PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Gatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Skantze Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gatti
vs
Skantze Jr

176 cm
28
170 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

176 cm
26
182 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arturo Gatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Skantze Jr!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Skantze Jr gets a double leg takedown into Gatti's guard.
Skantze Jr wants to pass the guard but Gatti is keeping the position.
Skantze Jr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Skantze Jr won't allow Gatti to get back to his feet.
Skantze Jr wants to control from the top but Gatti keeps moving.
Skantze Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Gatti is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skantze Jr won't allow Gatti to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Skantze Jr was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Gatti gets caught napping as Skantze Jr dives in and scores a takedown. Gatti manages to retain guard.

Skantze Jr decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Skantze Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gatti moves away.

Skantze Jr closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gatti did well to prevent Skantze Jr getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skantze Jr trying to control from half guard but Gatti is working away.
Skantze Jr wants to free his trapped foot but Gatti is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gatti pushes Skantze Jr off looking to stand but Skantze Jr dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skantze Jr looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skantze Jr is keen to just control but Gatti is a slippery customer.

John Skantze Jr has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Gatti gets caught napping as Skantze Jr dives in and scores a takedown. Gatti manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skantze Jr is stalling in the full guard.
Gatti wants to stand and escape but Skantze Jr is having none of it.

Gatti scrambles and gets back to his feet.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skantze Jr trying to control but Gatti is working from the bottom.
Skantze Jr engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Skantze Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gatti is keeping the position for now.
Skantze Jr wants to get up but he can't break Gatti's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Skantze Jr.

Skantze Jr gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gatti misses with a two punch combination.

Skantze Jr manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gatti on his heels. He'll look to pass Gatti's guard now, I'm sure.
Gatti keeping full guard, as Skantze Jr tries to pass.
Skantze Jr passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gatti tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Skantze Jr struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti trying to get back to his feet but Skantze Jr is in full control for now.
Skantze Jr trying to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skantze Jr is controlling the position but Gatti somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
It looks like Skantze Jr is going to stand back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Skantze Jr hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gatti lands a jab-cross combination.
Gatti misses with a few strikes there.
Skantze Jr fails to land with a series of punches.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gatti misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skantze Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gatti misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch combination from Gatti misses.
Skantze Jr swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gatti counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gatti throws a series of punches but Skantze Jr avoids them all with ease.

Skantze Jr throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gatti tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Skantze Jr is in Gatti's guard.
Gatti wants to stand up but Skantze Jr is controlling him.
Skantze Jr controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skantze Jr wants to pass the guard but Gatti is keeping the position.
Skantze Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Gatti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Skantze Jr hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Skantze Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Arturo Gatti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gatti throws a series of strikes that have Skantze Jr backpedaling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skantze Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Gatti misses with the combination.
Skantze Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Skantze Jr throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Gatti gets caught flat footed, as Skantze Jr shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gatti keeping moving, preventing Skantze Jr from controlling successfully.
Skantze Jr looking to sit in guard and control but Gatti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gatti preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skantze Jr trying to control the position.
Skantze Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Skantze Jr, not yet.
Skantze Jr wants to stand and escape but Gatti is having none of it.

Gatti gets to his feet. Skantze Jr looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Skantze Jr misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skantze Jr scores with a takedown into Gatti's guard.
Skantze Jr prevents Gatti from getting back to his feet.
Skantze Jr tries to stand but Gatti is controlling from the bottom.

Gatti kicks Skantze Jr off and gets to his feet.
Gatti takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Skantze Jr throws a series of punches but Gatti avoids them all with ease.
Skantze Jr just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti throws a series of punches but Skantze Jr moves out of range.
Skantze Jr swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gatti counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Skantze Jr takes a swing at Gatti's ribcage but misses.
Gatti works over Skantze Jr's head and body with a nice combination.

Skantze Jr shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Skantze Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gatti pushes Skantze Jr off and gets back to his feet.
Skantze Jr slips a jab and a cross from Gatti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Skantze Jr fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gatti sprawls well initially but Skantze Jr persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Skantze Jr wants to control but Gatti is keeping him busy.
Skantze Jr works his way into full mount!
John Skantze Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Skantze Jr is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Arturo Gatti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Skantze Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Skantze Jr stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Skantze Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Skantze Jr 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Skantze Jr!
A victorious John Skantze Jr thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.