PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darko Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pipis Skatias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Cruz
vs
Skatias

165 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
140 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Darko Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pipis Skatias!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Skatias!

It looks like Darko Cruz has been cut.
Skatias's coach down at Rabid Dog was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Skatias's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Skatias throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Skatias throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz throws a quick counter head kick but Skatias was just out of range.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Skatias.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed
and Skatias counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Cruz closes the distance and clinches.

Cruz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cruz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Skatias is trying to defend but Cruz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skatias is trying to stand up here but Cruz is controlling him well.
Cruz thows a huge punch but Skatias dodges it nicely.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skatias wants to get back to his feet.

Skatias has one foot on Cruz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Skatias scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Skatias avoids them all with ease.
Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Skatias.
Skatias swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Skatias misses with a double jab.
Skatias connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skatias fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Skatias lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Pipis Skatias is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Skatias ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Skatias sprawls well. Skatias wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz looks to clinch
and Cruz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Skatias throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks to clinch
and Skatias counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Skatias sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darko Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skatias throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Skatias fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz tries to clinch but Skatias moves away
and Skatias counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pipis Skatias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skatias circles away from the clinch attempt
and Skatias counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cruz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skatias lands a jab to the nose.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Skatias throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cruz.

Cruz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Skatias avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pipis Skatias dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Darko Cruz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Skatias manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skatias leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A jab from Skatias does it's job there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Cruz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Skatias manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Cruz keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz tries to pull guard but Skatias forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cruz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darko Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cruz tries to stall but Skatias uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruz is struggling to control the position.
Skatias is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cruz is defending well.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz throws a sloppy head kick
and Skatias counters with a stiff right hand.
Skatias lands with a shot to the body.
Skatias lands with a straight right. Cruz didn't see that one coming.
Skatias looks to land a combination. Cruz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skatias lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
No joy there for Skatias, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Skatias shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skatias throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Skatias swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruz tries to counter by clinching up but Skatias breaks away and moves out of range.
Skatias tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Skatias.
Skatias falls off balance throwing a combination
and Skatias takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Darko Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skatias scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A combination from Skatias does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skatias throws a series of punches but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Skatias throws a nice looking combination but Cruz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Cruz shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Skatias is trying to defend but Cruz finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Skatias defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is working hard here to advance position.
Nice strikes from Cruz there.
Cruz is keen to just control but Skatias is a slippery customer.

Skatias has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Cruz is on him like a limpet, forcing Skatias back against the cage.
Skatias has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz prevents Skatias from breaking the clinch.
Cruz jumps guard but Skatias turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Cruz breaks from the clinch.
Skatias blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Pipis Skatias seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
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!
Skatias fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pipis Skatias showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Darko Cruz's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Skatias blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Cruz dives in and grabs Skatias's left leg, looking for a takedown. Skatias pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Skatias lands with a nice combination. Cruz backs away looking to recover.
Skatias throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz attempts a counter takedown but Skatias avoids it well and moves away.
Skatias tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A combination from Skatias does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skatias throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skatias throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Skatias takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skatias throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skatias rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cruz lands a few punches from side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Cruz's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Skatias to see if he's OK.
Skatias is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cruz wants to control but Skatias is keeping him busy.
Skatias is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cruz has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cruz in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cruz landing strikes.
Cruz throws an elbow but Skatias slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cruz trying to control the action but Skatias is working from the bottom.
Skatias wants to get back to his feet but Cruz drags him back down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz trying to control the position but Skatias is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skatias throws Cruz to one side and escapes!
Skatias fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Skatias ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Skatias napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Skatias knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Cruz goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Skatias rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cruz's guard! Nice work there by Skatias!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Skatias pushes his legs off easily.

Skatias gets to his feet. Cruz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skatias defends it nicely.
Skatias rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Skatias.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pipis Skatias comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Skatias winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pipis Skatias!
Pipis Skatias decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.