PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Holden Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonis Skayias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Skayias

190 cm
44
179 lbs
44 - 23 - 5

182 cm
34
171 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 44 - 23 - 5, fighting out of St Petersburg, Holden Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonis Skayias!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Skayias is looking for the big counter here.
Skayias uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Skayias throws a combination. Gracie tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Skayias changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Skayias throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Skayias.
Skayias is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Skayias lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Skayias throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Skayias throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skayias throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Skayias connects with a solid leg kick.
Gracie has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Skayias lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Skayias lands the left hand.
Skayias has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skayias throws a body shot but no joy.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Holden Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skayias avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Skayias scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Skayias lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A punch combination from Skayias misses.
Skayias scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Holden Gracie has been cut.
Skayias misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gracie has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skayias looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Skayias will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
An attempted straight right counter from Gracie misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Skayias uses good head movement to avoid it.
Skayias avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A lazy body kick from Gracie
and Skayias counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Skayias ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gracie throws a lazy head kick
and Skayias counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Skayias keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie looks to land a body kick but Skayias moved away.
Skayias blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Skayias goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Skayias is working the combinations to good effect here.
Skayias shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gracie eats them both and turns towards Skayias to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Skayias sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Skayias on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Skayias connects with a jab and follows up with a big overhand right! Oh that's hurt Gracie! He's out on his feet! Skayias rushes in and drops Gracie with another big right hand, forcing the referee to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Antonis Skayias!
Antonis Skayias seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.