PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saint Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alen Skoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skoro is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Volim Sarajevo. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pierre
vs
Skoro

178 cm
23
170 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
180 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Saint Pierre!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alen Skoro!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Skoro gets a takedown into half guard.
Pierre trying to hold on to Skoro's head to control him but Skoro postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pierre manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pierre has Skoro pulled in close to control his posture.
Pierre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pierre has Skoro pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Saint Pierre just wasn't active enough.

Skoro closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pierre quickly recovers to half guard.
Pierre keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Pierre is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre has his hands clasped together around Skoro's back. He's all about the action.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Skoro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pierre is looking to control Skoro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pierre avoid being mounted?
Skoro tries to pass to full mount but Pierre defends it.
Pierre trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Saint Pierre.

Skoro throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pierre tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Skoro is in Pierre's guard.
Pierre working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Skoro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pierre holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierre keeping full guard, as Skoro tries to pass.
Pierre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pierre is pulling down on Skoro's head. It's preventing any offense from Skoro, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Saint Pierre wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Skoro fails with the takedown
and Pierre counters with a straight right hand.
Pierre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Skoro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pierre was covering up waiting for the punch and Skoro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pierre is trying to control the position but Skoro postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre looking for a sweep. Not yet Pierre, not yet.
Pierre is adopting a defensive guard.

Skoro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pierre is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Skoro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Skoro advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Pierre's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Skoro is trying to get an arm triangle but Pierre is defending well.
Skoro working away.
Skoro has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Pierre wants to hold on but Skoro pushes him away.
Pierre is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alen Skoro dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Skoro shoots and misses

and Pierre counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pierre wants to take a breather but Skoro is having none of it.
Skoro regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pierre makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Alen Skoro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pierre postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pierre with a nice head shot there.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
Skoro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.

Skoro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pierre scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Skoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pierre postures up and lands a big shot to Skoro's brow.

Skoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pierre is aware though and is defending well.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Skoro keeps moving.

Skoro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre postures up and lands a big shot to Skoro's brow.
Pierre trying to control but Skoro is working from the bottom.

Pierre drops back looking for a leg! Skoro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Skoro manages to kick Pierre off! Pierre jumps back into Skoro's guard.

Skoro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pierre defends well.
Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Skoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skoro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pierre distracts Skoro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pierre trying to control but Skoro is working from the bottom.

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.

Skoro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pierre working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pierre is working Skoro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pierre throws a big right hand that misses.
Pierre distracts Skoro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pierre postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Skoro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pierre is one step ahead there.
Pierre controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pierre looking to pass the guard.
Pierre is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pierre 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.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Skoro keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre is pushing down on Skoro's leg trying to pass to half guard. Skoro is fighting to maintain full guard but Pierre has managed to sneak the leg through.

Skoro is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pierre pulls his head out easily.
Pierre seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Skoro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pierre landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Skoro wants to get back to full guard.
Pierre looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Skoro with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pierre trying to control from half guard but Skoro is working away.

Pierre is looking for a kimura here.
Skoro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Pierre is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Skoro gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierre stands up over Skoro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Skoro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pierre looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
Pierre working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Skoro's head.
Skoro can't keep his opponent in guard - Pierre advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pierre working the head and body with strikes.
Pierre sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Skoro defending well though.
Skoro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Skoro wants to improve his position but Pierre is controlling well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pierre connects with a nice short shot to Skoro's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Pierre dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Skoro fails with the takedown

and Pierre counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pierre.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
Skoro being controlled here, momentarily.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.

Skoro working for a triangle but Pierre defends it easily.
Pierre is stalling in the full guard.
Pierre scoring with some ground and pound.
Pierre is in close to Skoro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Skoro keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pierre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre trying to control but Skoro is working from the bottom.
Pierre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pierre trying to control but Skoro is working from the bottom.

Saint Pierre has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Skoro misses with a takedown attempt

so Pierre counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pierre won't allow Skoro to sweep him here.
Pierre scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pierre is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pierre scoring with some ground and pound.
Pierre with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pierre throwing strikes but missing.

