PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akoni Gray (ranked 41 p4p, 9 weight class) and Valentin Skovgaard (ranked 206 p4p, 32 weight class). Skovgaard has chosen Second Reality as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gray
vs
Skovgaard

189 cm
30
210 lbs
20 - 3 - 1

187 cm
29
210 lbs
23 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Akoni Gray!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valentin Skovgaard!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gray just misses with a punch to the body.

Gray closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gray.
Skovgaard throws an elbow that misses.
Gray doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good body shot from Skovgaard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Skovgaard.
Gray scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gray lands a right hand that snaps the head of Skovgaard backwards.
Gray misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Gray.
A shot in the inside from Skovgaard.

It looks like Akoni Gray has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gray.
Gray blocks the elbow strike.
Gray's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gray misses with a hook to the ribs.
Skovgaard lands a damaging elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Skovgaard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gray's elbow.
Gray throws a punch but it's blocked by Skovgaard.

Gray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Skovgaard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Skovgaard missing with a left hand there. Gray was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Skovgaard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gray is able to avoid easily.
Skovgaard throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gray waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Skovgaard.
Skovgaard clobbers Gray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gray takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gray appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Gray cracks Skovgaard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gray moves into range and connects with a jab.
Skovgaard tries to land a front kick but Gray steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Skovgaard throws a sloppy body shot
and Gray counters with a straight right hand.
Skovgaard misses with a kick to the body.
Gray throws a nice outside leg kick.
Skovgaard throws a looping overhand right but Gray ducks down to avoid it.
Gray doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skovgaard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gray moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Gray on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skovgaard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Skovgaard lands a jab to Gray's midsection.
Skovgaard moves out of range as Gray throws a body kick.
Skovgaard 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.
The fighters circling - Skovgaard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gray lands a really nice looking cross but Skovgaard seems unphased.
Gray throws a leg kick but Skovgaard sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gray digs a good hook to Skovgaard's body.
Gray avoids the head kick by Skovgaard.
Skovgaard misses with a head kick.
Skovgaard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Gray.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Skovgaard, right into the meat.
Skovgaard avoids the body shot from Gray.
Skovgaard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skovgaard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Skovgaard lands an overhand right.
A swing and a miss from Skovgaard.
It looked like Gray was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Skovgaard.
Skovgaard throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Gray counters with a nice uppercut.
Gray loads up on a big right hand but Skovgaard slips the punch.
Skovgaard looks to land a right hand but Gray moved out of range.
It looked like Gray was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Skovgaard.
Good standup being displayed there by Skovgaard as he connects with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Skovgaard. Gray does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gray has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Skovgaard.
Gray avoids the head kick by Skovgaard.
Skovgaard slips a straight right by Gray.
It looks like Gray has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Gray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gray tests Skovgaard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Skovgaard cracks Gray with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skovgaard blocks a leg kick.
Gray misses with a looping right.
Gray defending well as Skovgaard loads up on a big left hand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Skovgaard.
Skovgaard throws a low kick but Gray avoids it.
Skovgaard connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gray misses with a low kick as Skovgaard jumps back.
Skovgaard misses with the body kick
and Gray counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gray takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Skovgaard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gray moves away.
Gray misses with a straight right.
Skovgaard swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gray misses with a body shot.
Skovgaard delivers a nice body kick.
Skovgaard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gray. That did some damage!
Gray feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Skovgaard's calf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valentin Skovgaard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Akoni Gray's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Skovgaard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gray.
Gray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Skovgaard looks to land a body kick but Gray moved away.
Skovgaard scores with a jab to the head.
Valentin Skovgaard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gray avoids the head kick by Skovgaard.
Gray misses with a body shot.
Good exchange - Skovgaard coming out on top.
A bone on bone clash there as Gray blocks the leg kick.
Skovgaard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Skovgaard scores with a kick to the body.
Gray keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skovgaard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Skovgaard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gray uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Skovgaard.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Skovgaard 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.
Gray throws a push kick but Skovgaard slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skovgaard checks a low kick from Gray.
A jab from Skovgaard does it's job there.
Gray misses with a low kick.
Skovgaard tries a head kick but it misses.
Valentin Skovgaard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skovgaard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gray lands a nice looking kick to the body. Skovgaard takes a step back to recover.
Skovgaard walks into a jab.
Skovgaard misses with a shot to the body
and Gray counters with a slapping leg kick.
Nice body punch from Skovgaard.
Skovgaard throws a body kick that misses.
Gray scores with a sloppy right hand. Skovgaard should have avoided that one.
Skovgaard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gray uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Skovgaard misses with a low kick.
Gray is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skovgaard throws a head kick that misses.
Gray ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gray throws a body shot but no joy.
Skovgaard throws a low kick, looking for Gray's leg but Gray calmly moves out of range.
Gray avoids a kick to the body.
Gray on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gray connects with a nice looking jab.
Gray ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Skovgaard misses with a wild body shot.

Gray lands a big right hand that sends Skovgaard crashing to the mat! Gray stays standing though and waves Skovgaard back to his feet!

Skovgaard is rocked!
Skovgaard misses with a hook. Gray ducked under it nicely.
Skovgaard is still on wobbly legs! Can Gray finish him?
A left lands for Skovgaard.
A swing and a miss from Gray.
Skovgaard gets tagged by a hook that puts him to sleep! Gray points and yells something to his unconcious foe before strutting off. Skovgaard wakes up just in time to hear Gray thank his coaches in the post fight interview.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Akoni Gray!
Akoni Gray retains his light heavyweight title!
In his post fight interview, Akoni Gray started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.