PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergiy Sklyar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Sebastien Veron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sklyar comes to the cage accompanied by Scarface - No Tears. Veron has chosen The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sklyar
vs
Sebastien Veron

160 cm
29
140 lbs
25 - 6 - 1

186 cm
26
184 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

The Big Kabosh
Reaper Combatwear

Reaper Combatwear
KAISER Nutrition (160!)

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 25 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Sergiy Sklyar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Sebastien Veron!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veron cracks Sklyar with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sklyar throws the left hand but Veron avoids the punch easily.
Veron thuds his right hand into Sklyar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sklyar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Veron tries to avoid it but Sklyar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Veron to the ground. Veron escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Veron misses the shot to the body.
Sklyar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Veron sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sklyar lands a nice shot to the body.
Sklyar lunges at Veron with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Veron's hand.
Sklyar lands a jab.
Veron shoots in for a takedown but Sklyar shows good takedown defense.
Sklyar fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergiy Sklyar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Veron closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sklyar's guard.
Veron trying to control the position from guard on top but Sklyar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Veron is looking to work some ground and pound but Sklyar has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklyar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Veron trying to control but Sklyar is working from the bottom.
Veron seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Juan Sebastien Veron.
Sklyar catches Veron with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Veron slips a straight right by Sklyar.
Veron tests Sklyar's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sklyar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Veron connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sklyar momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veron lands a jab.
Sklyar lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Veron throws a sloppy head kick and Sklyar moves out of range easily.
Sklyar lands a jab.
Sklyar throws a solid leg kick but Veron takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sklyar.

Veron closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sklyar to the mat! Sklyar manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sklyar is trying to keep Veron in close.
Veron wants to control from the top but Sklyar keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veron missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Veron is looking to work some ground and pound but Sklyar has wrist control.
Sklyar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Good shot there by Veron.
Sklyar lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A swing and a miss from Veron.
Sklyar scores with a body shot.
Sklyar shoots in for a double leg but Veron sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sklyar misses with an uppercut.
Veron fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sklyar.
Sklyar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar misses with a leg kick.
Veron looks to throw the jab but Sklyar is out of range.
Sklyar fails to land the takedown.
Sklyar scores with a jab to the head.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Veron - that will leave a mark!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Veron throws a hook to the side of Sklyar's head but Sklyar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sklyar misses with a body kick.
Veron has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Veron lands with a thumping leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Veron.
Veron scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sklyar. That's going to slow Veron down.
Sklyar connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Veron gets the takedown into side control.
Veron controls the position from side control.
Veron wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sklyar keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Sebastien Veron 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.

Veron wants to slow Sklyar down by chopping away at his legs.
Sklyar scoring well with a low kick there.
Veron throws a looping overhand right but Sklyar ducks down to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Sklyar.
Sklyar looks to land a right hand but Veron moved out of range.
Veron swings for the body but Sklyar moves out of range.
Sklyar cracks the inside of Veron's front leg.
Veron throws out a loose jab but Sklyar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Veron takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Sklyar closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Veron did well to prevent Sklyar getting side control.
Veron is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sklyar lands a nice short elbow.
Veron keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sklyar stalling away here and it's allowed Veron to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklyar won't allow Veron to sweep him here.
Sklyar is working Veron over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sklyar is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Veron is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Veron is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Veron pulls Sklyar in close to prevent any damage.
Sklyar tries to free his leg and advance position but Veron is retaining full guard.
Veron trying to keep a closed guard but Sklyar is proving a slippery customer.
Veron keeping moving, preventing Sklyar from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Juan Sebastien Veron hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Veron connects with a nice looking jab.
Sklyar throws a nice inside leg kick.

Sklyar drives through with a takedown into Veron's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Veron not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sklyar stopping the sweep attempt from Veron.

Veron has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sklyar is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Veron.
Sklyar trying to control the action but Veron is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veron is trying to control Sklyar's posture but Sklyar avoids it.
Juan Sebastien Veron has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sklyar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Veron sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sklyar scores with punches from side control.
Sklyar cracks Veron with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sklyar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Veron sneaks back into half guard.
Veron wants to get back to full guard.
Sklyar is trying to control. Veron wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar misses with a head shot. Veron uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sklyar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sklyar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Veron pulls Sklyar in close to his closed guard and prevents Sklyar from doing any damage or advancing position.

Sklyar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Veron has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sklyar has managed to get both his arms back between Veron's legs - danger averted.
Sklyar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veron keeping moving, preventing Sklyar from controlling successfully.
Veron controls Sklyar momentarily but Sklyar frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergiy Sklyar dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sklyar scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Veron waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sklyar.
Veron throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sklyar on the side of the head.
Sklyar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Veron pinned against the cage. Veron gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sklyar lands a nice hook to Veron's body. Veron takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Veron jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sklyar looks to land a body kick but Veron moved away.
Sklyar checks a leg kick nicely.
Veron fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sklyar manages to avoid it.
Sklyar throws a lazy right hand but Veron sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Veron gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sklyar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sklyar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sklyar stopping the sweep attempt from Veron.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veron preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sklyar stands up over Veron, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sklyar content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sklyar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sklyar makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sklyar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sklyar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Veron looking for a sweep. Not yet Veron, not yet.

Veron has his foot on Sklyar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sklyar works his way back into a safe position though.
Sklyar throws an elbow that misses. Veron uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sklyar's guard. Nice move by Veron!
Veron throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sklyar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar is adopting a defensive guard.
Sklyar is trying to keep Veron in close.
Veron working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veron trying to control but Sklyar is working from the bottom.
Sklyar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Sergiy Sklyar wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sklyar throws a jab when Veron was well out of range.
Veron connects with a jab.
Juan Sebastien Veron seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Veron.
Sklyar lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Veron shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sklyar flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sklyar regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sklyar seems keen to control Veron's posture.
Veron trying to control the position from guard on top but Sklyar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sklyar keeping full guard, as Veron tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veron passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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 Sergiy Sklyar.
I think Sklyar 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Sebastien Veron!
During a confident post fight interview, Juan Sebastien Veron thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.