PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Burrhus Frederic Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Frederic Skinner
vs
Gracie

185 cm
23
210 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

175 cm
27
218 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Burrhus Frederic Skinner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Roberto Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Skinner tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Skinner to the ground. Skinner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Skinner looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Skinner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie trying to control but Skinner is working from the bottom.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Skinner manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Skinner in his guard.
Skinner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Skinner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Skinner stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.
Nice sprawl there from Skinner as Gracie shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Burrhus Frederic Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Gracie.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Skinner sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Skinner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Skinner is looking to clinch.
Gracie sizes up Skinner with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Skinner connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gracie looks gassed!
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.

Skinner moves into the clinch.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Skinner smiles and moves away.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gracie takes a step back to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skinner doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Skinner instigates a clinch.
The referee calls for Skinner to work.

Skinner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Skinner, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Skinner against the cage but Skinner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Skinner is looking to clinch.

Skinner takes the fight into the clinch.
Skinner lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Skinner lands a body shot.
Skinner connects with a knee to the head.
Skinner stalling in the clinch.
Skinner putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Skinner landing knees to the body.
Skinner lands a knee to the head.

Skinner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Skinner tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie misses with a straight left.

Skinner forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.
Gracie looking to stall.
Skinner scores a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A knee to the head by Skinner.
Skinner stalling in the clinch.
Skinner presses Gracie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Skinner connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
A knee to the head by Skinner.
Gracie wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Skinner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Skinner stuffs the takedown.
Skinner is looking to clinch.
Skinner tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Skinner throws a quick inside leg kick.
Skinner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie misses the jab.
Skinner is looking to clinch.
Skinner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skinner defends it nicely.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Skinner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burrhus Frederic Skinner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Skinner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Skinner misses with a takedown

and Gracie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Skinner!

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Skinner is on top in guard.
Skinner thows a big elbow that misses.
Skinner wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Skinner is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Skinner wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gracie controls Skinner momentarily but Skinner frees himself.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Skinner pushes his legs off easily.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Skinner has passed into half guard!
Gracie wants to control but Skinner is keeping busy.
Skinner wants to stand up but Gracie has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Skinner winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie trying to control but Skinner postures up.
Skinner seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Skinner clinches.
Skinner lands a hook to the side of the head.

Skinner manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Skinner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Skinner.
Skinner with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Skinner manages to break the clinch.
Skinner is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Skinner wants to clinch
and Skinner takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
Skinner tries to clinch up

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Skinner is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Skinner is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Skinner tries to pass.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Skinner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Skinner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Skinner doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Skinner wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Skinner, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skinner wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner prevents Gracie from moving into mount.
Skinner is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Skinner explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

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.
Skinner tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Skinner counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Skinner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Skinner defends well.
Skinner is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Skinner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Skinner has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Skinner is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Skinner stalling.
Skinner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Skinner slips a nice elbow through Gracie's hands, connecting with Gracie's forehead.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Skinner is working away from the top position though.

Skinner decides to return to a standing position.
Roberto Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Skinner scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Skinner counters with a good, hard body kick but Gracie shrugs it off.
Skinner tries to clinch up.
Skinner is looking to clinch.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Skinner lands a high kick!
Burrhus Frederic Skinner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Skinner tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burrhus Frederic Skinner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Skinner 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight for Burrhus Frederic Skinner!
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight for Burrhus Frederic Skinner!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Burrhus Frederic Skinner!

Burrhus Frederic Skinner wins by unanimous decision!