PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heffa Huerta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Skjelbred could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Heffa Huerta's chin.

Skjelbred
vs
Huerta

175 cm
20
163 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Heffa Huerta!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skjelbred doesn't manage to clinch there - Huerta circles away.

Skjelbred scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Huerta can do anything to dispel that myth.
Huerta sneaks back into half guard.
Skjelbred tries to pass to full mount but Huerta defends it.
Skjelbred wants to lay and pray for a moment but Huerta keeps working.

Huerta is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Skjelbred pulls his head out easily.
Huerta tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Huerta is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Skjelbred jumps into side control!
Skjelbred lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Huerta down.
Huerta tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Huerta with a lazy takedown attempt

and Skjelbred counters with a single leg into guard. Huerta didn't expect that.

Huerta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Huerta looks gassed!

Skjelbred drops back looking for a leg! Huerta is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Huerta manages to kick Skjelbred off! Skjelbred jumps back into Huerta's guard.
Huerta keeping moving, preventing Skjelbred from controlling successfully.
Skjelbred passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Skjelbred thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Huerta to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huerta keeping full guard, as Skjelbred tries to pass.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Skjelbred with a flurry of punches that miss.
Skjelbred stopping the sweep attempt from Huerta.
Skjelbred wants to pass the guard but Huerta is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Skjelbred doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Huerta counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skjelbred is trying to get back to full guard.

Skjelbred is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Huerta pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huerta looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Skjelbred with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Skjelbred moves into full guard.

Huerta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Huerta advances position into side control!
Huerta landing strikes.
Huerta throws a strike aimed at the side of Skjelbred's head but Skjelbred avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred sneaks back into half guard.
Huerta passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Skjelbred!
Skjelbred is working to get back to half guard.
Huerta throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Skjelbred because Huerta loaded up on that one.
Skjelbred tries to reverse the position but Huerta maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Skjelbred will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Huerta misses with a takedown

and Skjelbred counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Huerta!

Huerta defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Skjelbred.
Skjelbred prevents Huerta from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Skjelbred.
Huerta is in all sorts of trouble here.
Huerta sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Huerta tries to get to full guard but Skjelbred has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skjelbred passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huerta flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Huerta keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Skjelbred tries to control but Huerta wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skjelbred looking to finish Huerta with some ground and pound. This is bad for Huerta!
Huerta is trying to escape the mount.
Huerta looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Huerta breaks Skjelbred's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Huerta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Skjelbred works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skjelbred working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Huerta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Huerta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Skjelbred manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Huerta manages to get himself to full guard.
Huerta throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Skjelbred trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Huerta manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Skjelbred looking for a sweep. Not yet Skjelbred, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred has momentary wrist control but Huerta slips an elbow through the middle.
Huerta wants to pass the guard but Skjelbred is keeping the position.
Huerta throws a big right hand that misses.
Skjelbred avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Skjelbred is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Huerta connects with a couple of short punches.
Huerta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
John Skjelbred overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Skjelbred looking to hit a scissor sweep but Huerta is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huerta trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Huerta connects with a couple of short punches.
Huerta wants to pass the guard but Skjelbred is keeping the position.
Skjelbred utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Huerta chips away with some ground and pound.
Huerta tries to free his leg and advance position but Skjelbred is retaining full guard.
Huerta stopping the sweep attempt from Skjelbred.

Skjelbred escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Huerta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Skjelbred clinches but Huerta breaks the clinch

and Huerta counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Skjelbred!
Huerta landing strikes, looking to finish!
Huerta in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Skjelbred taking shots to the head.
Skjelbred really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Huerta.
Huerta lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Huerta looking to secure an arm triangle but Skjelbred defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skjelbred really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huerta landing strikes from the mount and Skjelbred is in trouble!
Huerta working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Huerta lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Skjelbred hang on?
Skjelbred taking shots to the head.
Huerta raining down shots from the mount!
Huerta lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by Huerta.
Skjelbred tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Skjelbred throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huerta has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Skjelbred's face.
Huerta scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Skjelbred?
Huerta landing strikes from the mount.
Skjelbred is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Skjelbred is working to get back to half guard.
Huerta avoids the attempt from Skjelbred to control.
Huerta lands a nice shot to the head.
Skjelbred is working to get back to half guard.
Huerta working Skjelbred over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huerta is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Skjelbred tries to hold on but Huerta postures up.

Huerta swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Skjelbred is now in Huerta's guard. A big mistake from Huerta there, giving up the dominant position!

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Huerta actively working from the bottom here.
Huerta tries to get to full guard but Skjelbred has control of the leg.
Skjelbred thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Huerta's head.
Huerta tries to roll over but Skjelbred keeps him under control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Huerta is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Skjelbred's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Skjelbred's back!
Can Skjelbred hold on?! Huerta is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heffa Huerta really 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.

Huerta bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Huerta lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Skjelbred down.
Huerta throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Skjelbred takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Huerta postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Skjelbred is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Huerta looking for a submission but Skjelbred manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

Huerta gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Huerta doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Skjelbred holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Huerta jumps into guard, dragging Skjelbred to the mat.
Huerta is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Huerta working for a triangle but Skjelbred defends it easily.
Huerta looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Skjelbred puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Skjelbred passes to side control.
Huerta is trying to buck Skjelbred off.
Huerta is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Skjelbred's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huerta misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Huerta looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Skjelbred is tying to control. Huerta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Huerta manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Huerta wants to hit a switch here but Skjelbred passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Huerta there!
Skjelbred prevents Huerta from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred wants to take Huerta's back here but Huerta is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Huerta is looking to improve his position but Skjelbred isn't that keen on the idea.
Huerta is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Huerta manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Huerta is looking to improve his position.

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.

Huerta looking for submissions off his back.
Skjelbred trying to control the action but Huerta is working from the bottom.
Huerta misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Huerta is looking for a sweep. Skjelbred is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Huerta works his way to full guard. Good work.
Huerta wants to sweep here but Skjelbred controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Huerta shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heffa Huerta dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Huerta shoots in but no luck this time.
Huerta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Huerta shoots in but Skjelbred avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Skjelbred tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Huerta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Huerta throwing strikes from guard but Skjelbred blocks nicely.
Huerta passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Huerta lands a few punches from side control.
Huerta connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Skjelbred some visible discomfort.
Huerta tries to move to mount but Skjelbred blocks the move with his legs.
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.

Huerta tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Huerta has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huerta has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Skjelbred is in a horrible position here. Huerta smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Skjelbred tries to hold on but Huerta pushes him away.
Huerta landing strikes from the mount.
Huerta putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Huerta raining down shots from the mount!

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.
Skjelbred is bucking up trying to escape but Huerta cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Huerta with a couple of short strikes.
Huerta lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Huerta misses with a head shot.
Huerta with a couple of short strikes.
Huerta dominating with strikes here.
Huerta cracks Skjelbred with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Huerta fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Skjelbred taking shots to the head.
Skjelbred is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Skjelbred is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Huerta pulls his head out easily.
Skjelbred wants to get back to full guard.
Huerta is pressing down on Skjelbred's thigh, looking to free his foot. Skjelbred is holding on for now.
Skjelbred is trying to get back to full guard.

Skjelbred looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Huerta prevents Skjelbred from improving his position.

That's four 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.
Skjelbred moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Huerta is posturing up here but Skjelbred has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Huerta tries to roll out but it's too tight and Huerta has to tap! Slick submission there by Skjelbred!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Skjelbred!
John Skjelbred retains his lightweight title!