PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarry Skov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evander Holifield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skov comes to the cage accompanied by Ingen opposition. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Skov
vs
Holifield

188 cm
19
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jarry Skov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Evander Holifield!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Holifield.

Skov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Well, if Skov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Skov seems to be looking for submissions.
Holifield is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holifield has managed to free his arm - good work.
Holifield is trying to stand up here but Skov is controlling him well.
Skov uses his free foot to push down on Holifield's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Holifield.
Holifield keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skov breaks from Holifield's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Skov tries to control but Holifield wriggling away.
Holifield is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Skov punching from mount but Holifield doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Skov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Skov looking for a guillotine from mount but Holifield is having none of it.
Skov trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Skov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Holifield manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Skov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holifield keeps working.

Skov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holifield knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
You can see the frustration on Holifield's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Holifield gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Skov is stalling here. Holifield is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Skov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Holifield has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
An elbow from Holifield crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holifield has control of an arm but Skov manages to advance to Holifield's back!
Holifield rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Holifield preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Holifield tries to get to full guard but Skov has control of the leg.
Skov works his way into side control.

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.
Holifield is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Skov is trying to get an arm triangle but Holifield is defending well.

Skov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holifield, who protects the arm well.
Holifield manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Holifield is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Skov is just riding it out for now. Holifield eventually gives up the hold.

Holifield is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarry Skov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Skov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Skov lands in his opponent's guard.
Skov trying to control the position from guard on top but Holifield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holifield is trying to control the position but Skov postures up.
Skov trying to control but Holifield is working from the bottom.
Skov postures up and lands a big shot to Holifield's brow.
Holifield is pulling down on Skov's head. It's preventing any offense from Skov, at least for the moment.
Holifield is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holifield keeping moving, preventing Skov from controlling successfully.
Holifield can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skov controls the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skov trying to control but Holifield is working from the bottom.
Holifield utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holifield wants to sweep but no luck.
Holifield keeping moving, preventing Skov from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holifield will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Skov fails with the takedown
enabling Holifield to counter with a crisp jab.
Skov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holifield sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holifield has his takedown stuffed

and Skov moves into the clinch.
Holifield looking for a takedown.
Jarry Skov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evander Holifield.
Skov jumps guard but Holifield stands there with Skov around his waist. Skov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Skov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Holifield is trying to keep an underhook but Skov manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Holifield pushes Skov off and gets back to his feet.

Skov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Skov passes to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Holifield is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Skov misses with a head shot.
Holifield is in all sorts of trouble here.
Skov wants to control the pace but Holifield is squirming around nicely.
Holifield is working to get back to half guard.

Skov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Skov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four 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.

Skov goes for an armbar but Holifield turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Holifield.
Holifield passes Skov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Skov is trying to stand back up but Holifield is controlling him
Holifield is taking a breather. Skov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Jarry Skov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holifield wants to free his trapped foot but Skov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarry Skov dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Skov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Skov has closed the distance and engaged Holifield in a clinch.
Skov tries for a takedown but Holifield manages to get underhooks.
Holifield stalling in the clinch but Skov improves position.
Holifield lands a body shot.
Skov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jarry Skov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holifield changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Skov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Holifield looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skov is fending him off so far but Holifield persists. Nope, Skov circles away and we're back to standing.
Holifield tries to clinch there but Skov circles away.
Holifield stuffs the takedown attempt from Skov. Skov gets slowly back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Holifield.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skov pushes Holifield away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Holifield gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holifield decides to stand back up.
Skov misses with a takedown

and Holifield counters with a shoot takedown. Skov fights it but they end up in guard.
Skov wants to stand up but Holifield is controlling him.
Skov wants to sweep here but Holifield controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holifield wants to stand but Skov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Holifield slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Skov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Holifield preventing the sweep.
Holifield must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holifield decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Skov, up you get!
Skov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Holifield counter with a right hand.
Skov misses with the combination.
Jarry Skov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Holifield shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Holifield looks for a takedown but Skov sprawls well.
Holifield slaps away a takedown attempt from Skov, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four 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.
Skov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holifield sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Skov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Skov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Holifield!

Skov gets a clinch.

Skov tightens his grip and picks Holifield up, before dumping him to the ground. Holifield manages to land in guard.
Skov trying to control but Holifield is working from the bottom.
Skov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Skov looking to sit in guard and control but Holifield gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evander Holifield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jarry Skov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holifield throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evander Holifield comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Skov 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarry Skov!