skinner continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright avoids a wild elbow strike from Skinner.
Shug Skinner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Skinner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Skinner misses with an elbow over the top.
Cartwright fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cartwright tries to score a body lock takedown but Skinner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cartwright goes for a takedown attempt but Skinner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Skinner.
Cartwright attempts a counter takedown but Skinner avoids it well and moves away.
Cartwright keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Skinner.
Cartwright drops down looking for a counter takedown but Skinner sprawls and moves away.
Catchy Cartwright has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cartwright scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cartwright passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Skinner!
Cartwright postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Skinner looks a forlorn figure.
Skinner is looking to get to half guard.
Cartwright connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skinner sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cartwright throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shug Skinner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Skinner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shug Skinner!
Shug Skinner thanked the fans post fight for their support.