PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomas Skalinskas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnston
vs
Skalinskas

200 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Santiago Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomas Skalinskas!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Skalinskas.
Johnston throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Johnston tries a head kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick from Johnston misses.
Skalinskas misses with a double jab
and Johnston counters with a big head kick but Skalinskas shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Skalinskas.
Johnston swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Skalinskas counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Johnston is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Skalinskas throws a nice looking combination but Johnston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tomas Skalinskas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skalinskas throws a combination that misses
and Johnston counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Skalinskas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skalinskas tries a low kick but Johnston avoids it.
Skalinskas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Skalinskas throws a right hand that Johnston ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnston also avoids with ease.
Skalinskas on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Skalinskas misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skalinskas blocks a leg kick.
Skalinskas throws a series of punches but Johnston avoids them all with ease.
Skalinskas scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Skalinskas throws a head kick but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston checks a leg kick.
Johnston lands a nice looking kick to the body. Skalinskas takes a step back to recover.
Skalinskas misses with a double jab

and Johnston counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Johnston.
Johnston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Skalinskas looks winded!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Johnston stands up and waves to Skalinskas to follow him.
Skalinskas throws a combination that misses

and Johnston counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Johnston.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnston scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnston postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skalinskas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Skalinskas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston distracts Skalinskas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Johnston stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Johnston is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Skalinskas.
Johnston feints and then cracks Skalinskas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Skalinskas down.
Johnston throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skalinskas on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Johnston. Johnston obviously looking to wear him down.
Johnston really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnston misses with an attempted mid kick.
Skalinskas scores with a spinning back kick!

Johnston closes the distance and pushes Skalinskas back into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johnston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Skalinskas is defending well for now.
Skalinskas is trying to force a seperation but Johnston has the dominant position.
Skalinskas avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnston.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Skalinskas as Johnston tries to tie him up.
Johnston seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Skalinskas is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Skalinskas being controlled against the cage.
Skalinskas blocks an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston slows down the pace here.
Skalinskas tries to circle away but Johnston has him pinned against the cage.
Johnston wants to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Santiago Johnston.
Skalinskas blocks the body kick.
Johnston tries to bum rush Skalinskas with a series of wild strikes but Skalinskas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Skalinskas tries to land a front kick but Johnston steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skalinskas blocks a head kick by Johnston.
Skalinskas is looking to land body kicks.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Skalinskas - that will leave a mark!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Johnston dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Skalinskas misses with a few strikes there.
Skalinskas swinging wildly here.
Skalinskas connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johnston's hands.

It looks like Santiago Johnston has been cut.
Skalinskas misses with a two punch combination.
Skalinskas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santiago Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some bone on bone action there as Skalinskas checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Skalinskas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skalinskas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Skalinskas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Johnston takes a kick to the side of the head.
Skalinskas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Skalinskas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Skalinskas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Skalinskas wants to slow Johnston down by chopping away at his legs.
Skalinskas throws a combination that misses

and Johnston counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Skalinskas looks like he's trying to stand up.

Johnston wants to work for an arm triangle but Skalinskas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Johnston is trying to work for a kimura but Skalinskas is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Skalinskas has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Johnston is on him like a limpet, forcing Skalinskas back against the cage.
Skalinskas takes a shot to the head.
Johnston has Skalinskas pressed against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skalinskas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Skalinskas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Skalinskas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Skalinskas tries to land a front kick but Johnston steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Skalinskas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Skalinskas takes one on the button.
Johnston cracks the inside of Skalinskas's front leg.
Skalinskas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnston counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Johnston lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Skalinskas lands a jab to the head.
Johnston scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skalinskas lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Johnston.
Skalinskas throws a series of punches but Johnston avoids them all with ease.

Skalinskas scores with a takedown into Johnston's guard.
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!
Skalinskas tries to stand but Johnston is controlling from the bottom.
Skalinskas is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skalinskas wants to stand and escape but instead Johnston has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Johnston scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Skalinskas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Santiago Johnston's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnston connects with an inside leg kick.
Skalinskas swinging wildly here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Skalinskas.
Skalinskas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Skalinskas blocks a head kick by Johnston.
Johnston throws a head kick that misses.

Johnston dives in and scores a takedown into Skalinskas's guard.

Skalinskas manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Skalinskas!
Skalinskas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Skalinskas avoids the head kick by Johnston.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skalinskas throws a nice looking combination but Johnston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skalinskas misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnston throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A bone on bone clash there as Skalinskas blocks the leg kick.
Johnston throws a quick inside leg kick.
Skalinskas throws a nice inside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Skalinskas.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnston content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Skalinskas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Skalinskas lands with a shot to the body.
Johnston moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Skalinskas.
Skalinskas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnston throws a sloppy head kick
and Skalinskas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Johnston throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Skalinskas tries to bum rush Johnston with a series of wild strikes but Johnston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Skalinskas misses with a leg kick
and Johnston counters with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skalinskas blocks a low kick nicely.
Skalinskas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Johnston counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnston.
Skalinskas avoiding damage as Johnston throws knees to the body.
Skalinskas keeps control of Johnston as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Skalinskas is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnston has double underhooks.
Skalinskas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnston blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston slows down the pace here.

Skalinskas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Skalinskas.
Skalinskas misses with a few strikes there.
Johnston moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Skalinskas misses the body punch

and Johnston holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Skalinskas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnston breaks from the clinch.
Skalinskas checks a leg kick.
Skalinskas fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tomas Skalinskas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Skalinskas keeps Johnston at a distance using the push kick.
Skalinskas swinging wildly here.
Skalinskas throws a low kick but Johnston avoids it.
Johnston connects with a solid leg kick.
Johnston misses with a kick to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skalinskas ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Skalinskas needs to keep his hands up - Johnston had a free shot at his head there.
Johnston throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tomas Skalinskas.
I think Skalinskas 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomas Skalinskas!