PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anton Skydny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skydny comes into the arena with infected mushrooms artillery blaring out of the sound system. Evans has chosen Shook Ones as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Rashad Evans was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Skydny
vs
Evans

184 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Anton Skydny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skydny swats away the attempt to clinch by Evans.
Skydny lands with a thumping leg kick.
Evans fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Evans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skydny as he jumps to the side.
Skydny goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Rashad Evans has been cut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Skydny.

Skydny gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Skydny lands an elbow inside.
Skydny lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Evans tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Skydny just stands there and leans against the cage.
Anton Skydny has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Evans.
Skydny stalls.
Evans has Skydny pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Skydny manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A left hand lands to the body for Skydny.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skydny's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A short right from Skydny.
Skydny lands with a right to the head.
Skydny lands a right hand.
Evans cracks Skydny with a nice body shot.
Skydny lands a knee to the body.
Evans goes for a takedown attempt but Skydny pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Skydny comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Evans looks winded!
Horrible takedown by Evans or perhaps it was just good defense by Skydny which made him look bad.
Evans tries for a takedown but Skydny sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Skydny displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Evans.
Rashad Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Skydny.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skydny shoots in and drives through. Evans sprawls well.

Skydny fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Evans to the ground. Skydny is now in Evans's guard.

Skydny thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Skydny thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Skydny wants to pass the guard but Evans is keeping the position.

Skydny is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Evans is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Evans has escaped and now he's on top!
Evans postures up in Skydny's guard and throws a big left but Skydny blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but Skydny is retaining full guard.

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

Skydny looking for a guillotine here but Evans defends easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Evans throws an elbow that misses. Skydny uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Evans's guard. Nice move by Skydny!
Skydny trying to stand up but can't free himself from Evans's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Skydny drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Evans manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Skydny has Evans in his guard.

Skydny looking for subs off his back but Evans has passed one foot through into half guard.
Evans scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Skydny dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rashad Evans's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Evans throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Skydny tries to clinch there but Evans circles away.
Skydny scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Skydny gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A knee to the head by Skydny.
Skydny prevents a takedown attempt there.
Skydny landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Evans breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Skydny tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Evans with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Skydny to score with a decent uppercut.
Skydny tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Evans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck for Skydny with that takedown attempt.

Skydny closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skydny just leaning against Evans, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skydny lands a left hand.
Skydny is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Skydny crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Evans is trying desperately to land a takedown but Skydny is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Evans.
Evans is breathing heavily.
Skydny is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A knee to the head by Skydny.
Still in the clinch, Skydny scores with a nice short uppercut.
Skydny comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Evans is looking to break free of the clinch but Skydny has double underhooks.
Skydny scores a nice knee to the body.
Skydny with a knee to the head.

That has opened up Rashad Evans's cut even more.
A left hand lands to the body for Skydny.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skydny slowing the pace effectively.
Skydny lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Skydny lands a nice shot to the body.
Skydny is working Evans over against the cage.
Skydny pushes Evans back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans takes a knee to the side of the body.
Skydny leaning his opponent against the cage.
Skydny lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nice elbow from Skydny.
Evans should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Skydny with a knee to the head.
Evans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Skydny gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Anton Skydny has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Evans.
Skydny has Evans pushed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Skydny.
A right handed body shot lands from Skydny.
Evans is looking to break free of the clinch but Skydny has double underhooks.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skydny avoiding damage.
Skydny lands a damaging elbow.
Skydny lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Skydny.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Skydny.
Skydny just leaning against Evans, taking a breather.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Skydny.
A short left from Skydny.
Skydny creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Evans's defenses.

The cut above Rashad Evans's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Skydny works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Evans working hard to break the clinch.
Evans is looking to take this one to the mat.
Skydny lands a body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Skydny.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skydny digs a right hand underneath Evans's ribcage. Evans let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Skydny lands a right hand that snaps the head of Evans backwards.
Skydny scores with a nice hook to the head.
Skydny lands an elbow that stopped Evans in his tracks for a moment.
Skydny with a knee to the head.
Skydny lands a good knee to the midsection. Evans won't want to take too many of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skydny unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice body punch from Skydny - that landed with a thud.
Skydny lands a knee to the body.
Skydny lands a nice elbow.
Skydny landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Skydny lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Skydny is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Anton Skydny has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Skydny lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Skydny dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rashad Evans's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Skydny has a takedown stuffed.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown but Skydny manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Evans's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Skydny is looking to clinch but Evans is avoiding it.
Evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skydny is fending him off so far but Evans persists. Nope, Skydny circles away and we're back to standing.

Evans drives through with a takedown into Skydny's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Skydny had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Evans defends it easily.
Skydny is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Evans can do to turn this around?

Evans avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Evans drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Skydny dives on top into guard.
Evans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skydny wants to stand but Evans is controlling his posture from full guard.

Skydny gets to his feet - Evans follows without any prompting.
Skydny pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Skydny scores with a head kick. Evans tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Skydny goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Evans decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Skydny trying to hold on to Evans's head to control him but Evans postures up.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Skydny is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skydny works his way to full guard. Good work.

Skydny throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
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!

Skydny is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Skydny looking for subs off his back but Evans has passed one foot through into half guard.
Anton Skydny overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Evans lands a nice short elbow.
Evans not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Skydny won't allow Evans to pass to mount.
Evans stalling away here and it's allowed Skydny to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Skydny is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans postures up in Skydny's guard and throws a big left but Skydny blocks it.
Evans with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Evans passes Skydny's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Evans is looking to take a break and control but Skydny is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skydny is controlling Evans's trapped leg to prevent Evans from advancing to side control.

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 Anton Skydny.
Well Skydny has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26

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