PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Skaar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Money Machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skaar's entrance music is Amon Amarth - "The Pursuit of Vikings". A fine choice. Money Machine has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Skaar
vs
Machine

190 cm
22
285 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
242 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Gilop®

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Skaar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Money Machine!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Machine clinches up against the cage.
Machine stalling the fight.

Machine pulls Skaar into 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.
Skaar looking to sit in guard and control but Machine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Skaar keeping moving, preventing Machine from controlling successfully.
Machine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skaar is keeping the position for now.
Skaar on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Skaar tries to get out of the position.
Skaar is pulling down on Machine's head to control his posture.
Machine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skaar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Skaar working a defensive guard here.
Skaar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Machine on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up because John Skaar just wasn't active enough.

Skaar tries to keep at a distance but Machine has taken the fight into the clinch.

Skaar is fighting off a takedown attempt but Machine is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Skaar to the mat. Skaar regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skaar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skaar seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Machine trying to control the position from guard on top but Skaar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

John Skaar has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Machine is defended easily by Skaar.
Machine fails with a takedown attempt.
Skaar falls off balance throwing a combination

and Machine holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Machine lands a hook that snaps the head of Skaar backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skaar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Machine is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Skaar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
John Skaar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Money Machine.
Machine fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Skaar manages to break the clinch.

Skaar gets the takedown into side control.
Machine pushes Skaar away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Skaar gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Skaar working the ground and pound.
Machine is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Skaar off and has taken his back!
Skaar prevents Machine from getting a body triangle.
Machine somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Will Machine go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Skaar holding both Machine 's hands and preventing any damage.
Machine lands shots from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Skaar hold on?!
Machine thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Machine really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Skaar.
Even with his hooks in, Machine manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Skaar looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Machine struggling to keep hold of the position.
Machine controlling well, preventing Skaar from escaping the position.
Even with his hooks in, Machine manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Machine is not going to allow Skaar to sit and survive in this position.
Skaar turns into Machine and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machine manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Machine controlling from mount.
Machine throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Skaar taking shots to the head.
Machine has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Skaar wants to hold on but Machine pushes him away.
Machine working the ground and pound effectively.
Skaar can't escape the position.
The referee warns Skaar that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machine lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Skaar hang on?
Machine looking to control but Skaar is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Skaar is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Money Machine 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.

Machine has Skaar up against the cage in a clinch.
Skaar wants a takedown but no success here.
Skaar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Skaar misses with a hook from the clinch.

Machine pulls guard successfully.
Skaar throws a big right hand that misses.
Machine controls Skaar momentarily but Skaar frees himself.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Machine. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Machine has his feet on Skaar's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Machine has managed to clinch.
Skaar is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Machine gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The referee calls for Skaar to work.
Machine putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Skaar in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Machine has clasped his hands together around Skaar's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Money Machine has got the better of the ground game so far.
Machine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Skaar keeps working.
Machine tries to advance to mount but can't.
Machine trying to control the position but Skaar is working away.
Skaar can't do much from the bottom here.
Skaar gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Skaar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Skaar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Machine is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Machine can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Skaar is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machine lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Skaar that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Machine controlling from the full mount.
Machine landing shots from mount.
Skaar is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Machine cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Machine with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Machine landing strikes from the mount and Skaar is in trouble!
Machine trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Skaar tries to lock up and control but Machine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Skaar is looking to escape.
Skaar is trying to escape the mount.
Machine wants to control the pace but Skaar is squirming around nicely.
Machine lands a big elbow.
Skaar is squirming around, avoiding Machine's attempts to control the action.
Machine looking to finish with strikes here!
Machine trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Skaar tries to lock up and control but Machine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Machine there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Skaar tries to hold on but Machine pushes him away.
Machine sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Machine with a couple of short strikes.
Skaar can't escape the position.
Machine scoring with strikes but Skaar is staying in there.
A nice elbow there by Machine.
Machine tries to control but Skaar wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skaar regains half guard.
Skaar wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Money Machine 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Skaar misses with an uppercut

and Machine counters by clinching up.
Machine changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Skaar fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Skaar decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Machine is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Skaar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Skaar's back!
Machine throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Machine really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Skaar.
Will Machine go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Even with his hooks in, Machine manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Machine avoiding Skaar 's attempts to control his hands.
Machine struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skaar trying to control the position but Machine manages to sink in the hooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machine missing with strikes.
Machine lands shots from the back.
Skaar is taking damage to the body and head.
What can Skaar do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Machine has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Skaar has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Machine is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Skaar trying to control the position but Machine manages to sink in the hooks.
Skaar tries to escape the position.
Skaar takes a big shot to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machine missing with punches from the back.
Skaar trying to get back to his feet but Machine is in full control for now.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Machine's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Machine is punishing Skaar with strikes - can he finish him?!
Skaar covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Skaar tries to roll but Machine sticks to his back.
Skaar just looking to survive in the bad position.
Skaar rolls, trying to escape but Machine keeps control of the position.
Skaar's corner are yelling at him, telling him to just focus on controlling Machine's hands.
Machine trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Machine not allowing Skaar to control his hands.
Machine keeps control of the position easily here as Skaar tries to buck him off.
Machine wants to control but Skaar is keeping busy.
Machine has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Skaar.
Skaar breaks Machine's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Machine looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Machine working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Money Machine hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Machine manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Skaar on his heels. He'll look to pass Skaar's guard now, I'm sure.
Money Machine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skaar is keeping the position for now.
Machine is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Machine trying to control the position from guard on top but Skaar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machine might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Skaar kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Money Machine has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Skaar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Machine counters with a leg kick.
John Skaar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machine scores with a leg kick.
John Skaar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skaar misses with a double jab
and Machine counters with a head kick. That will keep Skaar thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

And that's the end of the fight!
Money Machine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Machine has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Money Machine!