PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Sklemin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiovani Aro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiovani Aro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sklemin
vs
Aro

187 cm
26
200 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

187 cm
25
193 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
Aspire Nutrition

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Sklemin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kiovani Aro!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aro misses with a series of wild punches.
Sklemin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Aro rushes Sklemin and presses him up against the cage.
Sklemin lands a knee to the head.

Sklemin manages to break the clinch.
Aro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sklemin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sklemin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aro manages to avoid it.
Aro ducks under a wild hook from Sklemin.
A left lands for Sklemin.
Aro takes one on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sklemin misses with a body punch
and Aro counters with a left and a right that stings Sklemin.
Sklemin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Aro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklemin slips a jab from Aro.

Sklemin clinches with his opponent.
Sklemin just leaning against Aro, taking a breather.

Sklemin breaks the clinch.

Sklemin gets tackled into the cage by Aro. Aro maintains the clinch.
Sklemin misses with an elbow strike.
Aro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sklemin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sklemin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Aro blocks it with crossed arms.
A bit of stalling here from Aro.
Aro working aggressively here.
Aro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aro throws a head punch that misses.
Sklemin misses with the head strike.
A shot in the inside from Sklemin.
Sklemin working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aro scores with a shot to the side of Sklemin's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aro.
Sklemin trying to control the position but instead, Aro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sklemin into the cage.
Aro misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Aro throws an elbow but misses.
Sklemin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sklemin gets through Aro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sklemin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sklemin tries to throw a body punch but Aro avoids it by throwing Sklemin back against the cage.
Aro is leaning against Sklemin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Aro lands a right hand.
Sklemin swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aro.
Sklemin misses with a punch on the inside.
Sklemin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sklemin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sklemin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Aro is defending well for now.
Aro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aro trying to land knees to the body.
Aro throws an elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sklemin pushes off an throws an elbow but Aro leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Aro avoids the elbow strike from Sklemin, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Aro fails to land.
Aro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sklemin.
Aro misses with some punches.
Aro avoids the elbow strike from Sklemin, against the cage.
Sklemin takes a shot to the head.
Aro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
Our sources have told us that Sklemin has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Sklemin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Sklemin fails to land.
Sklemin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sklemin letting Aro take a breather here.

Sklemin manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sklemin.
Sklemin with a nice cross.
Sklemin misses the jab.
Aro swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sklemin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aro moves out of range of the strikes.
Sklemin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Sklemin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aro slips under a jab from Sklemin.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Aro keeps control of Sklemin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sklemin blocks an uppercut.
Aro looking to stall.
Aro lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sklemin misses with a knee strike.
Sklemin tries to break free but Aro pushes him back against the cage.
Sklemin is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sklemin blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklemin scores with a shoulder strike.
Sklemin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Aro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Sklemin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sklemin takes a swing at Aro's ribcage but misses.
Sklemin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aro.
Sklemin throws a hook but Aro avoids it easily.
Aro stalks Sklemin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sklemin's face. Sklemin staggers backwards, shaken.
Kiovani Aro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sklemin.
Sklemin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sklemin connects with a single shot there.
A lazy left from Aro finds it's target.
Nice uppercut there from Aro.
Sergey Sklemin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aro looks to land a right hand but Sklemin moved out of range.
Aro goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Sklemin is rocked!
Aro takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Oh Sklemin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sklemin misses with a few strikes there.
It seemed like Aro was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sklemin seems to have got his legs back now.
Sklemin lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sklemin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Aro.

Oooooh!!! Aro has knocked Sklemin down with a huge combo! Aro steps away and waves a wobbly Sklemin back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Sklemin rushes Aro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sklemin misses with an elbow over the top.
Sklemin is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Aro lands with a right to the head.
Sklemin misses with a knee strike.
Sklemin takes a shot to the head.
Aro with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Aro in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Aro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aro misses with a body punch.
Sklemin blocks a body shot from Aro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklemin misses with a hook to the ribs.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aro.
Aro misses with some punches.
Sklemin lands a nice elbow.
Sklemin misses with the head strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Aro throws an elbow but misses.

Sklemin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Aro. That snapped Sklemin's head back.

Aro clinches up with Sklemin and pushes him back against the cage.
Sklemin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sklemin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Aro.
Aro blocking some punches.
Sergey Sklemin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sklemin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aros head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aro lands a left hand.
Aro lands a body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Sklemin fails to land.
Sklemin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aro blocks a body shot from Sklemin.
Sklemin takes a shot to the head.
Aro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aro.
Sklemin lands with a left to the head.
Sklemin working aggressively here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Aro as Sklemin tries to tie him up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Aro as Sklemin tries to tie him up.
Nice elbow from Sklemin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiovani Aro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Sklemin throws a body punch but Aro moves out of range.

Aro moves into the clinch.
Sklemin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Aro on the inside.
Sklemin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sklemin taking a breather.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Aro.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sklemin.
Sklemin is trying to push Aro away but Aro has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aro managing to block the knees to the body from Sklemin.
Aro swings wildly with an uppercut but Sklemin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aro takes a shot to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sklemin as Aro tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklemin misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sklemin.
Aro takes a shot to the head.
Sklemin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sklemin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aro's defenses.
Aro working aggressively here.
Sklemin struggles to land a body shot inside as Aro controls his hands.
Aro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aro digs a right hand into Sklemin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sklemin's gas tank.
Sklemin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sklemin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sklemin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Aro.
A short uppercut from Aro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aro.
Aro blocks an elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aro lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
Aro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sklemin trying to land knees to the body.
Sklemin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Aro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Sklemin breaks from the clinch.

Aro clinches up against the cage.
Sklemin throws an elbow that misses.
Sklemin managing to block the knees to the body from Aro.
Sklemin tries a body shot but Aro blocks it.
Sklemin effectively controlling the action here.
Sklemin has a couple of punches blocked by Aro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklemin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sklemin trying to land knees to the body.
Aro lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short uppercut from Aro.
Sklemin tries to work over Aro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aro lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
Aro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sklemin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nice body punch from Sklemin.
Sklemin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Aro with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sklemin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Aro blocks it with crossed arms.
Sklemin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Aro.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Sklemin.
Sklemin misses with an elbow over the top.
Aro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sklemin is defending well for now.
Sklemin blocks an uppercut.
Aro tries to throw a body punch but Sklemin avoids it by throwing Aro back against the cage.
Sklemin lands a left hand.
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!
Aro prevents a body shot from Sklemin.
Aro misses with a punch to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Sklemin.
Aro blocks an uppercut.
Sklemin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sklemin misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sergey Sklemin.
I think Sklemin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Sklemin!
Sergey Sklemin bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.