Skoro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pierre trying to control but Skoro is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierre controls from within his opponent's guard.

Skoro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
Pierre lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pierre loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Skoro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Skoro keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pierre passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Skoro is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pierre connects with a decent elbow.
Pierre moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Pierre in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pierre in side control lands a decent elbow.
Pierre lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Skoro is trying to improve his position.
Pierre works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Pierre working the ground and pound.

Pierre wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Skoro, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pierre tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pierre has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Skoro is looking to reverse the position.
Pierre taking a breather here.
Pierre trying to control the action but Skoro is working from the bottom.
Pierre working the head with strikes.
Skoro is being controlled here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Pierre clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pierre fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Skoro misses with a takedown attempt

so Pierre counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pierre cracks Skoro with a solid left hand.
Skoro looking for a sweep. Not yet Skoro, not yet.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Skoro keeps moving.

Skoro has his foot on Pierre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pierre works his way back into a safe position though.
Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Skoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Skoro is looking for a triangle but Pierre pushes his legs off easily.
Pierre is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pierre scoring with some ground and pound.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
Skoro keeping full guard, as Pierre tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pierre is aware though and is defending well.
Skoro is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Pierre is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pierre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Skoro looking for a guillotine here but Pierre defends easily.
Pierre controlling from the top position.
Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Skoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Saint Pierre wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pierre is defended easily by Skoro.
Alen Skoro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.
Skoro fails with the takedown

and Pierre counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Skoro!
Pierre landing shots from mount.
Pierre can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Skoro is looking to escape.
Skoro can't escape the position.
Pierre lands a heavy elbow.
Pierre scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Skoro?
Pierre controlling the pace for now.
Pierre trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pierre in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Skoro is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Skoro's face.
Pierre looking to finish Skoro with some ground and pound. This is bad for Skoro!
Skoro tries to hold on but Pierre pushes him away.
Skoro is trying desperately to improve position.
Pierre content just to control the position here.
Skoro wants to hold on but Pierre pushes him away.
Pierre landing punches.
Pierre controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Pierre.
Pierre lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Skoro hang on?
Skoro is bucking up trying to escape but Pierre cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Pierre sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Pierre looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skoro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pierre controlling from the full mount.
Pierre in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Pierre looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pierre is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Pierre scoring with strikes but Skoro is staying in there.
Pierre with a couple of short strikes.

Skoro defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Pierre.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pierre is landing with some decent strikes but Skoro is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Skoro is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Pierre had his way with Alen Skoro in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Skoro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pierre.
Skoro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Pierre shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Skoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pierre is aware though and is defending well.

Pierre thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
Pierre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pierre trying to control but Skoro is working from the bottom.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Skoro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pierre is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Saint Pierre wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Skoro with a poor takedown

and Pierre counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Skoro's guard now.
Pierre lands a couple of digs.

Skoro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Skoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pierre is aware though and is defending well.

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

Pierre thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pierre is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skoro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Skoro keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Saint Pierre just wasn't active enough.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Skoro enables Pierre to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Skoro manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pierre throwing strikes from guard but Skoro blocks nicely.

Skoro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pierre defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.

Skoro has his foot on Pierre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pierre works his way back into a safe position though.
Pierre landing some decent shots from guard.
Pierre is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Skoro can do to turn this around?
Skoro keeping moving, preventing Pierre from controlling successfully.
Pierre is in close to Skoro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Skoro keeps moving.
Pierre throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pierre is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

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

Skoro has his foot on Pierre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pierre works his way back into a safe position though.

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.

Pierre drops back looking for a leg! Skoro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Skoro manages to kick Pierre off! Pierre jumps back into Skoro's guard.
Pierre not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pierre working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Skoro's head.
Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Skoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alen Skoro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pierre preventing the sweep.

Skoro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pierre can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Pierre drops back looking for a leg! Skoro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Skoro manages to kick Pierre off! Pierre jumps back into Skoro's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saint Pierre showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pierre 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 49:46
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saint Pierre!
Saint Pierre is the new welterweight champion!