PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thelonious Skunk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon GM (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon GM acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Skunk
vs
GM

170 cm
21
144 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thelonious Skunk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Simon GM!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
GM shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Skunk eats them both and turns towards GM to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Skunk drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
GM wants to stand up but Skunk is controlling him.
Skunk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skunk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Skunk definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Skunk with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Skunk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Skunk throwing strikes but missing.
GM is looking to stand up but Skunk isn't so interested in that idea.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
GM working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Skunk.
Skunk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. GM swivels though and keeps the full guard.

GM kicks Skunk off and gets to his feet.
GM shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Skunk eats them both and turns towards GM to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skunk wants to clinch.
GM closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Skunk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Skunk fails with an attempt to clinch.
GM throws a combination that misses

and Skunk holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Skunk throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
GM takes a knee to the side of the body.
GM has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skunk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
GM thuds a left hand into Skunk's body.
Simon GM seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Skunk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
GM swinging wildly here.
Skunk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
GM is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A punch combination from Skunk misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some wild striking there from GM.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
GM throws a left and a right that both miss

and Skunk counters by moving into the clinch.
Skunk tries to land knees in the clinch but GM avoids the damage to the body.
GM's coach down at The Gym : SPACES AVAILABLE was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on GM's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Skunk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Skunk manages to break the clinch.
Skunk tries to clinch up but GM circles away and keeps his distance.
Skunk darts in trying to clinch
and Skunk takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
GM jabs Skunk to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Skunk avoids the body shot from GM.
Skunk throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A cross from GM lands.
GM lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Skunk at a distance.
GM lands a slapping body shot.
GM throws a combination that misses

and Skunk holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
GM wants to break free but Skunk has control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by GM as Skunk tries to tie him up.
GM tries to break free but Skunk pushes him back against the cage.
Skunk with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Skunk breaks from the clinch.

GM gets tackled into the cage by Skunk. Skunk maintains the clinch.
GM is trying to break the clinch but Skunk is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Simon GM will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

GM lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Skunk circles away quickly and effectively.
GM misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
GM throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
GM swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Skunk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
GM scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Skunk avoids the body shot from GM.
Skunk avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good shot there by GM.

That's one minute gone in the round.
GM throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from GM misses.
GM is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Skunk rather than just go for the knockout.
GM throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Skunk.
GM avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
GM swats away the attempt to clinch by Skunk.
GM misses with a body shot.
GM fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
GM jabs Skunk to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skunk takes one to the chin there.
Jab by GM.
GM throws a right and a left that both miss.
GM looks to land a combination but Skunk avoids it well.
GM tries to bum rush Skunk with a series of wild strikes but Skunk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
GM throws a one two combo.
Skunk misses with a head kick.
No joy there for GM, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Skunk misses with a head kick.
GM misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
GM connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
GM misses with a series of wild punches.
Skunk dodges the punch combination from GM.
A combination from GM does no damage.
GM throws a right and a left that Skunk avoids nicely.
GM throws a hook but Skunk blocks it.
Skunk avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skunk's hands are dropping dangerously low here and GM connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Skunk scrambles back to his feet.
Skunk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. GM tries to avoid it but Skunk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag GM to the ground. GM escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
GM misses with a double jab.
GM throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
GM connects with the punch.
GM looks to land a combination. Skunk sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skunk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by GM.
GM tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
GM is breathing heavily.
Skunk goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon GM showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Skunk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
GM connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Skunk momentarily.
GM misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Skunk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
GM wants to get back to his feet.
Skunk drops an elbow to the side of GM's head.
Skunk throwing shots but GM is blocking nicely.
Skunk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Skunk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed GM's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skunk wants to free his trapped foot but GM is holding on for dear life with his legs.

GM has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Skunk is on him like a limpet, forcing GM back against the cage.

Skunk manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skunk fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging GM to the ground. Skunk is now in GM's guard.
GM takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Skunk throws a big right hand that misses.
Skunk passes GM's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Skunk is looking to advance position but GM won't allow it.
Skunk thows a huge punch but GM dodges it nicely.
Skunk trying to control from half guard but GM is working away.
Skunk wants to pass to mount but GM is defending the position.
Skunk is keen to just control but GM is a slippery customer.
GM is looking to escape.
Skunk throwing shots but GM is blocking nicely.
Skunk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
GM avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Skunk.
Skunk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skunk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Skunk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

GM has one foot on Skunk's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
GM throws a one two combo.
GM circles away from the clinch attempt.
GM's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and GM duly obliges.
GM is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
GM throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Skunk moves into the clinch.
Skunk lands with a right to the head.
GM has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skunk is looking to take this one to the mat.
GM is defending well against a takedown attempt.
GM gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Skunk.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thelonious Skunk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Skunk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from GM.
GM scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Skunk doesn't seem bothered though.
GM scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Skunk takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
GM throws a nice looking combination but Skunk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
GM throws a hook but Skunk avoids it easily.
Simon GM is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Skunk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Skunk trying to land knees to the body.
GM blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Skunk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. GM is defending well for now.
GM wants to break the clinch but can't.
Skunk tries for a takedown but GM manages to get underhooks.
GM wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
GM avoids the elbow strike from Skunk, against the cage.
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!
Skunk drops to a knee looking for a takedown but GM gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Skunk stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thelonious Skunk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think GM 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon GM!