PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between D.D Panda (ranked 782 p4p, 1292 weight class) and Metbal Skabetti (ranked 119 p4p, 196 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Panda
vs
Skabetti

150 cm
31
205
16 - 10 - 0

192 cm
26
209
11 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Savage Fightwear

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, D.D Panda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Metbal Skabetti!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Skabetti.
Skabetti misses with a looping left.
Panda feinted with a counter takedown.
Skabetti ducks under a wild hook from Panda.
Panda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skabetti manages to avoid it.
Skabetti steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Panda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skabetti is fending him off so far but Panda persists. Nope, Skabetti circles away and we're back to standing.

Panda closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Skabetti.
Skabetti lands with a short shot to the head.
Panda tries to pull guard but Skabetti forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Skabetti.
Panda is trying to pull guard but Skabetti has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D.D Panda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skabetti throws a punch but it's blocked by Panda.
Skabetti lands with a light punch inside.

It looks like D.D Panda has been cut.
Panda's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Panda jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Skabetti walks away with a smile on his face. Panda gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Panda lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Skabetti backs up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Panda fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Skabetti counters with a nice uppercut.
Panda throws an overhand right that lands on Skabetti's shoulder, as Skabetti tries to avoid the shot.

Panda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Panda stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panda works his way into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Panda looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skabetti can't escape the position.
Panda looking to control and managing it successfully.
Panda moves to take his opponent's back.
Skabetti rolls, trying to escape but Panda keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Skabetti is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

D.D Panda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on D.D Panda's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Panda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Skabetti.

Panda darts in and clinches Skabetti up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Skabetti.

Panda ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Panda no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Panda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Skabetti defends it easily.
Skabetti is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Skabetti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skabetti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Panda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Panda trying to keep a closed guard but Skabetti is proving a slippery customer.
Skabetti engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.

Panda has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Skabetti should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Panda has tightened it up now! Skabetti should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). D.D Panda!