PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Skinner
vs
Gray

181 cm
24
266 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
31
280 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid 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 - 2 - 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Gray!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skinner leaves Gray with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gray fails with an attempt to clinch.
A combination from Gray does no damage.
Skinner swats away the attempt to clinch by Gray.

Gray moves into the clinch.
Skinner cracks Gray with a nice body shot.

Skinner manages to break the clinch.
Gray takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner throws a nice looking combination but Gray bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gray tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Skinner counters with a three punch combo that has Gray backing up. Gray nods at Skinner to acknowledge the strikes.
Gray looks to score with a jab to the body but Skinner is just out of range.
Gray shoots in but Skinner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gray misses with a double jab
and Gray takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gray shoots in but no luck this time.
Craig Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gray.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Skinner avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner throws a series of punches but Gray moves out of range.
Skinner leaves Gray with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Skinner misses with a double jab.
Gray looks for a takedown but Skinner sprawls well.
Gray tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner fails with a takedown attempt.
Gray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gray fails in his attempt to clinch.
Skinner connects with the punch.
Skinner avoids the body shot from Gray.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gray takes the fight into the clinch.
Skinner drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gray pulls his leg out and moves away.
Skinner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Skinner avoids the head kick by Gray.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skinner throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gray on the side of the head.

Gray drives through and clinches with Skinner against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Skinner dominated that round.
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.

Skinner misses with a two punch combination.
Horrible takedown by Gray or perhaps it was just good defense by Skinner which made him look bad.
Gray stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gray wants it to stay on the feet.
Skinner shoots in for a takedown but Gray shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gray tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gray drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Skinner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gray drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Skinner dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gray working for a triangle but Skinner defends it easily.
Skinner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gray avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skinner trying to control the position from guard on top but Gray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gray looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gray wants to sweep here but Skinner controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gray escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Skinner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gray looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Skinner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Skinner trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.
Gray is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Skinner trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Craig Skinner just wasn't active enough.
Gray shoots in for a takedown but Skinner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray shoots for a double leg takedown but Skinner sprawls well. He's pushed Gray's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Craig Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gray.
Skinner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skinner misses with a double jab.
A cross from Skinner lands.
Gray is looking to clinch but Skinner is avoiding it.
Craig Skinner is winning the standup battle so far.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Skinner.
Gray fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray moves in looking to clinch but Skinner pushes him off.
Skinner feints and then cracks Gray's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gray down.

Gray gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skinner tries to throw a body punch but Gray avoids it by throwing Skinner back against the cage.
Gray stalling in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Gray will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Skinner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gray tries to clinch up.
Skinner tries to clinch up.
Skinner swats away the attempt to clinch by Gray.
Gray tries to clinch up.
Skinner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Skinner duly obliges.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch but Skinner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Skinner as Gray shoots in.
Ben Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gray tries to clinch
and Skinner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gray throws a head kick but Skinner moves out of range.
Skinner fails with the takedown.
Gray shoots in looking for a takedown but Skinner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gray's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Craig Skinner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gray.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray closes the distance and clinches up with Skinner, looking for a takedown. Gray pushes Skinner against the cage but Skinner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gray tries for a takedown but Skinner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Skinner misses with a wild combination.
Gray tries to clinch but Skinner is having none of it.
Gray rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Skinner to keep the fight standing.
Gray is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Skinner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Skinner misses with a hook to the ribs.
Skinner prevents a takedown attempt there.

Skinner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gray throws a sloppy head kick
and Skinner counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner shoots in but no luck this time.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skinner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Skinner shoots in looking for a takedown. Gray tries to sprawl out of it but Skinner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gray manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Skinner does no damage.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Skinner paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Skinner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Skinner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Skinner!
An out of breath and clearly excited Craig Skinner thanked Scotia Wear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).