PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Skerlik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralle Pihl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pihl has chosen Run to the hills as his entrance music. Ralle Pihl looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Skerlik
vs
Pihl

165 cm
22
134 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
140 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Skerlik!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ralle Pihl!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skerlik walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Pihl checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Skerlik drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pihl wants to stand and escape but Skerlik is having none of it.
Pihl keeping moving, preventing Skerlik from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skerlik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Skerlik advances position into side control!

Skerlik is trying to get an arm triangle but Pihl is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skerlik thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Skerlik is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pihl knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Skerlik is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pihl has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik moves into full mount!
Skerlik wants to control the pace but Pihl is squirming around nicely.
Skerlik controlling from the full mount.

Skerlik is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Pihl to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Pihl shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik tries to control but Pihl wriggling away.

Skerlik goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pihl is on top in guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Skerlik avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pihl looks gassed!
Skerlik is controlling Pihl's posture.
Pihl with a flurry of punches that miss.
Skerlik preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pihl with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Skerlik working for a triangle but Pihl defends it easily.

Skerlik has his foot on Pihl's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pihl works his way back into a safe position though.
Pihl is looking to work some ground and pound but Skerlik has wrist control.

Skerlik pushes Pihl off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Skerlik with a poor takedown
letting Pihl counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pihl closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pihl lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Skerlik dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Skerlik shoots and misses

and Pihl counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Skerlik's guard now.
Pihl throws and elbow that misses. Skerlik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pihl's guard. Nice move by Skerlik!
Skerlik trying to control the position from guard on top but Pihl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pihl keeping full guard, as Skerlik tries to pass.
Skerlik is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skerlik trying to control the position from guard on top but Pihl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skerlik sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pihl's guard.
Skerlik seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pihl does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Skerlik looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Skerlik seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik moves into full mount! Pihl won't be happy about that!

Skerlik is working for a guillotine from mount but Pihl frees his head quite easily.
Pihl is trying to stand.
Skerlik controlling from the full mount.
Skerlik mounts Pihl! Really nice guard pass there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skerlik working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Pihl looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Skerlik! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Nick Skerlik!
Nick Skerlik is the new bantamweight champion!