PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Gunines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunines has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Skinner
vs
Gunines

150 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

196 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Virgil Skinner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Louis Gunines!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gunines fails to land the takedown.
Gunines looks winded!

Skinner shoots in and gets a takedown into Gunines's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skinner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Skinner content to stall in guard here.
Gunines looking to control but Skinner passes into half guard.
Skinner really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gunines's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Skinner is trying to control. Gunines wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Skinner stalling.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gunines wants to control but Skinner is keeping busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Skinner moves into the clinch.

Skinner has hold of one of Gunines's legs. Gunines is fighting the takedown attempt but Skinner gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner controlling from the top position.
Gunines trying to keep a closed guard but Skinner is proving a slippery customer.
Skinner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gunines is trying to keep Skinner in close.
Skinner preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Skinner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Skinner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gunines.

Skinner decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Skinner stops Gunines from getting back to his feet.
Gunines gets full guard.
Gunines looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner postures up and lands a big shot to Gunines's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Skinner's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Skinner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Skinner stands up and waves to Gunines to follow him.

Skinner shoots in and bounces Gunines off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Skinner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgil Skinner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Skinner looking to score a takedown here. Gunines is defending well but Skinner drives through and ends up in Gunines's guard.
Skinner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gunines is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Skinner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Skinner content to stall in guard here.
Skinner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gunines is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gunines has a closed guard, preventing Skinner from standing up.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Sydney inform us that Gunines has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunines has momentary wrist control but Skinner slips an elbow through the middle.
Skinner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skinner scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Skinner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gunines 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gunines enables Skinner to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gunines manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner chips away with some ground and pound.

Gunines is rocked!
Skinner engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gunines is still in real trouble! Can Skinner finish him?
Skinner seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gunines for as long as he can get away with.
Gunines wants to improve his position but instead Skinner has moved into half guard.
Skinner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Skinner there.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Skinner here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Skinner lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Gunines! More strikes land and this one is all over! Skinner jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Virgil Skinner!