PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lesley Nilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Skinner
vs
Nilson

181 cm
19
266 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
20
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Skinner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lesley Nilson !
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nilson looks for the body kick but Skinner saw that one coming.

Nilson moves into the clinch.
Nilson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nilson keeps control of Skinner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nilson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nilson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Craig Skinner has been cut.
Skinner tries a body shot but Nilson blocks it.
Skinner working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nilson misses with a knee to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Skinner.
Nilson taking a breather.
Nilson landing knees to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nilson misses with a knee strike.
Nilson trying to land knees to the body.
Skinner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Skinner tries to circle away but Nilson has him pinned against the cage.
Skinner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner tries to break free but Nilson pushes him back against the cage.
Skinner is trying to break free.
Skinner misses with a punch to the body.
Skinner can't break the clinch.
Nilson scores with a knee to the head.
Skinner is trying to push Nilson away but Nilson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Skinner lands a body shot.
Nilson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Skinner's efforts to push away.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the head but Skinner blocks with his arms.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Skinner can't break the clinch.
Skinner tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nilson 's elbow.
A knee to the head by Nilson .
Skinner misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nilson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skinner has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilson misses with a knee to the head.
Nilson misses with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nilson scores with a knee to the head.
Skinner avoiding damage as Nilson throws knees to the body.

Skinner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Skinner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Skinner fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nilson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Skinner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nilson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Skinner can pounce on him.

Nilson rushes Skinner and presses him up against the cage.
Nilson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skinner is looking to break free of the clinch but Nilson has double underhooks.
Nilson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Skinner is breathing heavily.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Skinner is trying to break the clinch but Nilson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nilson blocks a body shot from Skinner.
Skinner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Skinner goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nilson looking to throw knees to the head but Skinner is blocking nicely.
Skinner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nilson is defending well for now.
Nilson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nilson blocks a body shot from Skinner.
Skinner tries a body shot but Nilson blocks it.
Skinner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nilson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Skinner is looking to break free of the clinch but Nilson has double underhooks.
Skinner tries to break free but Nilson pushes him back against the cage.
Nilson tries a knee to the head but Skinner blocks it.
Skinner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nilson has him pressed against the cage.
Nilson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Skinner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nilson blocks a body shot from Skinner.

Skinner breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nilson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Skinner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nilson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A telegraphed right hand from Skinner misses the target.
Nilson scores with a head kick. Skinner tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nilson wants to clinch up but Skinner keeps it at a distance.

Nilson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nilson slows down the pace here.
Nilson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Skinner manages to break the clinch.

Nilson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nilson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lesley Nilson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Skinner's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Skinner throws a lazy right hand but Nilson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Skinner lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Skinner lands a nice hook to Nilson 's body. Nilson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nilson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nilson avoids the body shot from Skinner.
Skinner lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skinner swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Skinner is looking to wear down Nilson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Skinner lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Lesley Nilson has been cut.
Nilson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Skinner tries to keep at a distance but Nilson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Skinner misses with a body punch.
Nilson looking to throw knees to the head but Skinner is blocking nicely.
Nilson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nilson is breathing heavily.
Nilson avoiding damage.
Nilson keeps control of Skinner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Skinner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nilson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Skinner crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Nilson - the referee stops the clock and Skinner gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Nilson . Skinner manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Skinner lands a right hook to the body.
Nilson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.
Skinner takes a swing at Nilson 's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Skinner. Nilson does a little dance to reset his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Skinner is trying to break the clinch but Nilson has him pressed against the cage.
Nilson tries a knee to the head but Skinner blocks it.
Nilson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch on the inside from Skinner fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skinner breaks the clinch.
Nilson misses with a head kick.
Skinner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Skinner looks to score with a jab to the body but Nilson is just out of range.
Nilson wants to clinch.
Skinner looks to land a combination but Nilson avoids it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skinner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Skinner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nilson .
Skinner swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Nilson has closed the distance and engaged Skinner in a clinch.
Nilson with a knee to the head.
Nilson landing knees to the head.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nilson taking a breather.
Nilson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nilson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nilson looking to throw knees to the head but Skinner is blocking nicely.
Nilson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Skinner avoids it.
Lesley Nilson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Skinner softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Skinner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Skinner avoiding damage as Nilson throws knees to the body.
Skinner on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nilson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Skinner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nilson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nilson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nilson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nilson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nilson wants to clinch up but Skinner keeps it at a distance.
Skinner ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Skinner lands a glancing blow to the side of Nilson 's head.
Nilson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.
Skinner looks to throw the jab but Nilson is out of range.
Skinner with a nice cross.
Skinner digs a good hook to Nilson 's body.
Nilson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Skinner.
Nilson avoids the body shot from Skinner.
Craig Skinner is winning the standup battle so far.
Skinner jabs Nilson right on the nose. Nilson blinks but takes it well.
Skinner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Nilson . Skinner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Skinner throws the left hand but Nilson avoids the punch easily.

Nilson moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Skinner dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Skinner does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nilson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nilson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Skinner's sensitive parts.
Skinner lands a lovely overhand right.
Skinner blocks a head kick by Nilson .
Skinner looks to score with a jab to the body but Nilson is just out of range.
Skinner misses the shot to the body.
Nilson throws a head kick that misses.
Nilson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Skinner. Nilson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nilson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skinner.
Nilson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Skinner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nilson avoids the body shot from Skinner.
Skinner blocks a head kick by Nilson .
Nilson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner keeps the fight on the outside.
Nilson moves out of range of the strikes.
Skinner checks a leg kick.
Skinner misses with a straight left.
Nilson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Skinner throws a jab but it's blocked by Nilson .
Nilson moves out of range of the leg kick from Skinner.
Skinner misses with a wild body shot.
Nilson ducks under a wild hook from Skinner.
Skinner lands a right hook to the body.
Lesley Nilson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skinner stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Skinner just misses with a punch to the body.
Skinner throws a body punch but Nilson moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nilson scores with a head kick. Skinner tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
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!
Nilson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nilson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Skinner.
Skinner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nilson was well out of range. Poor timing from Skinner.
Skinner misses the shot to the body.
Skinner takes a kick to the side of the head.
Skinner misses with a wild body shot.
Nilson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skinner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big right from Skinner misses.
Nilson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Skinner's head.
Nilson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
That kick from Skinner tenderised Nilson 's leg. Nilson is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nilson .
Skinner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nilson .
Skinner keeps the fight on the outside.
Skinner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nilson was well out of range. Poor timing from Skinner.
Nilson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nilson misses with a head kick.
Skinner connects with a body shot that sends Nilson 's belly button to the back.
Lesley Nilson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nilson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Skinner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Skinner looks to throw the jab but Nilson is out of range.
Skinner takes a swing at Nilson 's ribcage but misses.
Skinner blocks a head kick by Nilson .
Skinner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nilson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner throws a leg kick
and Nilson counters with a solid body kick.
Nilson throws a sloppy head kick and Skinner moves out of range easily.
Skinner blocks a head kick by Nilson .
Skinner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Skinner throws a lazy right hand but Nilson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nilson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Skinner misses the shot to the body.
Nilson is looking to clinch but Skinner is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nilson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skinner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Skinner misses with a looping left.
Nilson lands a nice looking kick to the body. Skinner takes a step back to recover.

Nilson clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lesley Nilson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nilson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lesley Nilson !
Lesley Nilson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.