PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Skjelbred's choice of entrance music: Bad To The Bone. John Skjelbred will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Black
vs
Skjelbred

150 cm
27
145 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

175 cm
32
124 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
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 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skjelbred misses with a double jab.
Black throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Skjelbred counters with a three punch combo that has Black backing up. Black nods at Skjelbred to acknowledge the strikes.

Black closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Skjelbred is defending against the submission attempts here by Black.

Black wants to work for an arm triangle but Skjelbred is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Black prevents Skjelbred from improving his position.

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

Skjelbred actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black is trying to work for a kimura but Skjelbred is defending well.

Skjelbred is defending against the submission attempts here by Black.
Black is trying to control the action in half guard but Skjelbred is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Skjelbred wants to improve his position but Black is controlling well.

Skjelbred looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Skjelbred trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Skjelbred slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Skjelbred lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Black!
Black keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Skjelbred wants to control the pace but Black is squirming around nicely.
Skjelbred in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Skjelbred is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skjelbred goes for an armbar but Black turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Black.
Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Skjelbred wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.
Skjelbred is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Black postures up.
Black not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Skjelbred looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Black chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Skjelbred can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A jab from Black finds it's way through Skjelbred's defenses.

It looks like John Skjelbred has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skjelbred throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Skjelbred cracks Black with an open hand slap.
Black throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Skjelbred.
Skjelbred lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Black backs up against the cage.
Skjelbred throws a combination. Black tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Black avoids the head kick by Skjelbred.
Black dives in and grabs Skjelbred's left leg, looking for a takedown. Skjelbred pushes down on Black's head and hops out.
Skjelbred lands a nice leg kick that just misses Black's sensitive parts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skjelbred lets loose with a powerful body kick. Black will feel that in the morning.
Black misses with a straight right.
Skjelbred avoids a punch combination nicely.

Skjelbred closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Skjelbred dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Skjelbred's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Skjelbred lands with a thumping leg kick.
Skjelbred wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.

Skjelbred gets a double leg takedown into Black's guard.
Skjelbred wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.
Skjelbred works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Skjelbred is trying to control. Black wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Skjelbred throwing shots but Black is blocking nicely.
Black is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skjelbred missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Skjelbred is trying to work for a kimura but Black is defending well.
Black won't allow Skjelbred to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skjelbred thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Black's head.
Skjelbred seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Black does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Skjelbred. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Skjelbred is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Black sees it coming and defends easily.
Skjelbred missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Skjelbred wants to stand up but Black is controlling the position.
Skjelbred not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Black tries to roll over but Skjelbred keeps him under control.

Skjelbred is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Black has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Black does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Skjelbred is stalling here. Black is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Skjelbred seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Black has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Black is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Skjelbred is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Black tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Skjelbred is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Black is looking to take a break and control but Skjelbred is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Skjelbred is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Black creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Skjelbred sneaks back into half guard.

Black seems to be working for a kimura but Skjelbred defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred tries to roll over but Black keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skjelbred is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Skjelbred regains full guard. Nicely done.
John Skjelbred has got the better of the ground game so far.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Skjelbred wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Skjelbred is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Black controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
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 cut man is working on John Skjelbred's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Skjelbred shoots in and gets a takedown into Black's guard.
Skjelbred pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.
Black is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Skjelbred makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Skjelbred.
Skjelbred looking to control.
Black passes Skjelbred's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Black trying to control the pace.
Skjelbred tries to roll over but Black keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black seems to be working for a kimura but Skjelbred defends the submission attempt.
Skjelbred is trying to maintain the position but Black is very close to passing his half guard.

Black looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Skjelbred looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Black prevents Skjelbred from improving his position.

Black is looking for a kimura here.
Black is keen to just control but Skjelbred is a slippery customer.
Frank Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred won't allow Black to pass to mount.
Skjelbred tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.

Black wants to work for an arm triangle but Skjelbred is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Skjelbred is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Skjelbred looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Skjelbred slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Skjelbred takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Black is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Black preventing the sweep.
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 looking to control.
Skjelbred avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skjelbred looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Black wants to control from the top but Skjelbred keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Black drops back looking for a leg! Skjelbred is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Skjelbred manages to kick Black off! Black jumps back into Skjelbred's guard.
Skjelbred keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Frank Black.
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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

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.