PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Edson Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skjelbred is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bad To The Bone. John Skjelbred has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Junior
vs
Skjelbred

179 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
29
124 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edson Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skjelbred misses with a wild combination.
Junior has a takedown stuffed.
Junior throws out a powerful jab.
Skjelbred tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Junior paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Junior lands a jab-cross combination.
Skjelbred throws a head kick but Junior moves out of range.
Skjelbred displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Junior.
John Skjelbred seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skjelbred throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Junior.
Skjelbred thumps Junior with a low kick.
Skjelbred misses with a body shot.
Skjelbred throws a head kick that misses.
Skjelbred ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Junior moves away.
Skjelbred with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Junior tries to sprawl but Skjelbred drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Skjelbred is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Junior sees it coming and defends easily.
Junior knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Skjelbred on the ground.
Skjelbred is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Junior!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skjelbred controlling his opponent.
Junior is in all sorts of trouble here.
Skjelbred putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Junior tries to lock up and control but Skjelbred gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Junior really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Skjelbred scoring with strikes but Junior is staying in there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Skjelbred landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior working to try and regain half guard.

Skjelbred working for a guillotine from mount but Junior is in no mood to give up.
Junior stops Skjelbred from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Skjelbred cracks Junior with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Junior working to try and regain half guard.
Junior sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Junior is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skjelbred wants to work for an arm triangle but Junior is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Skjelbred is thwarting Junior's attempts to control the position.
Skjelbred wants to lay and pray for a moment but Junior keeps working.

Skjelbred is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Junior sees it coming and defends easily.
Junior trying to control but Skjelbred postures up.

Skjelbred is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred is looking to advance position but Junior won't allow it.
Junior is trying to control but can't.

Skjelbred is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Junior defends it well.
Junior punching from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Junior wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred dominated that round.
That's time! Junior's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Skjelbred pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Junior throws a right and a left that both miss.
Junior misses with a takedown

and Skjelbred counters with a single leg into guard. Junior didn't expect that.
Skjelbred advances to half guard.
Junior trying to get back to full guard but Skjelbred takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Junior has given up his back. Will we see Skjelbred going for some submissions?
Junior tries to break free.
Well, with Skjelbred on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Junior is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Skjelbred connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Junior to escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Junior trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Junior fending off the submission attempt from Skjelbred.

Skjelbred working for a choke but Junior is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Junior's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Skjelbred looking for the choke but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Skjelbred 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, Junior has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Skjelbred looking for the choke from the back.
Skjelbred wants to control but Junior is keeping busy.
Junior controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Skjelbred. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Junior defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Skjelbred's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior tries to escape but Skjelbred has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Junior showing good submission defense here.
Junior looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Skjelbred has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Skjelbred is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Junior knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Junior for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred gets his hands free as Junior looks to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Will Skjelbred go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Junior is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Skjelbred tries to keep control of the position but Junior is staying busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Junior controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Skjelbred looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Junior throws a low kick but Skjelbred avoids it.
Junior tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Junior shoots for a takedown but Skjelbred saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Junior shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skjelbred but Skjelbred pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Skjelbred lands with a nice body kick.
Junior has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edson Junior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skjelbred cracks Junior with a right hand to the side of the head.
Skjelbred throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Skjelbred ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Junior moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Skjelbred has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Skjelbred misses with a double jab.
Junior shoots for a takedown but Skjelbred saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Skjelbred scores with a jab. Junior acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Skjelbred has Junior up against the cage in a clinch.
Skjelbred looking for a takedown.
Skjelbred tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Junior just stands there and leans against the cage.
Skjelbred goes for a takedown in the clinch but Junior prevents it.
Junior is trying to pull guard but Skjelbred has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Skjelbred.
Skjelbred landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skjelbred pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Skjelbred dives in and grabs Junior's left leg, looking for a takedown. Junior pushes down on Skjelbred's head and hops out.
Junior fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Junior is looking to clinch.
Skjelbred throws a combination. Junior tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skjelbred lands a nice shot that snaps Junior's head back.
Junior tries to clinch but Skjelbred is having none of it.
Skjelbred fails to land with a series of punches.
Junior steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Skjelbred.
Skjelbred tries to clinch but Junior moves out of range.
Junior throws a wild body kick that Skjelbred sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skjelbred decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Skjelbred takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Junior looking for submissions off his back.
Junior regains full guard. Nicely done.
Skjelbred is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Junior tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Skjelbred forces his way into half guard.
Junior taking some punishment here, with Skjelbred in his half guard.
John Skjelbred is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred prevents Junior from improving his position.
Skjelbred seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Junior works his way to full guard. Good work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Junior is trying to control the position but Skjelbred postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skjelbred is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Skjelbred hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nice takedown defense from Skjelbred. No joy for Junior on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Skjelbred comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Skjelbred 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Skjelbred!
An out of breath John Skjelbred thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.