PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Skovgaard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor MacLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor MacLeod is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Skovgaard
vs
MacLeod

187 cm
21
222 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
212 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Lion Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valentin Skovgaard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor MacLeod!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacLeod with a lazy takedown attempt
and Skovgaard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

MacLeod closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Skovgaard quickly recovers to half guard.
MacLeod tries to pass the half guard into mount. Skovgaard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
MacLeod is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
MacLeod wants to pass the guard but Skovgaard is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skovgaard wants to sweep here but MacLeod controlling him for the moment.
Skovgaard is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod stopping the sweep attempt from Skovgaard.
MacLeod pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skovgaard is keeping the position for now.
MacLeod is looking to advance position but Skovgaard has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Skovgaard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
MacLeod tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Skovgaard avoids the attempt from MacLeod to control.
MacLeod is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod tries to hold on but Skovgaard postures up.
MacLeod is working to get back to half guard.
MacLeod regains half guard.
Skovgaard is controlling the pace.
MacLeod is looking for a sweep. Skovgaard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
MacLeod is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Skovgaard passes into side control, despite MacLeod's attempt to control the position.
MacLeod is trying to work for a sweep but Skovgaard has mounted him!
Skovgaard prevents MacLeod from getting the reversal.
Skovgaard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Valentin Skovgaard will probably get the nod.
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.

MacLeod shoots in looking for a takedown. Skovgaard tries to sprawl out of it but MacLeod keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Skovgaard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Skovgaard throws an off balance right hand

and MacLeod counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

MacLeod seems to be looking for submissions.
MacLeod working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Skovgaard's thigh. Skovgaard counters though and makes it back to full guard.
MacLeod slips nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Skovgaard is defending against the submission attempts here by MacLeod.

MacLeod is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacLeod is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Skovgaard still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Skovgaard has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
MacLeod sneaks back into half guard.
Well, if Skovgaard is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Skovgaard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod tries to roll over but Skovgaard keeps him under control.
MacLeod is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Skovgaard jumps into side control!
MacLeod tries to bench press Skovgaard off him but Skovgaard keeps the position.
Skovgaard controlling the position.
MacLeod manages to work his way to half guard, despite Skovgaard's best efforts.
MacLeod trying to control but Skovgaard postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skovgaard is looking to pass MacLeod's guard but actually MacLeod recovers to full guard.
MacLeod is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Valentin Skovgaard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
MacLeod is pulling down on Skovgaard's head to control his posture.
Skovgaard won't allow MacLeod to sweep him here.
MacLeod is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Skovgaard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
MacLeod is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Valentin Skovgaard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
MacLeod fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Skovgaard looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
MacLeod shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valentin Skovgaard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor MacLeod.
Skovgaard is looking to score with low kicks.
MacLeod avoids the head kick by Skovgaard.
Skovgaard swings and misses with a hook to the body.

MacLeod scores with a takedown into Skovgaard's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

MacLeod drops back, looking for a kneebar! Skovgaard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Skovgaard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Skovgaard!

MacLeod is trying to work for a sweep but Skovgaard has mounted him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Valentin Skovgaard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Skovgaard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from MacLeod misses the target.
Skovgaard takes a swing at MacLeod's ribcage but misses.
MacLeod with the counter takedown but Skovgaard avoids it easily.
MacLeod connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Skovgaard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Skovgaard wants it to stay on the feet.
A quick step to the side and Skovgaard tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by MacLeod.
MacLeod dives in for a single leg takedown but Skovgaard sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Skovgaard seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Skovgaard cracks MacLeod with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Skovgaard has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning MacLeod to stand back up!

It looks like Connor MacLeod has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skovgaard misses with a looping left.
MacLeod displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Skovgaard throws out the jab.
Skovgaard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
MacLeod gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Skovgaard to counter with a crisp jab.
Valentin Skovgaard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor MacLeod.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skovgaard sends MacLeod crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Skovgaard is motioning to the referee to let MacLeod up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

MacLeod is rocked!
MacLeod fails with a takedown attempt.
MacLeod is still on wobbly legs! Can Skovgaard finish him?
MacLeod throws a body shot but no joy.
MacLeod seems to have recovered his senses.
No joy there for Skovgaard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Skovgaard lands a body shot.
MacLeod lands a really nice looking cross but Skovgaard seems unphased.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MacLeod will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
MacLeod takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
MacLeod gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Skovgaard gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! MacLeod is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Valentin Skovgaard!